Research Fellow in Wearable Robotics

About the vacancy:

We are excited to offer a unique opportunity for a highly motivated and skilled individual to join our team as a Postdoctoral Researcher in Wearable Robotics. This position is based at the world-renowned Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL) and forms part of the ambitious VIVO Hub project, which is a national initiative addressing the urgent challenge of restoring and maintaining mobility and independence in older adults and people with disabilities. The VIVO Hub brings together cutting-edge research in smart materials, bio-interfacing, actuation, control, and human-centred design to co-develop assistive technologies that function on the body, in the home, and in the community. You will focus on the real-world validation of wearable assistive technologies, from laboratory testing and living lab studies to multi-day trials in instrumented environments and in-home deployments. By joining our team, you will contribute directly to the translation of novel technologies into impactful health solutions. You will collaborate with interdisciplinary researchers, clinical partners, and international stakeholders to develop and implement testing protocols, conduct user studies, and assess the performance, usability, and acceptance of VIVO technologies in real-world conditions.

About you:

You are a proactive and innovative researcher with a strong foundation in wearable systems and are currently in the final stages of completing a PhD in Robotics or Control Systems Engineering. Your academic journey is supported by a solid background in electronic or robotics engineering at the master’s level. With proven experience in the development and validation of wearable exoskeletons, you bring a deep understanding of human-robot interaction and participatory design, particularly in clinical settings or involving older adult populations. Your technical expertise includes integration of wearable sensors for real-time monitoring and control, as well as the development and characterisation of cable-driven actuators using soft robotics principles. Your hands-on skills include schematic design, PCB layout and development, soldering and prototyping, and the use of 3D printing for the rapid fabrication of wearable structures. You are experienced in the safe integration of LiPo batteries in portable robotic systems, with careful attention to charging protocols and risk mitigation. You are proficient in programming with Python, C++, MATLAB, and have strong experience with ROS, alongside familiarity with R for statistical analysis. You have led and contributed to user trials and usability studies across lab-based and real-world settings, including clinical environments. Your experience covers experimental protocol design, preparation of ethical approvals, and data collection and analysis using both wearable sensor data and biomechanical tools such as VICON.

This post is based at our lively Frenchay campus.

Further information

If you would like an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Carlos Cifuentes (Carlos.Cifuentes@uwe.ac.uk)

This is a full-time, fixed-term post until Dec 2030, working on 1 FTE. 

Advert information