Direct Alpha Spectrocopy on Biological Samples Student Research Assistant (On-site)
About The Position
Discover TRIUMF, Canada's particle accelerator centre, and one of the world's leading laboratories for particle and nuclear physics and accelerator-based science. TRIUMF's diverse community of nearly 600 multidisciplinary researchers, engineers, technicians, tradespeople, staff, and students create a unique incubator for Canadian excellence, as well as a portal to premier global collaborations. Fueling innovation and improving lives, we are committed to accelerating discovery and shaping a better world. Equity, diversity, and inclusion are integral to excellence and enhance our ability to create knowledge and opportunity for all. Together, we are committed to building an inclusive culture that encourages, supports, and celebrates the voices of our employees, students, partners, and the people and communities we serve. TRIUMF’s student program typically hires ~40 students each term from across all disciplines who hang together socially and professionally during the term, and beyond. Our program offers young minds a chance to gather, learn, make new friends, and have fun doing so during their time at TRIUMF. We hold weekly ProD sessions for students which include different activities such as conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and active listening. Additionally, we hold weekly seminars about the different experiments at TRIUMF, and these talks specifically cater to students. Located on the UBC campus makes it easier for students to make friends, create memories, and explore Vancouver all while working at TRIUMF. TRIUMF’s student program is more than just a place to work, its learning, memories, friendships, exploration, and development all clubbed into one. Come join us to see how we are working to unlock the mysteries of the universe and shape the future. Apply now and be part of our extraordinary journey. Learn more about the amazing research and work we do at TRIUMF. https://www.discoverourlab.triumf.ca http://www.rarestdrug.com Overview Motivation: Targeted alpha-particle therapy (TAT) works with radionuclides conjugated to tumour-targeting molecules to deliver localized alpha radiation to cancer cells. To investigate uptake and retention efficiencies on living cell cultures, we developed a method to detect alpha emissions directly from cells incubated with TAT vectors. After first proof-of-principle experiments, the goal is now to develop quantitative and reproducible procedures and a cell reference model to address the following issues: Inconsistent growth and death rates Clustering Sensitivity to environmental factors (temperature, medium, atmospheric conditions) Unknown metabolic processes Ageing and mutation of cultures Scope of work: The task of the student will be • to assist with the development of sample preparation procedures for direct alpha spectroscopy on cancer cells • to help with the development of detector systems • to apply suitable analytical procedures to test samples • to assist with the development of reference models for direct alpha spectroscopy on cancer cells Learning outcomes: The student will • learn about radiometric analytical methods, in particular alpha spectroscopy. • learn to work with radioactive materials and radiation sources in the context of optimizing sample preparation procedures. • acquire knowledge on radiation safety and the operation of a custom research apparatus. • gain experience in teamwork, working in a research lab, management of small to medium-sized projects, interdisciplinary, international research environment, publishing and presenting research results
Requirements
- motivated Chemistry or Physics student with an interest in interdisciplinary analytical methods and radiometric detectors.
- Experience in some of the following fields would be welcome: nuclear science, radiochemistry, preparative chemistry analytical chemistry
- The incumbent will be required to successfully complete the TRIUMF in-house radiation safety training course and be designated as a TRIUMF Nuclear Energy Worker.
- Chemistry
- Computational Data Analysis
- Computer Software Programming
- Data Acquisition Systems
- Electronic Assemblies
- Nuclear Physics
- Physics
- Radiochemistry
Responsibilities
- assist with the development of sample preparation procedures for direct alpha spectroscopy on cancer cells
- help with the development of detector systems
- apply suitable analytical procedures to test samples
- assist with the development of reference models for direct alpha spectroscopy on cancer cells
Benefits
- competitive salary
- comprehensive benefits that promote the well-being and security of our staff
- help with travel costs for students outside the Vancouver and surrounding area
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
Associate degree
