Job Description

Role: Research Associate in Bioengineering - Design, material sourcing, fabrication and implementation of a Microelectrode array scanning system for cardiac drug discovery and safety screening.

Directorate: School of Engineering & Physical Sciences  

Grade and Salary:  Grade 7, spine point 28 (£37,694)

FTE and working pattern: Full-time, 35hrs per week; Fixed Term (18 Months)  

Holiday Entitlement: 33 days annual leave  plus 9 buildings closed days (and Christmas Eve when it falls on a weekday).

This role is based on the Heriot-Watt Edinburgh campus, and it is not suitable for remote or hybrid working.

Purpose of Role

This is an exciting opportunity to work in a dynamic research lab on a British Heart Foundation translational award that will be implemented at Heriot- Watt University and the University of Edinburgh. The position is for a post-doctoral research scientist with experience of practical engineering solutions (e.g bioengineering, electronic engineering, and/or mechanical engineering). The candidates outputs will underpin the production of a novel cardiac drug screening platform, with their primary responsibility being the production of a functional prototype based on the team’s current patent. (It is expected that additional novel IP will be generated in the course of the project.) The successful applicant will also be expected to engage in the development of a commercialisation strategy.

The post is based at the Heriot Watt University. The post-doctoral research scientist will work under the guidance of Dr Euan Brown and will collaborate closely with engineers at Heriot-Watt University (Professor Duncan Hand, and Dr Alan Faulkner-Jones). In the wider project, the successful candidate will also collaborate with co-PIs Professor Shareen Forbes (Institute of Neuroscience and Cardiovascular research) and Professor Neil Carragher (Edinburgh Cancer Discovery Unit and Edinburgh) and their respective teams, in order to support the further development of the device for commercial readiness. This will include the development of the device with an automated high-throughput system for cardio-spheroid handling.

The role also includes participation in the implementation of a Quality Management System to ensure ISO compatibility (training will be provided). The post-doctoral research scientist will contribute to report writing, IP reviews, business planning, and regulatory documentation, working alongside experts in commercialisation and regulatory development.

The position is supported by a British Heart Foundation Translational Award to develop a diagnostic platform for screening new drugs for cardiac arrhythmias, with the goal of commercial readiness. The project offers a unique opportunity for the candidate to contribute to and understand the steps necessary for successful commercialisation.

Research Environment

The engineering aspects of this project will be based in the Biophysics Laboratories at Heriot-Watt University, working directly with Dr Euan Brown. There will also be research interactions with the other academic and research staff (as listed above).

The candidate will report on project progress at weekly meetings. This will involve the preparation of informal presentations and short reports.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• We are looking for a creative and highly motivated engineer willing to work as part of a team. A willingness to learn new knowledge and up-skill is essential.  
• General tasks will involve engineering and scientific research; analysis and interpretation of data; communication with other researchers and academic staff involved in this collaborative research.
• The successful candidate will take responsibility for designing and implementation of engineering solutions.  
• Engineering design and prototype building are important aspects of the work, and the candidate will also be expected to operate equipment such as 3D printing for prototyping of test devices.

Essential & Desirable Criteria

Essential

Education & Qualifications: Essential Criteria 

• A PhD in a relevant subject pertinent to the profile.
• Master’s degree in a relevant area of Engineering or related subject.
• Ability to articulate research work, both in written technical reports / papers and by oral presentation.  
• Ability to formulate and progress work on own initiative with evidence of research ability: problem solving, flexibility.  

Skills & Experience: Essential Criteria 

• Demonstrable experience with equipment builds and prototyping.
• Demonstrable strong design and innovation skills.  
• Capacity for collaboration.
• Energy and enthusiasm for research work.

Desirable

• Previous experience working in a translational engineering project.  
• Demonstrating skills & experience in topics relevant to the project, including the following:   
• Knowledge of and construction of biocompatible tissue traps/microfluidic systems
• Strong design –to- prototype skills
• Experience with PCB design and integration of electronics
• Experience with data acquisition software such as LabVIEW , MATLAB, Python and/or C/C++
• Practical problem-solving skills
• Demonstration of / proof of ability to collaborate with senior and junior research team members.   

About our Team 

Dr Euan Brown is a biophysicist who works in the interface between Biomedical Science and Biophysics with particular emphasis on bioelectricity. His laboratory at Heriot-Watt has access to excellent facilities for cell culture, micro and nano fabrication systems and mechanical and electronic workshops. He currently has 2 PhD students and one PG. assistant. The laboratory aims to pioneer the development of medically relevant manufacturing processes and applications and successfully transferring these to a wide range of industrial sectors with an emphasis on bioelectricity.

About the Directorate (School of Engineering & Physical Sciences)

Heriot-Watt University has established a reputation for world-class teaching and leading-edge, relevant research, which has made it one of the top UK universities for innovation, business and industry.  

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.  

The School of Engineering & Physical Sciences has an international research reputation and close connection with the professional and industrial world of science, engineering and technology.  Our research ranges from fundamental sciences through to engineering applications, all of which are supported by strong external funding.  We have around 150 full-time academic staff who drive this research activity and are based in 5 research institutes:  the Institute of Chemical Sciences, the Institute of Photonics & Quantum Sciences, the Institute of Mechanical, Process & Energy Engineering, the Institute of Sensors, Signals & Systems and the Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics & Bioengineering (in which the current project is based).

The School of Engineering & Physical Sciences has just received a Silver Award from the Athena SWAN Charter recognising excellence in championing employment of women in the fields of science and technology, engineering and mathematics.   

In addition, we deliver teaching across 7 undergraduate and post-graduate programmes: Chemistry; Physics; Combined studies, Electrical, Electronic & Computer Engineering; Chemical Engineering; Mechanical Engineering and Brewing & Distilling.

How to Apply

Applications can be submitted up to midnight  (UK time)  on  23:55 on 18th of June 2026.

Please submit via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment system (1) Cover letter describing their interest and how they comply to the essential / desired criterial for the post; (2) Full CV.

We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g., part-time working and job share options.

For further information and an informal discussion about the post, please contact Dr Euan Brown via email Euan.R.Brown@HW.AC.UK

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. For more information, please see our website  https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/equality-diversity.htm and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers  https://disc.hw.ac.uk/ 

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.

About Heriot-Watt University

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.