Research Associate in Bioengineering

Role:
Research Associate in Bioengineering Design, material sourcing, fabrication and implementation of a Microelectrode array scanning system for cardiac drug discovery and safety screening.

Directorate: School of Engineering & Physical Sciences

Grade and Salary: Grade 7, spine point 28 (£37,694)

FTE and working pattern: Full-time, 35hrs per week;
Fixed Term (18 Months)

Holiday Entitlement: 33 days annual leave plus 9 buildings closed days (and Christmas Eve when it falls on a weekday).

This role is based on the Heriot‑Watt Edinburgh campus, and it is not suitable for remote or hybrid working.

This is an exciting opportunity to work in a dynamic research lab on a British Heart Foundation translational award that will be implemented at Heriot‑Watt University and the University of Edinburgh. The position is for a post‑doctoral research scientist with experience of practical engineering solutions (e.g. bioengineering, electronic engineering, and/or mechanical engineering). The candidates outputs will underpin the production of a novel cardiac drug screening platform, with their primary responsibility being the production of a functional prototype based on the team’s current patent.

(It is expected that additional novel IP will be generated in the course of the project.) The successful applicant will also be expected to engage in the development of a commercialisation strategy.

The post is based at the Heriot‑Watts University. The post‑doctoral research scientist will work under the guidance of Dr Euan Brown and will collaborate closely with engineers at Heriot‑Watt University.

The role also includes participation in the implementation of a Quality Management System to ensure ISO compatibility (training will be provided). The post‑doctoral research scientist will contribute to report writing, IP reviews, business planning, and regulatory documentation, working alongside experts in commercialisation and regulatory development.

The position is supported by a British Heart Foundation Translational Award to develop a diagnostic platform for screening new drugs for cardiac arrhythmias, with the goal of commercial readiness.

The engineering aspects of this project will be based in the Biophysics Laboratories at Heriot‑Watt University, working directly with Dr Euan Brown. There will also be research interactions with the other academic and research staff.

The candidate will report on project progress at weekly meetings. This will involve the preparation of informal presentations and short reports.

• We are looking for a creative and highly motivated engineer willing to work as part of a team. A willingness to learn new knowledge and up‑skill is essential.
• General tasks will involve engineering and scientific research; analysis and interpretation of data; communication with other researchers and academic staff involved in this collaborative research.
• The successful candidate will take responsibility for designing and implementation of engineering solutions.
• Engineering design and prototype building are important aspects of the work, and the candidate will also be expected to operate equipment such as 3D printing for prototyping of test devices.

• A PhD in a relevant subject pertinent to the profile.
• Master’s degree in a relevant area of Engineering or related subject.
• Ability to articulate research work, both in written technical reports / papers and by oral presentation.
• Ability to formulate and progress work on own initiative with evidence of research ability: problem solving, flexibility.
• Demonstrable experience with equipment builds and prototyping.
• Demonstrable strong design and innovation skills.
• Capacity for collaboration.
• Energy and enthusiasm for research work.
• Previous experience working in a translational engineering project.
• Demonstrating skills & experience in topics relevant to the project, including the following:
• Knowledge of and construction of biocompatible tissue traps/microfluidic systems
• Experience with PCB design and integration of electronics
• Experience with data acquisition software such as LabVIEW, MATLAB, Python…