Research Assistant/Research Associate Canterbury, England
Job description
The School of Physics and Astronomy, Applied Optics Group are seeking an enthusiastic Research Assistant or Research Associate (depending on level of experience and qualification) to work on a new EPSRC funded project entitled “An Optical Detector for Latent Fungal Infection in Produce”. The research will evaluate a new approach for early non-destructive detection of infection in fruits. A research assistant or research associate (RA) will be employed in the Applied Optics Group, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Kent. Building on the OCT expertise in Kent and on the practical experience of the National Institute for Agricultural Botany (NIAB) team in fungal disease in fruits, we will develop a new optical imaging probe which can capture multiple forms of functional and structural information from fruits and investigate its potential to detect latent infection.
To perform such research, the RA will use prior knowledge and practical experience of optical assembly, optical coherence tomography (OCT), interferometry, fibre optics, scanning, microscopy, tuning lasers, cameras and their interfacing to computers. Knowledge of Labview is also essential. A biosciences/plant science background is not required, although the applicant should be able to demonstrate some interest in applying imaging techniques to these areas. The RA needs to be well organised and disciplined and collaborate with other members of the AOG as well as external partners.
The Research Assistant/Associate Duties will include:
- Devising and assembling innovative optical configurations to achieve the goals and milestones as described in the research programme, as submitted to the sponsor;
- Collaborating on the overall system design and requirements with all partners involved;
- Contacting suppliers, requesting quotes, filling in orders and following them to ensure a timely progress of the lab activity;
The successful candidate will have/be:
A good honours degree in Physics/Optics or Electrical Engineering- Experience in undertaking research in an optics lab
- Demonstrable experience of miniature optical assembly
- Demonstrable experience of Labview and Matlab
For informal enquiries, contact Professor Adrian Podoleanu ([email protected]) , Dr Michael Hughes ( [email protected] )
The University of Kent is a distinctive and attractive place to work. We employ around 6,000 staff, including academic and research staff and a full range of support and administration staff. Our stunning main campus in Canterbury, Kent was founded in 1965 and is set among green and tranquil open space overlooking the spectacular Cathedral. Our staff enjoy competitive salaries, an occupational pension scheme, generous holiday entitlements and a great working environment.
Please see the links below to view the full job description and to apply for this post. If you require further information regarding the application process, please contact the Human Resources team on: [email protected] quoting ref number: NATS-211-23.
