Job Description

Job number

ENG03767

Faculties

Faculty of Engineering

Departments

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Salary or Salary range

43,863- 57,472 per annum

Location/campus

South Kensington Campus - Hybrid

Contract type work pattern

Full time - Fixed term

Posting End Date

12 Jan 2026

About the role

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This EPSRC-funded project aims to transform early diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal cancers through the development of advanced flexible endoscopic technologies. The project will combine a soft robotic endoscope with a miniature surgical-laser probe and a high-performance tissue-analysis device. In this role, you will contribute to the design and optimisation of the soft robotic endoscope by applying advanced mechanical testing and modelling methods, with a particular focus on developing functional materials for actuation, sensing, and friction control.

What you would be doing

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Conduct research in mechanical and biomedical engineering, multiphysics modelling, and soft matter mechanics. Lead elements of project management and/or supervise multidisciplinary research teams. Characterise the multiphysics properties of functional hydrogels and develop computational models to predict and enhance the performance of hydrogel-based materials for integration within the soft robotic endoscope. Maintain comprehensive and accurate records of experimental and modelling outcomes and prepare technical reports for project sponsors. Produce high-quality publications and contribute to the preparation of research funding proposals. Provide supervision and guidance to undergraduate and postgraduate research students as required.

What we are looking for

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You must hold or be close to completing a PhD in Mechanical Engineering or Materials, or a closely related discipline, or equivalent research, industrial or commercial experience. You must have strong research experience in fluid mechanics, solid mechanics, biomechanics, multiscale and multiphysics modelling, and biophysical experiments. Having working experiences with the sponsors, clinicians, patients, academic and industrial partners is essential. Knowledge of fluid and solid mechanics, transport mechanisms, soft tissues and soft functional materials is essential. You must have knowledge of theory and computation, as well as numerical methods, related to the modelling of fluid flow in soft porous media. A good publishing track record in relevant and refereed journals is essential.

What we can offer you

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The opportunity to work in a vibrant and highly multidisciplinary group and work with world-leading scientists and engineers The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution Sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 38 days off a year)

Further information

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This position is fixed term and is expected to run for 12 months in the first instance.



If you require any further details on the role, please contact: Prof. Daniele Dini - d.dini@imperial.ac.uk.


Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as Research Assistant within the salary range 43,863 - 47,223 per annum.


Hybrid working may be considered for this role. Staff working in roles that are suitable for hybrid working will normally be expected to work 60% of their time onsite. The opportunity for hybrid working will be discussed at interview.


We reserve the right to close the advert prior to the closing date stated should we received a high number of applications. It is therefore advisable that you submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

Available documents

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Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.

Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities mentioned above.

We reserve the right to close the advert prior to the closing date stated should we receive a high volume of applications. It is therefore advisable that you submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.



If you encounter any technical issues while applying online, please don't hesitate to email us at support.jobs@imperial.ac.uk. We're here to help.

About Imperial

Welcome to Imperial, a global top ten university where scientific imagination leads to world-changing impact.



Join us and be part of something bigger. From global health to climate change, AI to business leadership, here at Imperial we navigate some of the world's toughest challenges. Whatever your role, your contribution will have a lasting impact.



As a member of our vibrant community of 22,000 students and 8,000 staff, you'll collaborate with passionate minds across nine London campuses and a global network.



This is your chance to help shape the future. We hope you'll join us at Imperial College London.

Our Culture

We work towards equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination, and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities. You can read more about our commitment on our webpages.



Our values are at the root of everything we do and everyone in our community is expected to demonstrate respect, collaboration, excellence, integrity, and innovation.