Job Description

The role

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This role is part of an ERC Advanced Grant. The project aims to develop acoustic manipulation devices that will enable the microscope user to move, assemble and deform objects. This will be achieved using ultrasonic arrays to create static and dynamic forces can be applied to objects that are simultaneously under observation by an optical microscope. The ideas will be applied to a wide range of matter with a focus on applications in biomedicine including micro-scale tomography requiring precise 3D rotation of arbitrary-shaped objects, stimulation of neural cells requiring user-specified force-fields and bone-tissue engineering.



This role is to work on the experimental validation of the multi-physics models. This will involve (1) developing experimental apparatus for model validation and (2) performing an experimental validation programme. The project is an interdisciplinary collaboration of researchers at the University of Bristol and researchers at the University of Lille, France, and the Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria. Hence, the role will require the applicant to be enthusiastic about collaborative research and willing to work across traditional disciplinary boundaries.

What will you be doing?

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You will be based in the Ultrasonics and Non-Destructive Testing (UNDT) research group within the School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bristol. Your research will focus on the modelling the forces on objects in acoustic manipulation devices. It will also involve optimising the acoustic fields to achieve efficient manipulation of biological objects such as cells and micro-organisms.



The University of Bristol offers a fully equipped ultrasonics laboratory, featuring multi-channel signal generators, amplifiers, and a wide range transducers and arrays. Additionally, a high-performance computer cluster is available at Bristol can be used to run large and parallel models. You will have full access to these facilities.

You should apply if

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You should have a relevant postgraduate research degree, an equivalent professional qualification/experience, or be working towards one.

Additional information

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For informal queries please contact: Prof. Bruce Drinkwater, b.drinkwater@bristol.ac.uk

To find out more about what it's like to work in the Faculty of Engineering, and how the Faculty supports people to achieve their potential, please see our staff blog:

https://engineering.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/category/engineering-includes-me/

Contract type: Open ended with fixed funding for 1 year

Work pattern: Full time

Grade: I

Salary: 39,906 - 44,746 per annum

School/Unit: School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering

This advert will close

at

23:59 UK time

on

Sunday 31st August.

Interviews are anticipated to take place on Monday 8th September.

Our strategy and mission

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We recently launched our strategy to 2030 tying together our mission, vision and values.

The University of Bristol aims to be a place where everyone feels able to be themselves and do their best in an

inclusive working environment where all colleagues can thrive and reach their full potential.

We want

to attract, develop, and retain individuals

with different experiences, backgrounds and perspectives - particularly people of colour, LGBT+ and disabled people - because diversity of people and ideas remains integral to our excellence as a global civic institution.


JOB NUMBER###

ACAD108247

CONTRACT TYPE/WORK PATTERN###

Open ended / Full time

POSTING END DATE###

31 Aug 2025

FACULTY/DIVISION###

Faculty of Science and Engineering

SALARY###

39,906 - 44,746 per annum