Senior Health Physicist

University of Washington•Seattle, WA

1d•$80,004 - $110,004

About The Position

The Environmental Health and Safety Department provides University wide health and safety programs at all campus locations as well as Harborview and UW Medical Centers. The Senior Health Physicist must ensure assigned programs meet safety and regulatory requirements for a broad range of radioactive materials use applications. The UW Radioactive Materials License is granted by the State of Washington Department of Health (DOH). Additional regulatory requirements are codified in the Washington Administrative Code (WAC). Inability to adequately assure compliance with license conditions and WAC regulations can result in license suspension and prohibition of all use of radioactive material and radiation producing machines. The Senior Health Physicists serves an important role in maintaining a trusting and positive relationship with regulatory agencies, faculty, staff, students and patients, by administering assigned programs to meet regulatory requirements and ensure the safety of all individuals. The Senior Health Physicist performs professional assignments related to regulatory compliance for the use of radiation in the University of Washington (UW) medical centers and associated clinics. This position ensures compliance with regulations and standards for the safe use of radiation for the protection of both patients and employees at Harborview Medical Center (HMC), both campuses of UW Medical Center (UWMC), and associated clinics. This is a high level position in the University of Washington Radiation Safety Program. The individual in this position would be expected to be versatile and able to respond to issues related to all aspects of Health Physics in a university with a large research program and associated medical centers. Candidates should also have familiarity with multiple types of ionizing radiation sources, such as: radioactive materials used in research, x-ray generating machines, cyclotrons, and linear accelerators. The successful candidate for this position should have the ability to develop, manage, and administer emerging radiation safety requirements at a large University.

Requirements

Master's degree, preferably in a Health Physics, Engineering, or Science-related field
Two years of professional experience in a radiation safety program, including experience reviewing human subject research protocols that involve the use of radiation or radioactive materials.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a radiation safety program at a hospital or medical center.
Demonstrated ability to make professional judgments based on radiation safety principles and practices.
Familiarity with various types of ionizing radiation sources including unsealed radioactive materials and sealed sources.
Technical proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite software.
Demonstrated strong written and verbal communication skills

Responsibilities

Act as the staff reviewer for protocol applications submitted to the HSRAC. This requires: examining the principles and methods of the proposed biomedical research; understanding the biological effects of radiation on human subjects and reviewing risk statements in the study consent form to ensure the risk of the radiation exposure is adequately explained; assuring that the application clearly identifies the proposed use of radioactive materials or radiation; and verifying that the proposed use of radioactive materials is allowed under the UW radioactive materials license and applicable Radiation Use Authorizations (RUAs).
Route protocol applications to HSRAC members for review as required by HSRAC policy and procedures.
Make regular reports to the Radiation Safety Committee
Be familiar with requirements for human-subjects protection as specified by various regulatory agencies such as the US Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health Office of Human Research Protections, and other funding agencies.
Interact with regulators and the UW Human Subjects Division to ensure equivalent interpretation of regulations and expectations in order to facilitate UW research and also assure protection of human subjects.
Review construction plans for facilities incorporating shielding for radioactive materials and radiation producing machines. Coordinate with construction contractors to verify that design criteria are met.
Identify, compile, and analyze data needed to perform shielding calculations and prepare shielding reports for submission to regulatory agencies.
Cross train other radiation safety staff specified by the UW RSO to support these tasks and review their work for accuracy and completeness.