Research Assistant/Associate

Salary: Research Assistant - £33,951 to £35,608 per annum             Research Associate - £36,636 to £46,049 per annum Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits . We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you. Closing Date: 16 October 2026 The Role The Microsystems Research Group is seeking a highly motivated Research Assistant/Associate to support the Northern Net Zero Impact Accelerator (NNZA) project: “Real-time Control and Optimisation for Boosting Microbial Electrolysis Cell Performance in Energy-Efficient Wastewater Treatment.” This project aims to advance a TRL6 controller prototype for microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) to TRL7, enabling real-time optimisation of applied voltage and current to enhance wastewater treatment efficiency, reduce energy consumption, and improve biogas production (hydrogen and methane). You will contribute to the design, development, testing, and deployment of a real-time control and monitoring system integrating: Embedded hardware platforms Control algorithms (e.g. PID, PWM) IoT communication (WiFi/LoRaWAN) Data acquisition and analysis pipelines The role involves close collaboration with: Academic team members Industrial partners (Northumbrian Water Group, METzero Ltd) Field deployment environments (wastewater treatment facilities) Duration of the post is full time, fixed term for 12 months. Find out more about the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering (SAgE) here: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/sage/ Find out more about our Research Institute: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/engineering/research/microsystems/ We want you to feel confident when applying for a position with Newcastle University. If you’d like an informal discussion to clarify any points, please contact domenico.balsamo@newcastle.ac.uk To apply please upload a copy of your CV and cover letter evidencing how your skills and experiences  align to the person specification as outlined within the job description. Key Accountabilities Research Assistant Design and implement embedded control systems for real-time optimisation of MEC performance and develop control algorithms for adaptive system behaviour Integrate hardware/software co-design solutions for monitoring voltage, current, and system performance and develop data acquisition and remote monitoring systems using IoT technologies (e.g. LoRaWAN/WiFi) Collect, analyse and interpret research data and draw conclusions on the outcomes Co-ordinate own work with that of others, use problem solving to affect the achievement of research objectives and contribute to the planning of the project(s). Present information on research progress and outcomes to a Principal Investigator or groups overseeing the research project. Write up results from own research activity and provide input into…