Digital Technology Research Associate/Research Fellow - Midlothian, United Kingdom - Heriot-Watt University

Description

Directorate: School of Engineering & Physical Sciences

Salary: Grade 7 (£36,023-£45,585) or Grade 8 (£45,585-£56,021)

Contract Type: Full Time (1FTE), Fixed Term (until 31st March 2026)

Detailed Description

We are looking to recruit a Digital Technology Research Associate or Fellow in Bioprocessing Training to join the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences (EPS) at the Edinburgh campus of Heriot Watt University. The post holder will work collaboratively to help develop and deliver digital training and outreach programmes to support future medicines manufacturing. They will be responsible for delivery of training and education using tools such as virtual reality and mixed reality (VR/MR) to drive digital transformation and net zero practices for educators, industry and NHS. They will train diverse cohorts of learners spanning the entire careers pipeline for industry, academia and NHS, sharing best practice with partners.

The role holder will work with hardware (VR headsets) and existing software packages to deliver both pre-existing module-based practical training (e.g. GMP environments, cleanroom gowning, assembling bioreactors), as well as workplace skills (e.g. interview skills, inclusive leadership, difficult conversations) in a virtual environment, to a range of audiences (schools/colleges through to postgraduate and CPD). Some of the training will be hybrid whereby VR training will be followed by in-lab hands-on training, such as sterile technique, tissue culture, bioreactor assembly and downstream processing. The project aims to use digital tools to accelerate training and contribute to net zero (eg. reduced plastics, in-classroom lab learning).

The post holder will possess a strong interest in developing new ways of thinking in training delivery and training data analysis, to enable growth of the medicines manufacturing workforce and NHS. They will work with a nationwide consortium across the project, lead on digital strategies for inclusive and accessible learning, and make a major contribution to strategic discussions around digital transformation in education.

The postholder would ideally have a working knowledge of cleanrooms and/or GMP environment, experience of sterile technique and ideally bioprocessing operations. It would suit a person with lab/bioprocessing/bioproduction experience, with a zeal for training, looking to move into a more embedded training role and future career.

The successful applicant will join the Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering (IB3) as part of the Innovate UK-funded RESILIENCE Medicines Manufacturing Skill Centre and will also work closely with the team at the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC), hosted by the University of Strathclyde.

The post holder will work on their own initiative and exercise a high level of judgement, skill and understanding to conceive, develop and implement long-term improvements to service delivery and effective ways of working within their areas of responsibility. The post is appointable at either Grade 7 (£36,023 - £44,263) or Grade 8 (£45,585-£54,395) depending on qualifications, skills and experience.

Planning and Organising

You will be required to manage and prioritise a varied and complex workload to deliver within required time frames, and make a substantial contribution to the management, development and implementation of strategic and operational processes. You will also be required to report against Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) on a routine basis.

Problem Solving and Decision Making

You will be working under the direction of a senior manager, but with considerable autonomy to deliver the outputs required, as well as working alongside other staff involved with the project and in collaboration with the FlexBIO scaleup facility hosted at Heriot-watt university and managed by the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) You will be working within the framework of existing policies, processes and procedures for the University, but there will be plenty of scope to review and shape processes. You will take day to day decisions on complex tasks in the team's remit including identifying next steps as appropriate. You will manage complex projects and be responsible for delivering outcomes within a set timeframe.

Internal and External Relationships

This role will be liaising with internal colleagues and stakeholders, external stakeholders as well, sometimes with customers who have issues with the service, with an expectation on maintaining good working relationships with all.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Education, Qualifications and Experience

Essential

Desirable

About our Team

EPS is a community of over 340 staff and around 3,000 students across three campuses in Scotland, Dubai, and Malaysia. The School is recognised as an international leader in education, research and the application of knowledge to benefit society globally. We are striving to establish ourselves as partners of choice for world leading institutions, consistently delivering an environmentally and financially sustainable growth by aligning to the opportunities and requirements of our modern times to address local and global needs.

We provide world-class education to our students across six undergraduate programmes: Chemistry; Physics; Electrical, Electronic & Computer Engineering; Chemical & Process Engineering; Mechanical Engineering and Brewing & Distilling and have recently added Aerospace Engineering to our undergraduate programme portfolio. We also offer a range of postgraduate taught programmes. In the recent The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023, our Chemical Engineering is the 6th in the UK (the 2nd in Scotland), Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering is the 7th in the UK (the 1st in Scotland) and General Engineering is the 9th in the UK (the 1st in Scotland).

The University has undertaken a significant programme of investment to enhance student-facing services. These include the alteration and refurbishment of the James Watt Centre into a modern state of the art learning and teaching facility, the modernisation of the Student Services Centre and the development of a training room for Assistive Technology. Recent investments have included a £6M refurbishment of the library, £19M to build and establish a Global Research, Innovation, and Discovery (GRID) building with a focus on innovative teaching for students in EPS and in Mathematics and Computer Science, and a recently opened the National Robotarium, a £22M research facility for Robotics and Artificial Intelligence.

Our research ranges from fundamental sciences through to engineering applications, all of which are supported by strong external funding. We have over 210 full-time academic staff who drive this research activity and are based in 5 research institutes: the Institute of Chemical Sciences, the Institute of Photonics & Quantum Sciences, the Institute of Mechanical, Process & Energy Engineering, the Institute of Sensors, Signals & Systems and the Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics & Bioengineering. In REF2021, our Physics was top in the UK for world-leading research outputs. Our joint submission to Engineering with the University of Edinburgh was ranked 1st in Scotland and 3rd in the UK for quality and breadth of research (based upon the standard Research Power formula as used by the Times Higher Education).