Research Associate in Sensor Development & Electronic Device Characterisation

Role Title: Research Associate in Sensor Development & Electronic Device Characterisation

Grade and Salary: Grade 7, £38,448 - £48,337 per annum

FTE and working pattern: Full-time (35hrs per week) Fixed Term until 31st March 2027.

Reward 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.

Purpose of Role

Applications are invited for a five-month Research Associate position at Heriot-Watt University to support an interdisciplinary ARIA-funded research programme developing highly miniaturised sensing and wireless technologies for bio-inspired aerial platforms.

The project is a collaboration between Heriot-Watt University and the University of Edinburgh and brings together expertise in sensing, functional materials, electronic systems, microdevices, wireless technologies and bio-inspired engineering.

The successful applicant will contribute to two equally important experimental activities within the project:

• Chemiluminescent sensor development and characterisation - This will include preparation and evaluation of candidate sensing materials, development of optical measurement methods, and assessment of temperature and relative-humidity response, repeatability and stability.

• Electronic device and high-frequency/RF characterisation - This will include development of suitable measurement arrangements for externally fabricated micro- and nanoscale devices, acquisition and analysis of electrical signals, and evaluation of device performance within the wider electronic and wireless system.

The position therefore requires an interdisciplinary experimental researcher with practical experience spanning both sensor/materials development and electronic or high-frequency characterisation. The successful candidate will develop experimental methods, establish and troubleshoot measurement systems, analyse results and contribute to technical decisions across both workstreams.

Fabrication of the micro- and nanoscale electronic devices will be undertaken by specialist external facilities. The focus of this appointment is experimental development, characterisation and validation rather than cleanroom fabrication.

Given the short duration of the appointment, we are particularly interested in candidates with strong practical laboratory skills who can work independently, adapt quickly to new techniques and deliver experimental results within a defined project timescale.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Chemiluminescent Sensor Development and Characterisation

• Prepare, refine and evaluate candidate chemiluminescent sensing materials and formulations in collaboration with the project team.
• Develop experimental methods to quantify sensor response under controlled temperature and relative-humidity conditions.
• Characterise sensor sensitivity, repeatability, variability, response behaviour and stability using appropriate reference measurements.
• Compare candidate formulations and sensor configurations and identify promising approaches for further development.
• Establish and use suitable optical measurement methods for quantitative sensor evaluation.
• Analyse results, identify experimental limitations and provide recommendations for subsequent sensor development.

Electronic Device and High-Frequency/RF Characterisation

• Develop and implement experimental procedures for the electrical and high-frequency/RF characterisation of externally fabricated micro- and nanoscale electronic devices.
• Establish suitable test arrangements and interfaces between devices and electronic measurement equipment.
• Acquire and analyse transient and high-frequency electrical signals using appropriate laboratory instrumentation.
• Characterise device performance, repeatability and device-to-device variability, and compare different device designs or fabrication variants.
• Identify and minimise measurement artefacts associated with noise, grounding, shielding, bandwidth and parasitic effects.
• Support evaluation of signal detectability and device performance within the wider electronic and wireless system.

Activities Across Both Research Strands

• Analyse experimental data using MATLAB, Python or equivalent computational tools.
• Develop appropriate quantitative methods for comparing experimental results.
• Maintain clear and accurate laboratory records and prepare concise technical reports.
• Provide technical feedback to project collaborators and external partners and contribute to decisions on subsequent experimental iterations.
• Develop appropriate risk assessments and COSHH documentation and work within established laboratory health and safety procedures.
• Present research findings and experimental plans at project meetings and contribute to reports, publications and presentations.
• Work effectively with researchers at Heriot-Watt University, the University of Edinburgh and external project partners.

Person Specification

These are the criteria on which the short-listing and recruitment selection will be made.

Applicants should hold a degree-level qualification in a relevant discipline such as Electrical or Electronic Engineering, Applied Physics, Materials Science or Engineering, Chemistry or Chemical Engineering, Sensors or Instrumentation, Microsystems Engineering, RF/Microwave Engineering, or another closely related discipline.

Applicants should hold a PhD in a relevant discipline, or have equivalent relevant research or professional experience.

Essential

• Practical laboratory experience in sensor development, functional materials, chemical or optical sensing, or related experimental materials research.
• Experience preparing, modifying or evaluating sensing materials, functional materials or chemical formulations.
• Experience in quantitative sensor characterisation or calibration, including assessment of repeatability and variability.
• Practical experience in electrical, RF, microwave or high-frequency measurement and characterisation.
• Hands-on experience using electronic test and measurement instrumentation and developing or troubleshooting experimental measurement systems.
• Experience analysing experimental data using MATLAB, Python or equivalent software.
• Strong experimental problem-solving skills and the ability to work effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
• Ability to organise and progress experimental work independently, communicate results clearly and deliver within short project timescales.

Desirable

Experience in one or more of the following areas would be advantageous:

• Chemiluminescent sensing or related optical sensing approaches.
• Temperature and/or relative-humidity sensing and calibration.
• Functional polymers, gels, organogels or other responsive materials.
• Low-light optical measurements or quantitative optical detection.
• Characterisation of microfabricated electronic or MEMS devices.
• Probe-station measurements or electrical testing of microfabricated structures.
• Fast transient, pulsed or single-shot electrical measurements.
• RF receiver, spectrum analyser, vector network analyser or related RF measurement techniques.
• Design or assembly of electronic/RF test circuits, interfaces or PCBs.
• Automated experimental control and data acquisition using MATLAB, Python, LabVIEW or similar tools.
• Experience combining material-based sensors with electronic measurement or data-acquisition systems.
• Experience contributing to multidisciplinary research projects or working with external fabrication/specialist partners.

Experience of cleanroom processing or microfabrication would be beneficial for understanding the devices but is not essential, as device fabrication will be undertaken externally.

How to Apply

Please submit via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment system (1) Cover letter describing your interest and suitability for the post; (2) Full CV

Applications can be submitted until 23:55 on Wednesday 21st October 2026.

We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We therefore encourage you to submit your application promptly.

About the Project

The research forms part of an ARIA-funded programme investigating new sensing and wireless technologies for highly miniaturised, bio-inspired aerial systems. The programme combines functional sensing materials, electronic devices, wireless technologies and bio-inspired engineering.

The successful applicant will contribute directly to the experimental feasibility and validation of both the sensing and electronic-device components of the system.

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.

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/ .

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