Research Assistant position in biomedical engineering with focus on microfluidics Full-time

Research Assistant Position in Biomedical Engineering with Focus on Microfluidics

Temporary full-time position for 8 months starting in September 2026 or as agreed upon at the division of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Uppsala University.

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering aims to be an environment for successful and valuable research and education with a focus on materials science solutions for important societal challenges. Our department is an exciting workplace with research in a broad technology-related area, from basic research to large-scale applied research, and close contacts with students through the department's involvement in engineering and master's programs. Our research and teaching are conducted within seven divisions with different research focuses, as well as a division that provides support and service. The department is an international place to work, and has around 230 active co-workers.

The Division of Biomedical Engineering is part of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the Ångström Laboratory. We perform research within the development and evaluation of new materials in interaction with biological systems to understand the underlying principles. For us, it is equally important to study the impact of materials on biological processes as well as the impact of biological processes on materials. Our ambition is to foster a dynamic teaching and research environment that is internationally recognized for its excellence in connecting basic research with clinical applications.

The position is located at the Division of Biomedical Engineering in the interdisciplinary research group EMBLA, which is led by Professor Maria Tenje. The group conducts successful and internationally recognized research in organs-on-chip and droplet-based microfluidics in collaboration with research teams at several different Swedish and overseas universities. Research funding has been obtained through several prestigious grants, including from the Knut och Alice Wallenberg Foundation, and European Research Council (ERC). Today, the group comprises ~10 members and we have received proof-of-concept funding from the Swedish Research Council to explore commercial potential of our technology. We are therefore seeking a results-oriented and technically skilled research assistant who is driven by translating research results into clinical applications.

Together with our collaborator Prof. Dan I Andersson, world-leading expert in bacteriology and antibiotic resistance, we have developed a droplet-microfluidic platform for rapid diagnostics of heteroresistance, a rare type of antibiotic resistance common among many bacterial species and antibiotic classes. We are now interested in exploring the potential for clinical implementation of the technology and are seeking a person that can develop a fully integrated and user-friendly prototype for automated analysis.

The main task of this position is to build a user-friendly prototype for HR detection, suitable to be placed in clinical settings. You will be responsible for the design, assembly and characterization of the fully integrated prototype where the droplet-based HR detection assay can be automated under fully controlled conditions, e.g. stable temperature. The hardware of the prototype shall include easy sample loading, automated fluidic perfusion and an optical detection system. Moreover, the prototype shall be provided with a user-friendly GUI and an integrated image analysis pipeline so that staff without specialized training can handle it and extract assay results.

In addition to realizing this prototype, some participation in communication of the research results through scientific articles in well-established scientific journals are also included as important aspects of the employment.

Qualification requirements: Master's degree engineering physics, biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, materials science or an equivalent degree in a related field.

We require documented knowledge and experience in:

• Building experimental platforms for microfluidic systems
• Managing chip-to-world interfaces of fluidics and electronics
• Microscopy and/or optics for data collection and analysis
• Software for controlling experimental equipment, e.g. LabView, MATLAB, etc
• GUI design using e.g. Python, Figma, etc.
• Good written and oral skills in English

Additional qualifications:

Documented knowledge and experience in the following areas is considered meritorious for this position:

• Microfabrication and microsystems engineering
• Microbiology and antibiotic resistance
• Medtech
• Basic understanding of regulatory pathways and documentation

We attach great importance to your personal qualities, and you must be self-motivated and proactive, have the ability to independently plan and run projects as well as possess excellent analytical ability and skill with practical handling of experimental equipment.

You must also be pedagogical, structured and able to work effectively both individually and in groups, as well as be able to collaborate and communicate with people in different subject areas easily.

Instructions for application:

• A short cover letter in which you describe yourself and why you are suitable for this position (max 1 page)
• CV (max 1 page)
• Copy of Master's degree, grades and other merits of relevance. Translations into English or Swedish if the original documents have not been issued in any of these languages.
• Name and contact information to at least two reference persons (e-mail address and phone no.).

The application should be written in English.

We will during the application period read applications and call for interviews.

The employment is a full-time position, 8 months. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date September 2026 or as agreed upon. Placement: Uppsala.

For further information about the position please contact: Professor Maria Tenje, (maria.tenje@angstrom.uu.se) or Dr Sagar Agnihotri (sagar.agnihotri@angstrom.uu.se)

Please submit your application by 12th August 2026, UFV-PA 2026/1987