Research Associate in Electronics and Electrical Engineering (Wearable Sensors) in Edinburgh

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

Working Pattern: Full time, 5 months fixed term contract

Reward and Benefits: 33 days annual leave, plus 9 built‑in closed days for all full time staff.

Purpose of Role: This Research Associate (RA) position will contribute to the “FlexiSense” project within the Institute of Signals, Sensors and Systems at Heriot‑Watt University, which is funded by the EPSRC Cross‑Institutional Impact Acceleration Award and in collaboration with colleagues at University of Edinburgh.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Undertake research related to wearable pressure sensors for optimised compression therapy. This includes independent work and collaboration on FlexiSense and FlexiShear projects, proactive engagement with collaborating researchers and clinical partners to define and quantify target specifications for a future commercial sensor system, and the design and build of a functioning field‑deployable prototype (60% of time).
• Dissemination of research findings through internal reports, conference proceedings, and journal publications (15% of time).
• Liaison with and support of colleagues on the EPSRC funded FlexiSense project, including domestic and international travel and support of meetings at Heriot‑Watt University, the University of Edinburgh, and the Pioneer Wound Healing and Lymphoedema Group (10% of time).
• Develop plans for personal research and contribute to wider group strategy to identify and agree priorities for current and future work (5% of time).
• Contribute to writing bids to win ongoing research grants and provide guidance to other staff and students interested in integrating methods/results from this work into their own activity (10% of time).

Key Contacts / Relationships:

• Frequent daily to weekly contact with other researchers in the project team and relevant research groups including academic staff, other researchers, technical staff, and PhD students.
• Regular weekly to monthly contact with researchers working on relevant projects at Heriot‑Watt University and the University of Edinburgh.
• Regular monthly contact with key stakeholders, likely to include industry and clinical partners.

Planning & Organising:

• Work with the line manager to define and plan a programme of relevant research work and produce publishable results within appropriate time‑frames.
• Plan tasks independently to ensure project progress according to agreed timetable.
• Organise own time so that different aspects of the project proceed concurrently, giving due consideration to the needs of other team members.
• Be proactive in interacting with project partners to share data and ideas.
• Take a leadership role in regular project meetings to report and review progress and generate new ideas and lines of research.
• Determine aims, objectives, and deadlines for short‑to‑medium‑term work plans in discussion with the line manager.
• Contribute to long‑term strategic planning and development of group activities with the line manager and other researchers.

Problem Solving:

• Be resourceful in overcoming problems encountered in the development of new approaches and the implementation of existing techniques.
• Define the methodology to solve problems in the project.
• Work closely with investigators, project partners, technical staff, and PhD students to resolve problems as required.

Decision Making:

• Organise work schedule to ensure satisfactory progress and meet realistic demands of project partners and PhD students.
• Make daily decisions about own work plan and allocation of time and resources.
• Manage day‑to‑day workload, making independent decisions about immediate priorities to meet short‑ and medium‑term targets agreed with the line manager.

Person Specification:

• Good undergraduate degree and a PhD (or equivalent industrial research experience) in Electronics and Electrical Engineering or a closely related area, with a focus on sensors, electronics system design, radio‑frequency electronics, or a closely related area.

• Proven track record of research in Electronics and Electrical Engineering, with a specific focus on radio‑frequency sensors, wearable electronics system design, or radio‑frequency electronics.
• Experience delivering research project results in Electronics and Electrical Engineering or a closely related context; record of peer‑reviewed journal and conference papers.
• Capable of working collaboratively with researchers from different disciplines or technical backgrounds.
• Capable of working independently, exercising a high degree of initiative and a proactive, flexible approach to work.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet agreed milestones.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships.
• Good time‑keeping and time‑management with associated effective prioritisation of tasks.
• Good communication skills; oral, writing, and presentation of data.
• Ability to contribute ideas and initiate new ways of working.
• Understanding and willingness to abide by the requirements of commercial confidentiality alongside the requirements of public dissemination.

• Interest or experience in the application of electronics and electrical engineering solutions to solve challenges in biomedical engineering.
• Interest or experience in the commercialization of research and technology, either in an academic or industrial environment.
• Experience in the design, build, and delivery of electronics hardware and/or software systems for specific end‑use requirements.
• Adaptability and willingness to accept new ideas and adjust plans to meet new priorities.
• Knowledge or experience in Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement.

Dimensions:

• Potential to help supervise up to 2 PhD students and 2-4 Masters project students.
• Work collaboratively with other RAs, industrial, clinical, and academic partners, technical staff, and PhD students from participating and related groups across multiple institutions.
• Responsibility for regular progress reporting to project partners.
• Keep line manager up‑to‑date with progress.
• Contribute to interactions between immediate group and broader communities working in the fields of compression sensing.

Key Job Hazard Information Specific to the Role:

• Work or contact with non‑ionising radiation sources such as lasers and hazardous EMF sources.
• Exposure to respiratory/skin sensitisers such as solder flux, glues, and resins.

Equal Employment Opportunity: Heriot‑Watt 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. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all. Heriot‑Watt University values diversity across our University community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups.