{"id":2095954,"url":"https://alion.io/job/ncl-research-assistantassociate-4","title":"Research Assistant/Associate","company":{"id":20390,"name":"NCL","domain":"ncl.ac.uk","url":"https://alion.io/company/ncl","size_band":null,"is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"SuccessFactors","truth_index":null},"role":"Science & Research","role_family":"Science & Research","seniority":null,"employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Newcastle, United Kingdom"],"countries":["GB"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":33951,"max":35608,"currency":"GBP","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":47059},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"LoRaWAN","optional":false},{"name":"Wi-Fi","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-09-03T02:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-03","last_verified_at":"2026-10-12T01:29:41Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":39,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":39},"description":"Salary: Research Assistant - £33,951 to £35,608 per annum\nResearch Associate - £36,636 to £46,049 per annum\nNewcastle 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.\nClosing Date: 15 October 2026\nThe Role\nThe Microsystems Research Group is seeking a highly motivated Research Assistant/Associate to support the Northern Net Zero Impact Accelerator (NNZA) project: “Real-time Control and Optimisation for Boosting Microbial Electrolysis Cell Performance in Energy-Efficient Wastewater Treatment.”\nThis project aims to advance a TRL6 controller prototype for microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) to TRL7, enabling real-time optimisation of applied voltage and current to enhance wastewater treatment efficiency, reduce energy consumption, and improve biogas production (hydrogen and methane).\nYou will contribute to the design, development, testing, and deployment of a real-time control and monitoring system integrating:\nEmbedded hardware platforms\nControl algorithms (e.g. PID, PWM)\nIoT communication (WiFi/LoRaWAN)\nData acquisition and analysis pipelines\nThe role involves close collaboration with:\nAcademic team members\nIndustrial partners (Northumbrian Water Group, METzero Ltd)\nField deployment environments (wastewater treatment facilities)\nDuration of the post is full time, fixed term for 12 months.\nFind out more about the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering (SAgE) here: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/sage/\nFind out more about our Research Institute: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/engineering/research/microsystems/\nWe want you to feel confident when applying for a position with Newcastle University. If you’d like an informal discussion to clarify any points, please contact \nTo apply please upload a copy of your CV and cover letter evidencing how your skills and experiences align to the person specification as outlined within the job description.\nKey Accountabilities\nResearch Assistant\nDesign and implement embedded control systems for real-time optimisation of MEC performance and develop control algorithms for adaptive system behaviour\nIntegrate hardware/software co-design solutions for monitoring voltage, current, and system performance and develop data acquisition and remote monitoring systems using IoT technologies (e.g. LoRaWAN/WiFi)\nCollect, analyse and interpret research data and draw conclusions on the outcomes\nCo-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)\nUse research resources (including, where required, laboratories, workshops and specialist equipment) as appropriate\nResearch Associate\nDesign and implement embedded control systems for real-time optimisation of MEC performance and develop control algorithms for adaptive system behaviour\nIntegrate hardware/software co-design solutions for monitoring voltage, current, and system performance and develop data acquisition and remote monitoring systems using IoT technologies (e.g. LoRaWAN/WiFi)\nContribute ideas, including enhancements to the technical or methodological aspects of the project\nDetermine appropriate methodologies for research\nAssess research findings for the need/scope for further investigations\nContribute to the writing up of the research and its dissemination, either through seminar and conference presentations or through publications\nPresent research findings, either at conferences or through publications in reputable outlets appropriate to the discipline\nContribute to grant applications submitted by others and develop own research objectives and proposals for funding\nThe Person\nKnowledge, Skills and Experience\nResearch Assistant\nStrong background in embedded systems design and electronic engineering with knowledge of control systems (e.g. PID controllers, feedback systems)\nExperience with microcontrollers and embedded programming, and understanding of hardware/software co-design principles\nExperience in data acquisition systems and sensor integration, and knowledge of low-power and energy-efficient system design\nExperience with PCB design and prototyping, and ability to conduct experimental testing and data analysis\nAttention to detail and ability to work at high levels of accuracy\nAbility to present complex information effectively to a range of audiences\nProven ability to analyse data and write-up results\nExperience of working collaboratively with colleagues\nExcellent IT skills in all major office applications\nThe ability to use personal initiative and creativity to solve research problems\nIn addition for Research Associate\nAwareness of the research environment\nHigh level of analytical and problem solving capacity\nAbility to communicate complex information with clarity\nExperience of presentations at conferences and/or in high quality publications\nAttributes and Behavior\nCommitment to working positively as a member of a multi-skilled research team\nAbility to negotiate and prioritise multiple, competing responsibilities and to work to deadlines\nCommitment to continued professional development\nUnderstanding of good practice in equality, inclusion and diversity\nQualifications\nResearch Assistant\nHonours degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Embedded Systems, Computer Engineering or a closely related discipline\nResearch Associate\nPhD in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Embedded Systems, or related field\nNewcastle 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.\nWe 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.\nAt Newcastle University we hold a GoldAthena 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.\nIn addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.\nRequisition ID: 29266","description_format":"text","description_chars":7237,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"phd","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Professional development"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Design & Creative","Education","Higher Education"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-08T16:48:41Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":17,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.482,"p_room":0.35,"age_days":37,"expected_fill_days":18,"reasons":["conf:3","wave","win:tail"],"computed_at":"2026-10-10T05:45:15Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":47059,"is_top_pay":false},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/ncl-research-assistantassociate-4","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/ncl-research-assistantassociate-4.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-12T06:47:27Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":10881,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-13T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":20390},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=20390"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fncl-research-assistantassociate-4"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fncl-research-assistantassociate-4"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fncl-research-assistantassociate-4"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/ncl-research-assistantassociate-4\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fncl-research-assistantassociate-4"}]}