The Department of Radiology at the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, part of Columbia University Irving Medical Center, is seeking a clinically experienced MRI Physicist or Clinical MR Scientist to join our medical physics group. This faculty position will support the quality, safety, optimization, and continued advancement of MRI services across NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and affiliated outpatient imaging locations.

The successful candidate will work closely with radiologists, technologists, medical physicists, MR safety leadership, researchers, and equipment vendors to strengthen clinical MRI operations while supporting advanced clinical and translational MRI initiatives. This is an opportunity to join a collegial academic radiology department at one of the nation's leading medical centers and to make a direct impact on patient care, MR safety, imaging quality, education, and innovation.

Academic rank and compensation will be commensurate with credentials, expertise, certification status, and experience. Columbia offers a generous benefits package, including health and dental coverage, retirement plans, tuition benefits, and family support benefits.

Institutional and Clinical Environment

Columbia University Irving Medical Center includes a main campus with a 1,300-bed hospital in Manhattan, a community hospital, and multiple satellite medical offices. The Department of Radiology operates a large, modern imaging enterprise with a broad range of advanced MRI platforms as well as CT, PET/CT, SPECT/CT, interventional radiology, radiography/fluoroscopy, mammography, ultrasound, and mobile imaging equipment.

The diagnostic radiology physics group is comprised of 2 PhDs and 4 MS-level physicists, as well as three medical physics assistants. ACR accreditation is maintained for mammography, MRI, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, PET, and CT. Most of the equipment and facilities have recently been modernized. The MRI Physicist / Clinical MR Scientist will serve as a key member of this team with a primary focus on MRI clinical physics, MR safety, protocol optimization, quality assurance, accreditation, and clinical research support.

Key Responsibilities

•        MR Safety Support: Support the MR safety program, including working with the MR Safety committee for safety policy development, site safety audits, annual safety education, and review of MR-conditional devices/implants.
•        MRI Quality Assurance and Accreditation: Design, implement, and oversee MRI quality assurance programs, including acceptance testing, routine performance testing, image quality monitoring, and technologist QA review. Support compliance with ACR, The Joint Commission, and other regulatory or accrediting requirements.
•        Clinical Protocol Optimization: Collaborate with radiologists, technologists, and vendors to optimize MRI protocols for image quality, efficiency, artifact reduction, patient safety, and clinical value across neuro, body, MSK, breast, pediatric, cardiovascular, and advanced MRI applications as appropriate.
•        Troubleshooting and Vendor Collaboration: Provide expert guidance for MRI artifacts, system performance issues, coil problems, pulse sequence behavior, reconstruction concerns, and scanner or software upgrades. Actively liaise with equipment manufacturers to resolve clinical and technical issues.
•        Advanced Clinical and Research MRI Support: Assist with clinical research protocol development, scanner implementation, raw and post-processed MRI data workflows, quantitative MRI methods, MR spectroscopy, diffusion imaging, perfusion, cardiac/body applications, and advanced post-processing when needed.
•        Education and Training: Teach and mentor radiology residents, technologists, graduate students, and clinical staff in MR physics, MRI safety, image quality, protocol design, and good quality assurance practices.
•        Regulatory Documentation and Continuous Improvement: Prepare and maintain testing records, accreditation documentation, safety materials, and corrective action plans. Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives that improve MRI quality, safety, access, and operational reliability.

Education and Experience

•    MS or PhD in medical physics, radiological physics, biomedical engineering, MRI physics, or a closely related field.
•    Clinical MRI physics experience is preferred; candidates with strong MRI research, clinical translation, or scanner-based protocol development experience will also be considered.
•    Experience with MRI quality assurance, ACR accreditation, scanner acceptance testing, protocol optimization, image artifact troubleshooting, MR safety practices, and clinical MRI operations is highly desirable.
•    Experience with MRI pulse sequences, scanner software, reconstruction, quantitative MRI, MR spectroscopy, DICOM workflows, data management, or programming/scripting is preferred.
•    Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with radiologists, technologists, physicists, engineers, researchers, nurses, administrators, and vendors are essential.

Preferred Certifications and Licensure

•    ABMP board certification in MRI Physics is preferred.
•    ABR board certification in Diagnostic Medical Physics, ABMP MRI Physics certification, or active progress toward board certification is highly desirable.
•    ABMRS MR Safety Expert (MRSE) certification is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

•    Thorough understanding of MRI physics, image formation, artifacts, coils, gradients, RF safety, SAR/B1+rms concepts, implant safety, and MR quality assurance.
•    Working knowledge of applicable ACR, TJC, FDA, NYS-DOH, NYC-DOH, and institutional standards relevant to MRI quality and safety.
•    Ability to translate technical MRI concepts into practical clinical recommendations for radiologists, technologists, and operational leaders.
•    Strong organizational skills with careful attention to documentation, follow-through, and regulatory readiness.
•    Interest in academic collaboration, innovation, education, and the responsible translation of advanced MRI methods into clinical practice.
•    Above average communication skills being able to relate issues and concepts to staff with a varied understanding of MRI technology and physcis.

More information about the Department of Radiology can be found at the Columbia Radiology website. To apply, please email a curriculum vitae and statement of interest to:

Klaus A. Hamacher, PhD
Associate Professor of Radiology (Physics) at CUIMC
Columbia University Irving Medical Center
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
kah2212@cumc.columbia.edu