Research Assistant/Associate in Micromanufacturing of Passive Wireless Components

Location: Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom Department: Research

Role: Research Assistant/Associate in RF and Experimental Characterisation of Microfabricated Electronic Devices

Grade and Salary: Grade 6 - £31,236 - £36,636 / Grade 7 - £37,694 - £47,389 per annum

Contract Type: Full Time (1FTE), Fixed Term for 4 Months

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

Detailed Description

Applications are invited for a four-month Research Assistant/Associate position at Heriot-Watt University to support an interdisciplinary research programme developing highly miniaturised electronic systems for bio-inspired aerial platforms.

The work forms part of an ARIA-funded collaboration between Heriot-Watt University and the University of Edinburgh, bringing together expertise in microdevices, electronic systems, sensing, wireless technologies and bio-inspired engineering.

The successful applicant will focus primarily on the RF, high-frequency and experimental characterisation of externally fabricated microelectronic devices.

Device fabrication will be undertaken by specialist external facilities. The principal responsibility of the researcher will therefore be to develop appropriate electrical and RF measurement approaches, establish experimental test arrangements, characterise fabricated devices and analyse their performance.

The work will involve hands-on laboratory characterisation using high-frequency electronic test and measurement equipment, investigation of transient electrical behaviour, comparison of different device designs and fabrication variants, and support for the evaluation of device performance within the wider electronic and wireless system.

Because of the short duration of the appointment, we are particularly interested in candidates with strong practical experimental skills who can rapidly establish and troubleshoot measurement systems and work independently towards clearly defined project objectives.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

Develop and implement experimental procedures for the electrical, RF and high-frequency characterisation of externally fabricated microelectronic devices.

Design and establish appropriate laboratory measurement arrangements for evaluating device performance.

Develop suitable experimental interfaces between microfabricated devices and electronic measurement equipment, including probes, test fixtures, PCB-based interfaces or equivalent approaches where required.

Perform electrical and high-frequency measurements to assess device behaviour, signal characteristics, temporal response, repeatability and device-to-device variability.

Acquire and analyse fast transient or pulsed electrical signals using appropriate measurement instrumentation.

Select appropriate measurement bandwidths, probes, cabling and acquisition methods for reliable high-frequency characterisation.

Investigate and minimise measurement artefacts associated with grounding, shielding, impedance, parasitic effects, noise and signal integrity.

Characterise and compare different device designs and fabrication variants.

Assess device reliability, repeatability and potential failure mechanisms.

Use relevant laboratory instrumentation, which may include high-bandwidth oscilloscopes, signal generators, source-measure units, spectrum analysers, RF measurement equipment, probes, power supplies and related test instrumentation.

Undertake optical or microscopic inspection of fabricated devices where appropriate and relate physical device characteristics to measured electrical performance.

Support the characterisation of device performance within the wider miniaturised electronic and wireless system.

Analyse experimental measurements using MATLAB, Python or equivalent computational tools.

Compare experimental measurements with modelling or theoretical predictions generated by the wider project team.

Provide technical feedback to the project team and external fabrication partners regarding device performance and potential improvements.

Maintain clear and accurate experimental records and prepare technical reports summarising results and recommendations.

Develop appropriate risk assessments and work within established laboratory health and safety procedures.

Present experimental results and plans at regular meetings with project collaborators.

Contribute to project reports, scientific publications and presentations.

Work closely with researchers at Heriot-Watt University, the University of Edinburgh and external project partners.

Demonstrate initiative in planning, troubleshooting and delivering experimental activities within the timescale of the project.

Essential Criteria

Qualifications

Applicants should hold a degree-level qualification in a relevant discipline such as:

Electrical or Electronic Engineering;

RF or Microwave Engineering;

Applied Physics;

Microsystems or Microengineering;

Instrumentation;

or another closely related discipline.

For appointment at Research Associate level, applicants would normally hold a PhD or equivalent relevant research or professional experience.

For appointment at Research Assistant level, applicants should hold an appropriate degree and demonstrate relevant practical experimental experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Applicants should demonstrate:

Practical experience in RF, microwave or high-frequency electrical measurement and characterisation.

Practical experience in the measurement and analysis of fast transient or pulsed electrical signals.

Strong hands-on experience using electronic test and measurement instrumentation, including oscilloscopes and associated measurement equipment.

Experience developing, establishing and troubleshooting experimental electrical or RF measurement systems.

Understanding of high-frequency measurement considerations including bandwidth, impedance, grounding, shielding, p