Senior Research Associate

This Postdoctoral Research Associate position is focused on developing an optical device that can detect the effect of an antibiotic on a bacterial suspension. The prototype development is part of a larger project that aims to create a diagnostic device that can detect antimicrobial resistance in urine samples, and help GPs prescribe antibiotics to treat urinary tract infections.

You will be responsible for developing the next version of the current instrument that records bacterial activity using an evanescent wave and can rapidly detect the effect of antibiotics on bacteria. The development of the new prototype will involve an initial phase in which you will present various designs that will be evaluated based on their feasibility, potential for automation, and cost. After consulting with all project partners, a preferred solution will be selected.

During this stage, your responsibility will be to source the required OEM parts and design the necessary optomechanics and electronics components along with the software interface. In the next stage, you will supervise the construction of the prototype and ensure that it is thoroughly tested before sending it to our project partners for validation. Any feedback received from the partners will be taken into consideration and used to make improvements to the prototype until the end of the project.

• Working in a Co-design environment that includes all the project stakeholders.
• Design of different prototypes with simpler form factor of the current instrument. The plans will include estimated performances against all the stakeholders’ requirements.
• Production of the blueprints of the selected prototype. This includes opto-mechanical design, integration with OEM components, control electronics and software.
• Supervision of the construction of the prototype components and final assembly

• You are excited about bio-medical instrument design and thrive in an interdisciplinary environment.
• You have a strong background in optomechanics and electronics design; ideally, you have a record of original solutions to measuring devices. 

Contract type: Open ended with fixed funding until 31/10/2026

Work pattern: Full time

Grade: I/J - Pathway 2

Salary: £37099 - £41,732 (Grade I) or £41,732 - £46,974 (Grade J) per annum depending on experience

School/Unit: School of Physics

This advert will close at23:59 UK timeon 05/06/2024

Interviews are anticipated to take place in early June 2024

For informal queries, please contact: [email protected]  

We recently launched our strategy  to 2030 tying together our mission, vision and values.

The University of Bristol aims to be a place where everyone feels able to be themselves and do their best in an inclusive working environment where all colleagues can thrive and reach their full potential. We want to attract, develop, and retain individuals with different experiences, backgrounds and perspectives – particularly people of colour, LGBT+ and disabled people - because diversity of people and ideas remains integral to our excellence as a global civic institution.

Available documents

This Postdoctoral Research Associate position is focused on developing an optical device that can detect the effect of an antibiotic on a bacterial suspension. The prototype development is part of a larger project that aims to create a diagnostic device that can detect antimicrobial resistance in urine samples, and help GPs prescribe antibiotics to treat urinary tract infections.

You will be responsible for developing the next version of the current instrument that records bacterial activity using an evanescent wave and can rapidly detect the effect of antibiotics on bacteria. The development of the new prototype will involve an initial phase in which you will present various designs that will be evaluated based on their feasibility, potential for automation, and cost. After consulting with all project partners, a preferred solution will be selected.

During this stage, your responsibility will be to source the required OEM parts and design the necessary optomechanics and electronics components along with the software interface. In the next stage, you will supervise the construction of the prototype and ensure that it is thoroughly tested before sending it to our project partners for validation. Any feedback received from the partners will be taken into consideration and used to make improvements to the prototype until the end of the project.

• Working in a Co-design environment that includes all the project stakeholders.
• Design of different prototypes with simpler form factor of the current instrument. The plans will include estimated performances against all the stakeholders’ requirements.
• Production of the blueprints of the selected prototype. This includes opto-mechanical design, integration with OEM components, control electronics and software.
• Supervision of the construction of the prototype components and final assembly

• You are excited about bio-medical instrument design and thrive in an interdisciplinary environment.
• You have a strong background in optomechanics and electronics design; ideally, you have a record of original solutions to measuring devices. 

Contract type: Open ended with fixed funding until 31/10/2026

Work pattern: Full time

Grade: I/J - Pathway 2

Salary: £37099 - £41,732 (Grade I) or £41,732 - £46,974 (Grade J) per annum depending on experience

School/Unit: School of Physics

This advert will close at23:59 UK timeon 05/06/2024

Interviews are anticipated to take place in early June 2024

For informal queries, please contact: [email protected]  

We recently launched our strategy  to 2030 tying together our mission, vision and values.

The University of Bristol aims to be a place where everyone feels able to be themselves and do their best in an inclusive working environment where all colleagues can thrive and reach their full potential. We want to attract, develop, and retain individuals with different experiences, backgrounds and perspectives – particularly people of colour, LGBT+ and disabled people - because diversity of people and ideas remains integral to our excellence as a global civic institution.

Available documents