Research Associate in Sensors for Water

About the role

The Centre of Excellence in Water Based Early Warning Systems for Health Protection is working to transform public and environmental health management, establishing the first Urban Living Lab facility; a pioneering digital water sensing platform, training base and ideas hub. The centre combines sensing, mathematical modelling, data analytics and informatics with epidemiology and public engagement tools to provide low-cost and real-time community-wide testing of population health and the environment.

We're seeking a Research Associate to develop and validate rapid, low-cost diagnostic platforms capable of quantifying biomarkers and pathogens by transferring laboratory sample preparation and detection gold standards into portable instrumentation for use near the point-of-sampling and/or for quasi-continuous monitoring. 

You will work very closely with other Research Associates, academic leads, Technical Specialists (water, mass spectrometry and data engineer) and PhD students in the Centre to deliver a unique water-based early warning system for (infectious) disease diagnostics.

This position is available from February 2025 for an initial period of up to 2 years.

About you

Our ideal candidate will have:

• experience on the development and validation of field-deployable water/wastewater sample preparation modules to enable in situ sensing of pathogens
• a PhD (or equivalent) in sensor development, preferably for water or wastewater applications
• the potential to publish in high quality journals
• awareness of the latest developments in this field of research

Further information

For an informal discussion, please contact Helena Lake, Centre Manager, at hl877@bath.ac.uk or Professor Pedro Estrela at pmdlce20@bath.ac.uk.

In 2027 the Centre will have Prize Fellowship opportunities which may be of interest to candidates wishing to progress. These will be advertised and recruited through an open selection process.

A lower grade offer may be made (Grade 6) with comparable reduction in responsibilities and amendment in job title to Research Assistant, if a suitable applicant cannot be found to fill the Grade 7 position. Applicants will need to be within six months of their course completion date and will be promoted to Research Associate once their PhD has been awarded.

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