September 20, 2024

Heriot Watt University

Edinburgh

FULL TIME

Post Doctoral Research Associate in Microfluidic and Lab Automation Technologies

Directorate:â€¯ School of Engineering & Physical Sciences
Grade:â€¯ Grade 7 (£36,023-£40,522)
Contract Type:â€¯ Full Time (35 hours per week), Fixed Term (20 Months)
Rewards and Benefits: 33 days annual leave, plus 9 buildings closed days for all full time staff. Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.
Detailed Description

Heriot-Watt University is seeking to recruit an enthusiastic engineer to work as part of an interdisciplinary Healthcare Technology team. The successful candidate will be employed for a period of 20 months and will be requiredâ€¯to fulfil the research obligations of a project entitled â€œMicro SNARE: Automated Enrichment Of Circulating Tumour DNA For Improved Cancer Treatmentâ€�. This research is funded by EPSRC and aims to develop microfluidic methods to enrich informative DNA biomarkers from cancer patient's blood samples.
The post-holder will be required to develop benchtop automation and microfluidic strategies to process and analyse blood and plasma samples. Some understanding of molecular biology would be beneficial. They will be expected to work as part of a wider research team.â€¯
The role will be based at the University's campus in Edinburgh.â€¯ The candidate will have access to established university resources, and an induction programme and training will be delivered to all new appointees.â€¯
Key Duties and Responsibilities

Conduct and manage research and related administrative activities,â€¯with guidance as required, ensuring that project aims and objectives are met.

Working closely with the supervisory team, develop and plan research objectives.

Present information on research progress and outcomes to, for example, project lead, funding body, university research committee, research team, etc.

Publish research reports, conference and indexed journal papers in line with project requirements.

Build appropriate networks within and outside the team.

Support dissemination and contribute to technical workshops, seminars and conferences as appropriate

Where needed, travel to partner universities and research collaborators to carry out research and/or attend meetings presentations etc.

Ensure that all data collection undertaken as part of the project is done so ethically and in line with both UK (GDPR) privacy and data protection policies, and in compliance with the requirements of the funder.

Education, Qualifications and Experience
Essential

Ph D degree in Engineering or related cognate discipline

Experience of developing custom lab automation

Excellent 2D and 3D CAD modelling skills

Experience of programming microcontrollers (Arduino, Raspberry Pi)

Experience of prototyping techniques such as laser cutting and 3D printing

Clear communicator with good reading and writing skills; good at understanding and explaining concepts

Possesses research and analytical skills with strong capacity to conduct independent research

Ability to conceptualize problems and develop well-reasoned and logical viewpoints

Ability to work both independently and as part of a team

Enjoys being part of an academic community, and willing to take a 'hands on' approach from the outset.â€¯

Strong organisational skills and ability to handle large data sets

Desirable

Some knowledge of molecular biology

Experience of biological fluid handling

Experience of publishing papers in journals / conferences

Successful completion of funded research and/or funded knowledge exchange

About our Team
The project will be co-supervised by Prof Maiwenn Kersaudy-Kerhoas (Microfluidics engineering) and Prof Nick Leslie (Cancer Biology) working within the Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering.

https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/schools/engineering-physical-sciences/institutes/ib3.htm
About Heriot-Watt

Research at HWU focuses on the challenges of significance to our society and draws upon close collaboration with industry and government sectors. Our profile has grown significantly over recent years, and we seek to build upon this success by extending our reach, building upon the themes of innovation and enterprise. With state-of-the-art learning resources and teaching spaces, the campus is a dynamic and stimulating place to study, boasting an exceptional range of facilities to provide a high-quality student experience.â€¯ These include a variety of informal study spaces, an extensive library and easy access to IT facilities with wireless Internet connectivity throughout. Teaching activities are styled on a student-centred approach to learning, which means, students develop independence, emotional intelligence and analytical skills, making them highly sought after by employers.â€¯
Nearly 30,000 students study with Heriot-Watt across business, engineering, design and the social, physical, biological and sports sciences. Our student body is roughly split evenly between the UK, our two campuses in Dubai and Malaysia, and online, with the latter being distributed across almost all the countries of the world. We also have many partnerships with other institutions world-wide who award Heriot-Watt degrees.
How to Apply
Please submit via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment system (1) A cover letter describing your interest and suitability for the post; (2) A full CVâ€¯
Applications can be submitted until midnight onâ€¯ Friday 18th October 2024.

At Heriot Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team.
Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.
Heriot-Wattâ€¯University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities.â€¯ Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.
Heriot-Wattâ€¯University values diversity across our University community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our websiteâ€¯ https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/equality-diversity.htm â€¯and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careersâ€¯ https://disc.hw.ac.uk/ â€¯.
We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g. part-time working and job share options.
Use our total rewards calculator:â€¯ https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm â€¯to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.