A postdoctoral research associate position is available at UCL to work in an interdisciplinary bioengineering/neuroscience/physiology research group in Medical Physics. The project is into imaging function in nerve, brain or lungs with Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT). The principal initial work will be into Electroceuticals – treating disease by electrical stimulation of autonomic nerves. Until now, this has been accomplished by stimulation of entire nerves. However, many nerves supply several organs and functions, and the intended beneficial effect can be limited by production of unwanted side-effects through stimulation of unwanted organs. EIT enables imaging of localised activity within nerves using a flexible silicone rubber nerve cuff. The resulting images can be used for avoidance of off-target effects by selective stimulation of the identified fascicles with the same nerve cuff. Developed instrumentation, software and electrodes may also be applied to imaging brain function in rats and humans, and human lung ventilation for telemedicine. The project is initially funded by the USA National Institutes of Health (NIH) and a spinout based in the group, Cyqiq Ltd. UCL Medical Physics is a leading interdisciplinary centre for Bioengineering in the UK, situated within one of the strongest neuroscience communities in the world at University College London. This project will be supervised by Professor David Holder and Dr. Kirill Aristovich, Medical Physics and Clinical Neurophysiology, UCL.
The appointee will be responsible for all engineering aspects of the work, primarily development and use of instrumentation but also use of developed software for data analysis and imaging. It will suit a researcher who likes to work in an interdisciplinary team.
The appointment is available immediately, ideally to start in March or April 2023. It is for 3 years, one year in the first instance.
Key Requirements
The successful applicant will have a PhD. Biomedical, electrical, electronic, mechanical engineering or physics are most relevant but applications will be considered from candidates from other backgrounds if they have the relevant skills. They should have proven ability to conduct high-quality original research and prepare results for publication. Previous experience in analogue and digital electronics as well as signal processing and programming is desirable.
Further Details
Further information can be accessed at
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/medphys/research/eit. A person and job specification is available at
https://liveuclac-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/personal/regtdsh_ucl_ac_uk/ESRkwHHVAjtJl94lk9xXbYkBCTUuz9Hx8Vzv2JH5cQAEVw?e=scNIDZ Applications should be in the form of a c.v. and covering letter to Prof. D. Holder (
[email protected]). Informal enquiries may be made to Dr Kirill Aristovich (
[email protected]) or Professor David Holder (
[email protected] ).