Secondary Proton Medical Physicist

Position Summary

The Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of North Carolina is seeking a secondary faculty proton medical physicist for the North Carolina Cancer Center. The North Carolina Cancer Center is a member of the UNC Health Care System and is located in Chapel Hill, NC.

The North Carolina Cancer Center is currently staffed with 13 Radiation Oncologists, 7 Dosimetrists, 12 Medical Physicists, and 1 IT specialist. The North Carolina Cancer Center clinic is equipped with 3 Elekta accelerators, a Cyber Knife system, a Mobetron intraoperative accelerator, an Elekta HDR system, a Vari Seed LDR prostate system, a Philips large bore CT simulator, and a recently installed Philips MR simulator.

The Center is in the process of installing a Varian True Beam. A Mevion S250-FIT Proton Therapy System is due to be installed in 2027. Clinical treatment planning systems (TPS) include Raystation TPS, Accuray Precision TPS for Cyber Knife, Oncentra HDR Brachy TPS, and Vari Seed LDR Brachy TPS. Ancillary systems include VisionRT.

Construction on the vault to house the Mevion S250-FIT Proton Therapy System will commence in 2026, with installation scheduled to begin in the latter half of 2027. A lead proton faculty physicist (to be hired) is expected to start as early as September 2026. The secondary proton faculty physicist, reporting to the lead physicist, would ideally begin in the same timeframe.

Both the lead and secondary proton faculty physicists will work with Mevion and project management teams to ensure project success. Both the lead and secondary proton faculty physicist will work collaboratively with appropriate stakeholders to establish the infrastructure, workflows, and Policies and Procedures required for physics-related tasks and patient treatments.

The successful candidate is expected to be actively involved in a broad range of clinical, research, and teaching activities within the Department and the School of Medicine.

• Clinical duties:
  The secondary proton faculty physicist will work under the supervision of the lead proton faculty physicist during acceptance and commissioning of the Mevion S250-FIT system, acquisition of dosimetry data, and commissioning of proton treatment planning in Ray Station. Once the proton therapy system becomes operational, the successful candidate will provide clinical proton therapy physics services. Responsibilities include ensuring the accurate and safe delivery of proton radiation treatments and maintaining the safety of patients and treatment staff.
• Research:
  The successful candidate must be motivated to contribute to, and collaborate in, research efforts.
• Residency Program:
  The department supports a CAMPEP-accredited Medical Physics Residency Program and, as such, mentoring of residents is expected.

The successful candidate for this position must have the following qualifications: (1) an MS/PhD in Medical Physics/Physics/Engineering or related field; (2) be A /ABMP board certified or board eligible (passed Part
1); and (3) have graduated from a CAMPEP-accredited residency. The candidate may be at junior level or higher but should have experience in proton therapy physics.

The ideal candidate should have strong technical skills, a commitment to research and teaching, and excellent verbal and written communications skills.