Radiation Biologist(P4)
JOB DETAIL
Organizational Setting
The Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications implements the IAEA’s Major Programme 2, “Nuclear Techniques for Development and Environmental Protection”. This Major Programme comprises individual programmes on food and agriculture, human health, water resources, environment and radiation technologies. These programmes are supported by laboratories in Seibersdorf, Monaco and Vienna. The Major Programme’s objective is to enhance the capacity of Member States to meet basic human needs and to assess and manage the marine and terrestrial environments through the use of nuclear and isotopic techniques in sustainable development programmes.
The Division of Human Health is organized into four Sections whose objectives are to enhance the capabilities of Member States to address needs related to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of health problems through the development and application of nuclear techniques within a framework of quality assurance.
The Applied Radiation Biology and Radiotherapy Section’s primary objective is to enhance Member States’ capabilities to establish sound policies concerning radiotherapy and cancer treatment, and to ensure the effective and efficient utilization of current and future advanced cancer radiotherapy treatment technologies.
Main Purpose
As a member of a team and under the direct supervision of the Section Head, the Radiation Biologist: (1) coordinates and supports research, provides technical and advisory services and collects, analyses and disseminates information related to radiation biology; (2) initiates activities in the field of radiation biology especially with respect to radiation response to cells and tissues, including clinical applications, to help improve the level of knowledge in Member States of radiobiology applied to radiotherapy and other health effects of radiation exposure; (3) develops guidelines, training material and teaching programmes in radiation biology for developing countries; and (4) coordinates implementation of activities of the radiobiology laboratory.
Role
Under the direct supervision of the Section Head, the Radiation Biologist is a: (1) technical adviser and research coordinator, helping to ensure the efficient and effective development and implementation of research and training; (2) adviser, providing expertise to the Section, Division and other IAEA staff on programmatic, scientific and technical matters; (3) team member, striving to improve the team activities and team approach aimed at providing high quality service and sustainable development in the field of radiation biology in Member States; (4) coordinator of the radiobiology laboratory.
Functions / Key Results Expected
- Develop and implement coordinated research projects in the field of basic and applied radiation biology and its clinical applications, including the evaluation of research contracts, organization of research coordination meetings and the publication of results.
- Support the technical cooperation programme through the evaluation of relevant project requests, the development of work plans, the implementation of expert assignments, training activities, the recommendation of suitable equipment and by participating in missions to IAEA recipient countries.
- Coordinate work with other national and international organizations and collaborate on joint Section/Division initiatives and cross-cutting activities.
- Plan and organize scientific and advisory meetings to review current knowledge in radiation biology and plan for future activities within the field.
- Prepare reports, proceedings and scientific publications on radiation biology and related activities.
- Represent the IAEA at international meetings and conferences as required.
Competencies and Expertise
Core Competencies
| Name | Definition |
|---|---|
| Communication | Communicates orally and in writing in a clear, concise and impartial manner. Takes time to listen to and understand the perspectives of others and proposes solutions. |
| Achieving Results | Takes initiative in defining realistic outputs and clarifying roles, responsibilities and expected results in the context of the Department/Division’s programme. Evaluates his/her results realistically, drawing conclusions from lessons learned. |
| Teamwork | Actively contributes to achieving team results. Supports team decisions. |
| Planning and Organizing | Plans and organizes his/her own work in support of achieving the team or Section’s priorities. Takes into account potential changes and proposes contingency plans. |
Functional Competencies
| Name | Definition |
|---|---|
| Analytical thinking | Analyses information to identify cause and effect relationships and correlations. Identifies critical elements and assesses consequences of different courses of action and proposes solutions. |
| Knowledge sharing and learning | Actively seeks learning opportunities and actively shares knowledge and information with others; shares specialized knowledge, skills and learning from experience across different situations and contexts effectively. |
| Technical/scientific credibility | Ensures that work is in compliance with internationally accepted professional standards and scientific methods. Provides scientifically/technically accepted information that is credible and reliable. |
Required Expertise
| Function | Name | Expertise Description |
|---|---|---|
| Radiation Medicine | Clinical and Radiation Oncology | Expertise in clinical practice in a radiotherapy department. |
| Radiation Medicine | Radiation Biology | Solid knowledge of radiobiological principles. |
| Radiation Medicine | Radiation Medicine Research | Expertise in radiobiological and radiation oncology research. |
Asset Expertise
| Function | Name | Expertise Description |
|---|---|---|
| Radiation Medicine | Tissue Radiosterilization | Knowledge of the principles of sterilisation of tissue allografts for transplantation. |
Qualifications, Experience and Language skills
Master’s Degree – Advanced University degree in Science with specialization in Radiation Biology. PhD would be an asset.
Minimum of seven years of experience in radiation biology at a research or teaching institution, or radiotherapy-related department.
Experience in international project management and coordination.
Experience in biological dosimetry, including different cytogenic assays to define the frequency of chromosomal alterations, to estimate the absorbed dose in an individual is an asset.
Excellent oral and written command of English. Knowledge of other official IAEA languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) is an asset.
Remuneration
The IAEA offers an attractive remuneration package including a tax-free annual net base salary starting at US $77326 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance), a variable post adjustment which currently amounts to US $ 38663*, dependency benefits, rental subsidy, education grant, relocation and repatriation expenses; 6 weeks’ annual vacation, home leave, pension plan and health insurance
Applications from qualified women and candidates from developing countries are encouraged
Applicants should be aware that IAEA staff members are international civil servants and may not accept instructions from any other authority. The IAEA is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. As part of the United Nations common system, the IAEA subscribes to the following core ethical standards (or values): Integrity, Professionalism and Respect for diversity. Staff members may be assigned to any location. The IAEA retains the discretion not to make any appointment to this vacancy, to make an appointment at a lower grade or with a different contract type, or to make an appointment with a modified job description or for shorter duration than indicated above. Testing may be part of the recruitment process
