Research Assistant​/Associate in Micromanufacturing of Passive Wireless Components

Role Title

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 (35hrs per week) Fixed‑term (5 months)

33 days annual leave, plus 9 buildings 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 a long research collaboration with the VOILA Laboratory led by Prof. Maria Ignazio Viola at the University of Edinburgh. Early January 2025, both Professors received funding from the ARIA funding agency under the theme Scoping the Planet for the appointment of two Research Associates.

The researcher at HWU will be tasked to manufacture passive electrical circuits capable of generating impulses to provide a wireless signal to an external receiver. Source of energy will be provided by a novel battery manufactured at Heriot‑Watt University. The circuits are to be integrated onto an anaer drone with novel aerodynamic properties discovered by Prof. Viola. The applicant will be part of a large team of researchers at HWU and the UoE working on the manufacture and characterisation of flying performance of nanodrones.

The position will be supervised by Dr. Changhai Wang.

• 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 volatiles 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 HWU 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 HWU and liaise with external collaborators.
• Contribute to outreach and impact engagement activities of the project as proposed by the leaders at HWU and the University of Edinburgh.
• Demonstrate initiative in making routine decisions to manage and achieve project deliverables and deadlines.

These are the criteria on which the short‑listing and recruitment selection will be made.

Please submit via the Heriot‑Watt online recruitment system:
Cover letter describing your interest and suitability for the post;
Full CV.

Applications can be submitted until…