Student Casual – Research Electronics Technician/Engineer – Computer Science – Grade 6 – 907121 in Birmingham

People are at the heart of what we are and do. The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are recognised as a leading global university. We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success. We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate. We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work.

The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston with excellent transport links to our campus. On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens.

Role Summary

The post holder will work within a multidisciplinary research laboratory alongside academic staff and postgraduate researchers to finalise a novel optical instrument for measuring the dynamic properties of biological tissue (Diffuse Correlation Spectroscopy, DCS). The role is primarily technical and hands-on. The successful candidate will be responsible for implementing electronic control and acquisition circuitry for optical sources and detectors, integrating these components with a National Instruments DAQ system, and validating the system’s operation against specifications described in the literature.

Main Duties

• Reading relevant research literature, technical documentation, and component datasheets to understand system requirements and prior designs.
• Designing, assembling, and implementing electronic circuits to power and control laser light sources and optical detectors.
• Integrating light sources and detectors with a National Instruments DAQ card for control and data acquisition.
• Implementing and testing data acquisition and control protocols using appropriate software tools (LabVIEW).
• Debugging electronic, timing, and signal integrity issues during system integration.
• Documenting the final circuit design, connections, and operational procedures for future use in the lab.

Person Specification

This role will be based in a research laboratory within the School of Computer Science. It is essential that the applicant has practical experience in electronics, electrical engineering, or a closely related field. Familiarity with data acquisition systems, including LabVIEW, is desired but not strictly required.

It is expected that the device will be fully operational within 3 months of the start date. Working hours are flexible within the 9am - 5pm window, subject to agreement with the line manager. This is a temporary casual position.

The University of Birmingham restricts all students to working up to 20 hours per week during term time. If your application is successful and your course does not follow the usual academic term timetable, you and your supervisor must formally agree vacation periods if this role exceeds 20 hours per week. International students must apply to the Registry for the appropriate Authorised Absence. You are only eligible to apply to this role if you are a current University of Birmingham student. If you are not a University of Birmingham student your application will not be considered. To work you will need to carry out a right to work check. These checks will need to be completed prior to work commencing.