Research Assistant​/Associate in Micromanufacturing of Passive Wireless Components

Research Assistant/Associate in Micromanufacturing of Passive Wireless Components

Research Assistant – Grade 6 (£31,236 - £36,636 per annum) or Research Associate – Grade 7 (£37,694 - £43,482 per annum)

Full-time (35 hrs per week) Fixed-term (5 months)

33 days annual leave, plus 9 building‑closed days for all full‑time staff.

The Smart Systems Research Group, led by Prof. Marc Desmulliez at the Research Institute of Sensors, Signals and Systems (ISSS) within the School of Engineering & Physical Sciences at Heriot‑Watt University, has an ongoing collaboration with the VOILA Laboratory at the University of Edinburgh. Early January 2025 the funding agency ARIA awarded two Research Associate posts for a project themed "Scoping the Planet".

The successful applicant will manufacture passive electrical circuits that generate wireless impulses to be received by an external receiver, with power supplied by a novel battery developed at Heriot‑Watt. These circuits will be integrated onto a novel an‑d‑drone discovered by Prof. Viola, and the applicant will work with a large research team on the performance and characterisation of these nanodrones.

The position will be supervised and managed by Dr. Changhai Wang, part of the Heriot‑Watt team.

• Design and carry out scientific and engineering experiments on miniaturisation of drones.
• Carry out testing of evaluation materials capable of changing colours with respect to temperature, residual humidity or in the presence of volatile compounds.
• Work closely with the University of Edinburgh for the testing of the drones created by the applicant.
• Develop risk assessments and COSHH forms and work within the boundaries of existing risk management procedures.
• Present research findings and plans at regular meetings with partners.
• Prepare and edit scientific papers.
• Present research findings at workshops organised by the funder ARIA.
• Participate in the broader work of the Smart Systems Research Group at Heriot‑Watt and the VOILA Research Group at the University of Edinburgh, including workshops, conferences or other meetings.
• Assist in the day‑to‑day maintenance of the experimental facilities at Heriot‑Watt and liaising with external collaborators.
• Contribute to outreach and impact engagement activities of the project as proposed by the two leaders at Heriot‑Watt and the University of Edinburgh.
• Demonstrate initiative in making routine decisions to manage and achieve project deliverables and deadlines.

The ideal candidate will have a strong practical understanding in one or more of the following fields: drone manufacturing; functional materials; material characterisation; wireless communication systems; performance characterisation of systems.

Please submit via the Heriot‑Watt online recruitment system: provide a cover letter describing your interest and suitability for…