Research Engineer - Hardware and Software Design; Temporary

Research Engineer 2 - Hardware and Software Design (Temporary) - University of Washington Skip to main content# Careers at UWResearch Engineer 2 - Hardware and Software Design (Temporary) page is loaded## Research Engineer 2 - Hardware and Software Design (Temporary)
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- ** Job Description
**** The Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition, has an outstanding opportunity for a temporary Research Engineer 2 to join their team.
**** About this Opportunity
** Reporting to Dr. Ian Sweet, Research Associate Professor, the Research Engineer 2 is responsible for developing and optimizing in vitro fluidics instrumentation for research aimed at maintaining and assessing real-time tissue function in response to changes in dissolved, trace signaling gases (including O2, H2S, NO and CO).  The methodologies are then applied to investigations of diabetic complications including retinopathy, nephropathy and islet dysfunction.  

This project is part of an ongoing collaboration between the Sweet laboratory and the laboratories of James Hurley (Biochemistry), John Kramlich (Dept of Mechanical Engineering) and James Hermanson (Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics).Research Sponsors/Stakeholders: NIH, Helmsley Foundation, UW Dept of Mechanical Engineering and UW Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
** Key Responsibilities
** Design fluidics hardware and analytical instrumentation (25%):
* Using CAD software, instrumentation will be designed and fabricated with either 3D printing or other forms of fabrication.  Design projects would include incorporating a gas mixing system that would flow into various measurement modalities including spectrophotometric cuvettes, fluorescent imaging systems, perifusion systems and a well-stirred tissue chamber. Each system assesses various metabolic, signaling or hormonal responses while maintaining viabilty and function of the tissue.

Build/test gas control systems, autoinjectors and gas/liquid equilibration system with existing flow and static culture systems and other analytical modalities (25%):
* Materials and components will be purchased, fabricated and/or assembled according to optimized designs and drawings.  Operation of the instruments will be tested and optimized according to criteria that include stability of flow rate, response times of injected test compounds and measurement of O2 concentration.

Develop software for computer-control and automation of fluidics systems (25%):
* Instrumentation will be controlled by User Interface which will port data to Data Processing software.  Devices to be automated will include controlling time dependent autoinjectors, composition of gas from multiple mass flow controllers, and liquid flow control by variable resistance valve.

Testing and optimization of devices to precisely control dissolved gas composition based on software-driven mass flow controllers with tissue samples (15%):
* Data will be generated to demonstrate maintenance of tissue viability and accurate assessment of tissue function.

Process, graph and report data and document methodologies for papers and grants (10%):
* Data will be generated confirming the accuracy and reliability of the instrumentation.  Methodologies need to be clearly and concisely described.
** Required Qualifications
** To be considered for this opportunity your application must demonstrate you meet both the minimum qualifications and additional qualifications listed below. Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration.
** Minimum Qualifications
** Applicants who do not meet these qualifications WILL NOT be forwarded to the Hiring Manager.
* Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related engineering field and two years of designing hardware and software.
** Additional Qualifications
*** Experience in instrumentation, electronics, engineering principals and software development.
** Preferred Qualifications
*** CAD drawing, 3D printing, numerical solutions and data processing.
* Experience working in a research setting.
** About The Research
** The purpose of the research project(s) this position supports:
Role of dissolved gas signals on retinal, islet and tissue function.  Dissolved O2 and dissolved trace gases produced by cells (H2S, NO and CO) act as signals to regulate cellular and mitochondrial function.  Yet despite the scientific and clinical importance of dissolved gases, quantitative methods to measure the real time effects of dissolved gases on intact tissue are not available.

Thus, there is a strong need to develop and utilize technology that enables the study of both abundant and trace dissolved gases. The system we have developed achieves unprecedented control of both O2 and trace gases and lays the foundation to investigate new effects of dissolved gases that have been…