Senior Optical Instrumentation Development Technician

About us

The Biomedical Optics Research Laboratory (BORL) within the Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering at University College London (UCL) is one of the world's leading centres for the development and clinical translation of optical technologies for monitoring and imaging human physiology and metabolism. The laboratory brings together physicists, engineers, neuroscientists and clinicians to develop innovative solutions that address major biomedical and healthcare challenges.

The post will be based within Professor Ilias Tachtsidis' research programme, where he leads the MultiModal Spectroscopy Group and the MetaboLight Team, and is a senior member of BORL. Professor Tachtsidis is internationally recognised for pioneering broadband near-infrared spectroscopy (bNIRS), a unique optical technology capable of non-invasively quantifying tissue oxygenation, haemodynamics and mitochondrial metabolism through measurement of the oxidation state of cytochrome-c-oxidas e. His multidisciplinary research spans optical technology development, neuroscience, computational modelling and clinical translation, with applications ranging from neonatal brain health and neurodevelopmental disorders to acute brain injury and neurological disease.

About the role

Applications are invited for a Senior Optical Instrumentation Development Technician to join the Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering at University College London (UCL). The successful candidate will join the internationally renowned Biomedical Optics Research Laboratory (BORL) and work within the programme led by Professor Ilias Tachtsidis, who leads the MultiModal Spectroscopy Group and the MetaboLight Team and is a senior member of BORL. Professor Tachtsidis' work is internationally recognised for pioneering broadband near-infrared spectroscopy (bNIRS), a unique technology capable of non-invasively monitoring tissue oxygenation, haemodynamics and mitochondrial metabolism.

The position is funded through the newly established Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre of Research Excellence for Human Neural Development, a landmark partnership between King's College London, University College London and the University of Manchester. The Centre aims to transform our understanding of early human brain development through the integration of advanced imaging technologies, experimental neuroscience, artificial intelligence and clinical research.

This exciting technical role will focus on the development, integration, testing and deployment of next-generation optical neuroimaging technologies designed to characterise early brain health across multiple biological scales, from vascular function and oxygen delivery to cellular metabolism and mitochondrial activity. The successful candidate will contribute to the development of advanced hyperspectral near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) systems and associated instrumentation platforms for laboratory and clinical applications.

The role will involve substantial hands-on work in electronic circuit and PCB design, software development for instrument control and data acquisition, optical system integration, rapid prototyping, 3D printing, testing, calibration and technical documentation. The post holder will work closely with engineers, researchers and clinicians to develop robust and reliable instrumentation suitable for deployment in research and clinical environments, including collaborations with King's College Hospital, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. In addition to supporting the Centre's instrumentation activities, the post holder will provide technical support for undergraduate and postgraduate teaching laboratories within the Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, including Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics programmes.

This post offers a unique opportunity to contribute to world-leading biomedical technology development within one of the UK's foremost biomedical optics groups.

Customer advert reference: B04-07800

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