Research Associate in Electronics and Electrical Engineering; Wearable Sensors

Grade and Salary: Grade 7, £37,694 - £47,389 per annum.

Full time, 5 months fixed term contract.

33 days annual leave plus 9 bank holidays for all full‑time staff. Use our total rewards calculator at  to see the value of the benefits provided by Heriot‑Wall University.

This Research Associate (RA) position will contribute to the “Flexi Sense” project within the Institute of Signals, Sensors and Systems at Heriot‑Wall University, funded by the EPSRC Cross‑Institutional Impact Acceleration Award (IAA) and in collaboration with colleagues at University of Edinburgh.

• Undertake research related to wearable pressure sensors for optimised compression therapy (60% of time). This includes independent research as well as collaboration with the Flexi Sense and Flexi Shear projects, engaging with colleagues and clinical partners, defining specifications for a future commercial sensor system and designing a field‑deployable prototype.
• Disseminate research findings through internal reports, conference proceedings and journal publications (15% of time).
• Liaison with and support colleagues on the EPSRC Cross‑Institutional IAA funded Flexi Sense project, including travel and meetings at Heriot‑Wall, Edinburgh and the Pioneer Wound Healing and Lymphoedema Group (10% of time).
• Develop personal research plans and contribute to wider group strategy, identifying and agreeing priorities for current and future work (5% of time).
• Contribute to writing bids to win ongoing research grants (10% of time) and provide guidance to staff and students integrating this work into their activity.

• Frequent contact with the project team, including academic staff, researchers, technical staff and PhD students.
• Regular contact with researchers working on relevant projects at Heriot‑Wall University and the University of Edinburgh.
• Monthly contact with industry and clinical partners.

• Work with the line manager to define and plan a programme of research and produce publishable results within agreed timescales.
• Plan tasks independently to keep the project on the overall timetable.
• Organise time so different aspects of the project can progress in parallel while considering other team members’ needs.
• Proactively interact with project partners to share data and ideas.
• Lead regular project meetings to report progress and generate new ideas.
• Set aims, objectives and deadlines for short- to medium-term work, in discussion with the line manager.
• Contribute to long-term strategic planning and group activities with the line manager and researchers.

• Be resourceful in overcoming problems encountered in developing new approaches and implementing existing techniques.
• Define methodologies to solve project problems.
• Collaborate with investigators, partners, technical staff and PhD students to resolve issues.

• Organise own work schedule to meet project demands and decide on priorities daily.
• Manage day‑to‑day workload and decide on immediate priorities in line with agreed targets.

• A good undergraduate degree and a PhD (or equivalent industrial research experience) in Electronics and Electrical Engineering or a clearly related area, focusing on sensors, electronics system design, radio‑frequency electronics, or a closely related field.

• Proven track record of research in electronics and electrical engineering, focusing on radio‑frequency sensors, wearable electronics system design, RF electronics.
• Experience delivering research outcomes and having peer‑reviewed publications.
• Ability to collaborate with researchers from different disciplines.
• Independence, initiative, proactive and flexible approach.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet milestones.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships.
• Time‑keeping, prioritisation and management skills.
• Strong communication skills – oral, written, presentation.
• Creative ideas and willingness to initiate new ways of working.
• Understanding of commercial confidentiality and willingness to balance public dissemination.