Job Description

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Salary: Grade 7 (\xc2\xa336,023-\xc2\xa344,263)

Contract Type: Full Time (1FTE) 16-18 months, Fixed Term Contract

Rewards and Benefits: 33 days annual leave, plus 9 buildings closed days (and Christmas Eve when it falls on a weekday) for all full time staff. Use our total rewards calculator: to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.

Detailed Description

The Research Associate will join the CARE research group ( ) at HWU and will in the first instance work on the EPSRC project titled \xe2\x80\x9cFEATHER\xe2\x80\x9d. The RA will join the , a world-leading centre for Robotics and Artificial Intelligence. The National Robotarium is a collaboration between Heriot-Watt University and University of Edinburgh. The National Robotarium is based at the Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh Campus.

Aim of the Project is to work with stakeholders to co-design new tools and machine learning-based methods for early recognition of urinary tract infections (UTIs) to enable longer and healthier independent living.

In particular this position will focus on integrating and evaluating different prototypes of a system being designed to facilitate the early recognition of a UTI. The system combines activity monitoring technology with an intelligent agent or social robot with conversational skills. The researcher will support the project by integrating, testing, and collecting data to evaluate the effectiveness, usability, and acceptability of the prototypes developed by the project in both an instrumented lab and in actual home environments.

The position holder will be based at the National Robotarium which is on the Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh Campus. This project is in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh. The applicant will need to be willing to undertake reasonable local and international travel to key partners and research conferences.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

In general, to support the Feather project in achieving the goals of that project, under supervision.

• Undertaking a specific role in the research project under supervision
• Taking responsibility for some elements of the planned research
• Planning and carrying out a work programme appropriate to the research activity
• Developing own research portfolio in related areas
• Contributing to the writing of research grants
• Contributing to dissemination and publication of research teams findings as appropriate.
• Contribute to learning and teaching through activities such as project supervision, tutoring and marking (limited to no more than 10% on an annualised basis).

Please note that this job description is not exhaustive, and the role holder may be required to undertake other relevant duties commensurate with the grading of the post. Activities may be subject to amendment over time as the role develops and/or priorities and requirements evolve.

Education, Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• A PhD (or close to completion/submitted) or Masters degree in Health Technology Assessment, Biomedical Engineering, Healthcare Technology, Digital Health, Data Science for Health and Social Care, Health Psychology, Robotics, Human-Robot-Interaction, or closely related subject.
• Experience in research on health or assistive technology
• Experience on relevant projects, especially field testing and assessment of health technology
• Experience of software engineering and software testing, with relevant porfolios, using programming languages such as Python, C++, etc.
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills.
• Strong communication skills (verbal, written and presentation).
• Reasonable data and statistical skills

Desirable

• Experience in co-design and engagement with end-users
• Experience in research on human-computer-interaction (HCI) or human-robot-interaction (HRI)
• Experience in Conversational Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Experience in research on machine learning for sensor-based human activity recognition
• A developing track record of publishing research findings.
• Experience in writing research proposals / funding applications
• Good team player with good interpersonal skills.
• Tenacity and confidence in engaging stakeholders in collaborative design and data collection.
• Highly motivated to initiate, plan and pursue research and aspire to excellence in all professional activities.
• Experience working as part of a research team
• Adaptability, willingness to learn new fields and develop new skill sets.
• Experience in mentoring more junior researchers or undergraduate and MSc students
• Experience in teaching roles, e.g. as teaching assistant, in higher-education institutes

Other

• Ability to travel (as outlined in the Detailed Description above).
• Entrepreneurial experience

How to Apply

Deadline for Applications is midnight on the 1st December 2023.

Please submit via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment system (1) Cover letter describing their interest and suitability for the post; (2) Full CV (detailing qualifications, work experience, projects worked on), (3) a publications list, and transcripts of their degree results.

Interviews will be held online and in person on week commencing 4th December.

The position duration is approx. 18 months commencing from the 1st of January 2024 or earlier (a firm start date will be negotiated with the successful candidate).

For an informal discussion of the role, please contact at Heriot-Watt University: Dr. Mauro Dragone at Heriot Watt University (m.dragone@hw.ac.uk).

At Heriot Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team.

Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.

Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.

Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our University community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers .

We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g. part-time working and job share options.

Use our total rewards calculator: to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.

Heriot-Watt University