Research Assistant/Associate in Heterogeneous ICs in Newcastle upon Tyne

Location: Newcastle, GB

Contract Type: Fixed Term

Working Pattern: Full Time

Posted Date: 1 Sept 2026

Research Assistant: £33,951 to £35,608 per annum

Research Associate: £35,608 to £38,784 per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 29 September 2026

The Role

The School of Engineering at Newcastle University invites applications for a Research Assistant/Associate position in Hardware–Software Co-design for Heterogeneous Integrated Circuits within the Microsystems Research Group. The programme’s mission is to develop innovative methods for designing and integrating microchips manufactured using different semiconductor technologies. By enabling specialised chiplets to operate together seamlessly within a single system, CHIMES² seeks to establish secure, scalable, and energy-efficient computing platforms with enhanced performance. These advancements will facilitate the creation of smaller, faster, and more adaptable systems for next-generation computing applications.

Working with consortium partners, the postholder will also help investigate how this hardware can be integrated with chiplets implemented using different semiconductor technologies. Based in the Microsystems AI (MAI) Lab, the postholder will investigate how algorithmic requirements.

This is a full-time, fixed-term position for up to 36 months, with the precise end date subject to confirmation. The role is based in the School of Engineering at Newcastle University and may involve occasional travel to CHIMES² partner institutions, project meetings and conferences.

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate their right to work in the UK before commencing employment. We follow the Researcher Development Concordat: Researcher Development | Our Research | Newcastle University. We enable all colleagues to fulfil their research potential regardless of career stage. This commitment secures our thriving research culture and vibrant research environment. Our offer to each individual and their researcher development includes mentoring, annual research planning discussions, pooled research funding to support career development and research activities, peer review support for the development of research and innovation funding applications.

The successful candidate will report to Professor Rishad Shafik and will work closely with researchers in the Microsystems Group, the wider CHIMES² project team and collaborating institutions.

We want you to feel confident when applying for a position with Newcastle University. For an informal discussion about the role or to clarify any aspect of the project, please contact Professor Rishad Shafik at rishad.shafik@newcastle.ac.uk.

We are committed to making our recruitment process accessible and can provide reasonable adjustments or additional support to meet individual needs. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview, which is expected to take place early October. Further details about the interview format will be provided to shortlisted applicants.

Find out more about the Faculty Science, Agriculture & Engineering (SAgE) here: SAgE.

As part of our commitment to career development for research colleagues, the University has developed 3 levels of Research Innovation Role Profiles. These profiles set out firstly the generic competencies and responsibilities expected of role holders at each level and, secondly, the general qualifications and experiences needed for entry at a particular level.

Newcastle University is committed to the responsible use of research metrics as part of our research culture and research strategy. We advocate for the transparent, appropriate, and inclusive use of metrics, guided by expert judgment, to support high-quality, impactful research that is open, collaborative and sustainable.

Key Accountabilities

• Research Assistant
• Collect, analyse and interpret research data and draw conclusions on the outcomes.
• Co-ordinate own work with that of others, use problem solving to affect the achievement of research objectives and contribute to the planning of the project(s).
• Present information on research progress and outcomes to a Principal Investigator or groups overseeing the research project.
• Write up results from own research activity and provide input into the research project’s dissemination, in whatever form (report, papers, chapters, books).
• Use research resources (including, where required, laboratories, workshops and specialist equipment) as appropriate.
• Research Associate
• Contribute ideas, including enhancements to the technical or methodological aspects of the project.
• Determine appropriate methodologies for research.
• Assess research findings for the need/scope for further investigations.
• Contribute to the writing up of the research and its dissemination, either through seminar and conference presentations or through publications.
• Present research findings, either at conferences or through publications in reputable outlets appropriate to the discipline.
• Contribute to grant applications submitted by others and develop own research objectives and proposals for funding.

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Research Assistant
• Attention to detail and ability to work at high levels of accuracy.
• Ability to present complex information effectively to a range of audiences.
• Proven ability to analyse data and write-up results.
• Experience of working collaboratively with colleagues.
• Excellent IT skills in all major office applications.
• The ability to use personal initiative and creativity to solve research problems.
• Experience of mixed-signal integrated-circuit design, simulation or verification.
• ASIC design flows, EDA tools and IC tapeout digital hardware design, including RTL design and verification, ASIC design flows and relevant EDA tools.
• Understanding of hardware-software co-design, including translating algorithms or software workloads into hardware architectures.
• Where applicable, your experience of the below (desirable): FPGA prototyping and post-silicon validation. Python programming skills.
• In addition for Research Associate
• Awareness of the research environment.
• High level of analytical and problem solving capacity.
• Ability to communicate complex information with clarity.
• Experience of presentations at conferences and/or in high quality publications.

Attributes and Behaviour

• Commitment to working positively as a member of a multi-skilled research team.
• Ability to negotiate and prioritise multiple, competing responsibilities and to work to deadlines.
• Commitment to continued professional development.
• Understanding of good practice in equality, inclusion and diversity.

Qualifications

• Research Assistant
• Honours degree in electrical or electronic engineering, microelectronics, integrated-circuit design, computer engineering or a closely related discipline.
• In addition for Research Associate
• A PhD in electrical or electronic engineering, microelectronics, integrated-circuit design, computer engineering or a closely related discipline.

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution. We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a Gold Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme. In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.