Summary

The Department of Radiation Oncology at the Baylor College of Medicine is recruiting for a postdoctoral research fellow or research associate with specialization in AI-modeling and coding. The successful candidate will work alongside a multidisciplinary team, leveraging artificial intelligence and computational methodologies to optimize treatment plans, enhance patient outcomes, and innovate radiation therapy techniques.

The Radiation Oncology Department is currently comprised of 9 faculty physicists, 8 radiation oncology residents, and 10 faculty radiation oncologists. The Department of Radiation Oncology at the Baylor College of Medicine provides a full range of clinical services at the Baylor St Luke’s Medical Center and the Harris Health Smith Clinic. Services provided include conformal radiotherapy, IMRT, IGRT, SBRT, and an active brachytherapy (low-dose and high-dose) program. Two Varian Linacs (Halcyon with HyperSight and Edge), one Varian Bravos HDR unit and Two Siemens wide-bore CT scanners installed at the new campus of the Dan L. Duncan Cancer center. The Harris Health Smith Clinic is currently equipped with 3 Elekta Synergy linear accelerators, a large bore CT simulator with 4D capabilities, and a Varian VariSource brachytherapy afterloader unit. The department has access to clinical PET/CT and MR scanners.

Baylor has been an active part of the radiation oncology community in the Houston area for decades. We provide care to a diverse group of patients across the Houston metro area. Close ties also exist with other institutions within the Texas Medical Center. Baylor College of Medicine is a premier academic medical school ranked #22 for research and #16 for primary care medical schools in the US. In both of these, it ranks #1 in Texas along with the highest NIH grant dollars received in Texas. The Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center first received NCI designation 14 years ago and since then has grown and matured harboring SPORE grants in both Breast Cancer and Lymphoma as well as being home to the Human Genome Sequencing Center. It was designated an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center in 2015. In the 2022 U.S. News and World Reports rankings, The Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center at Baylor St Luke’s Hospital was listed 25th in the nation, despite being one of the youngest centers on the list.

Job Duties

• Develops, optimizes, and validates AI-based models to assist in radiation outcomes prediction and adaptive radiation applications.
• Works closely with our faculty to understand clinical needs and implement AI solutions to address specific challenges.
• Manages and analyzes vast datasets related to radiation treatments, ensuring data integrity, consistency, and security.
• Collaborates with data scientists to identify trends, patterns, and opportunities for improvement.
• Codes, tests, and refines software applications tailored for the radiation oncology domain and particularly related to imaging and dose DICOM integration in AI-models.
• Interfaces with existing software platforms, ensuring smooth integration of AI-driven tools.
• Engages in research activities, co-authoring publications, and presenting findings at relevant conferences and workshops.
• Collaborates with researchers from other departments and institutions on joint initiatives.
• Stays updated with the latest advancements in AI, computer science, and radiation oncology.
• Provides training to departmental staff on the use and interpretation of AI-driven tools and software. 
• Adheres to all BCM regulations and guidelines, ensuring that all AI tools meet medical and ethical standards.
• Works closely with the BCM Institutional Review Board and adhere to patient data privacy standards.

Minimum Qualifications

• MD or Ph.D. in Basic Science, Health Science, or a related field.
• No experience required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficiency in AI modeling techniques and tools, with a demonstrated track record in real-world applications.
• Strong coding skills, preferably in Python, C++, and other relevant languages.
• Familiarity with medical imaging data formats (DICOM, NIfTI) and related software tools.
• A background in radiation oncology or medical physics will be an advantage.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.