Research Assistant/Associate - Howe Group: Electrical Engineer for BioPhotoVoltaic (BPV) Project (Fixed Term)

We are seeking a highly motivated Electrical Engineer to join our innovative BioPhotoVoltaic (BPV) project at the Department of Biochemistry, under the supervision of Professor Howe and Dr. Bombelli. This full-time, fixed-term position is funded by a BBSRC-FoF grant, starting December 1st, 2024, and ending December 31st, 2025.

The selected candidate will play a crucial role in advancing BPV technology by merging electrical engineering expertise with biological systems to develop cutting-edge, sustainable energy solutions. This is a unique opportunity to be part of a multidisciplinary team at the forefront of renewable energy research. We are seeking someone with a strong understanding of components such as peak-power trackers, energy harvesters, current/voltage converters, and capacitors. Experience in designing and prototyping integrated circuits, as well as reverse-engineering existing ones, is highly desirable. While programming knowledge isn't essential, it would be an asset. Please note, our focus is on small-scale electrical engineering with power requirements in the sub-milliwatt range, not large-scale electricity systems. Although a PhD is preferred, we are open to candidates with equivalent experience and qualifications.

BPV technology harnesses the power of photosynthetic microorganisms to convert solar energy into electrical energy. The ideal applications for BPVs include powering electronic devices with low energy consumption in off-grid and indoor environments, particularly in the growing field of the Internet of Things (IoT). For example, one of our recent studies demonstrated that BPVs could continuously power a commercial microprocessor (Arm Cortex M0+) for over six months. Through extensive market research, we have identified a potential commercial partner interested in utilising BPV technology to power small electronic devices. The primary goal of this project is to design, develop, and test a BPV-driven electronic device tailored to the partner's specific needs.

The University of Cambridge is a signatory to the San-Francisco Declaration on Research (Assessment DORA) and in recruitment or promotion evaluations will assess research on the basis of its merits rather than the journal or venue in which it is published. Applicants should not include Journal Impact Factors or uncontextualised metrics in their applications. For more information: https://www.biology.cam.ac.uk/files/dora.pd.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available until 31/12/2025, in the first instance’.

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click the apply button above.

Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to Professor Christopher Howe: ch26@cam.ac.uk

If you have any queries regarding the application process please contact the Biochemistry HR Team:

personnel@bioc.cam.ac.uk

Please quote reference PH44131 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

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