Post-Doctoral Research Fellow - Cell manipulation and micro fluidics

To create and contribute to the creation of knowledge by undertaking a specified range of activities with the EPSRC – Bright Ideas, Engineering a Prosperous Nation funded project. Born Slippy is an adventurous research programme that aims to discover the tribological profile of therapeutic hysterosalpingography (HSG), using a series of novel experimental procedures

• Work within specified research grant and project
• Operate within area of specialisms including but not limited to, biomedical engineer, with a focus on Human Reproductive Science (role 1) cell manipulation, micro fluidics, tribology, materials characterisation (role 2), mechanical design.
• Analyse and interpret research findings and results
• Disseminate significant research findings in appropriate ways (journal papers, presenting at conferences, public engagement events), capture potential impact
• Finding and engaging with clinicians, practitioners, and other potential partners.
• Contribute to writing bids and generating funding
• Contribute to licensing or spin out deals with demonstrated commercial success (such as revenues, asset or company sales, IP generated) and/or public understanding of the discipline or similar

Main Duties

The responsibilities may include some but not all of the responsibilities outlined below.

• Analyse and interpret data generated from Born Slippy.
• Apply knowledge, experience and critical analysis in a way which develops new intellectual understanding
• Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars etc. as determined by the project management group.
• Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods to enable the tribological properties of the Born Slippy system to be determined.
• 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 as defined in the Born Slippy research proposal and using any other methodologies that may be appropriate literature reviews.
• Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars, research symposia 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*
• Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, with assistance of The project Principal Investigator.
• Contribute to writing bids for research funding
• Decide in consultation with the Principal Investigator on the most appropriate way of undertaking the specified research activities
• Decide in consultation with the Principal Investigator as appropriate how to analyse and interpret the data from the specified research activities
• Decide in consultation with the Principal Investigator as appropriate what knowledge to draw on and how to apply it to develop new intellectual understanding
• Contribute to deciding what information to include in a bid for research funding and how to present the bid to maximise the likelihood of securing the funding
• Decide in collaboration with co-authors which aspects of the research findings to include in a presentation or a publication and how to convey the findings
• Give guidance, support and advice to students on research related work including PhD students and decide the most appropriate method of providing this supervision.
• Liaise with research staff and support staff on research-related matters
• Find, engage and liaise with potential external collaborators on the research
• Give presentations and/or contribute to presentations at national and/or international conferences
• Referee articles for peer-reviewed academic journals
• Maintain contact with (including membership of) appropriate professional bodies
• Liaise with the relevant external research community via seminars and conferences
• Participate in internal networks for the exchange of information and to form relationships for future collaboration
• Liaise with external clients of the University or members of the public

Person Specification

• First degree in Mechanical Engineering, materials science and a higher degree in mechanical engineering, materials science, or biomedical engineering a focus on Human Reproduction would be advantageous.
• High level analytical capability, with evidence of the application of engineering principles, including:
  • Knowledge of characterising complex materials, desirable would be human cells, biological and similar materials.
  • Knowledge of the novel aspects of lubricants and characterisation processes as well as the ability to benchmark fluids for required needs.
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly
• Experience in the design of bespoke test rigs
• Fluency in relevant models, techniques or methods and ability to contribute to developing new ones, including:
  • Statistical analysis
  • High level of programming experience with MATLAB, R and similar languages
  • Knowledge and prior practice on the use of mathematical models and computational software relevant for the simulation of tribological behaviour
• Experience with relevant experimental techniques, including:
  • Experience with usage of advanced material testing, as well as advanced surface characterisation such as SEM, EDS and topography analysis and measurement techniques.
  • Experience with usage of advanced material testing such as SEM and White Light Interferometry
• Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes
• High level analytical capability
• Contribute to the planning and organising of Born Slippy
• Co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort
• Decide in consultation with the Principal Investigator on the most appropriate way of undertaking the specified research activities
• Decide in consultation with the Principal Investigator as appropriate how to analyse and interpret the data from the specified research activities
• Decide in consultation with the Principal Investigator as appropriate what knowledge to draw on and how to apply it to develop new intellectual understanding
• Contribute to deciding what information to include in a bid for research funding and how to present the bid to maximise the likelihood of securing the funding
• Decide in collaboration with co-authors which aspects of the research findings to include in a presentation or a publication and how to convey the findings
• Give guidance, support and advice to students on research related work including PhD students and decide the most appropriate method of providing this supervision.
• Liaise with research staff and support staff on research-related matters
• Find, engage and liaise with potential external collaborators on the research
• Give presentations and/or contribute to presentations at national and/or international conferences
• Referee articles for peer-reviewed academic journals
• Maintain contact with (including membership of) appropriate professional bodies
• Liaise with the relevant external research community via seminars and conferences
• Participate in internal networks for the exchange of information and to form relationships for future collaboration
• Liaise with external clients of the University or members of the public

Application Deadline

28 Feb 2018

Enquiries

For further information please contact Dr Karl D Dearn, k.d.dearn@bham.ac.uk, 01214144190 

Please note this post is aligned to external funding and therefore the salary on offer is up to a maximum of £31,604 per year only.