The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

We are seeking a motivated and hands-on Research Assistant to join an exciting interdisciplinary project at the University of [Insert University Name], focused on the development of a next-generation variable-stiffness catheter for cardiovascular interventions.

Each year, over 100,000 percutaneous coronary interventions are performed in the UK to treat heart attacks and angina. These minimally invasive procedures rely on catheters to access intricate vascular networks. However, current catheters face a critical trade-off: they must be highly flexible to navigate complex pathways, yet stiff enough to provide a stable platform for delivering therapy. Our project aims to overcome this limitation by engineering a novel catheter that can actively switch between flexible and stiff states, improving both procedural safety and clinical outcomes.

As a Research Assistant, you will play a key role in the design, prototyping, and testing of the catheter system, including in-vivo animal validation. You will work closely with engineers, clinicians, and commercialisation experts, contributing to both the technical development and early-stage market exploration through the University’s Commercialisation Journey programme.

This is an exceptional opportunity to gain experience in medical device innovation, translational research, and clinical validation. The ideal candidate will have a background in biomedical or mechanical engineering, strong prototyping skills, and a passion for using engineering to improve healthcare.

Join us to help shape the future of cardiovascular intervention and bring a breakthrough technology closer to the clinic.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Identify design requirements and constraints through consultation with clinicians, literature search, and testing.

• Iteratively design, fabricate, and test a variable stiffness catheter.

• Conduct in-vivo animal trials of the prototype.

• Do market discovery of the technology by actively participating in the Commercialization Journey programme offered by the University of Sheffield.  

• Document and present the research and development work.

• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Essential criteria

• A degree in Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Material Science, Electrical, or Electronic Engineering (or equivalent experience) (to be assessed at application)

• Demonstrated hands-on skills and track record for mechanical design, fabrication, and testing (to be assessed at application and interview)

• Strong analytical skills for problem solving and data analysis (to be assessed at application and interview)

• Strong passion on medical device development and is self-motivated to take initiatives (to be assessed at application and interview)

• Good written and verbal communication skills, including experience writing reports and presenting your findings. (to be assessed at application and interview)

• Ability to plan research tasks and progress work activities, to monitor and manage the delivery of outcomes (to be assessed at application and interview)

Desirable criteria

• Prior experience in medical device development (assessed at application)

• Passion on entrepreneurship for pushing technologies from labs to real life (assessed at application)

Further Information

Grade: 6

Duration: From 1 July 2025 until 28 February 2026

Line manager: Dr Lin Cao, Lecturer in Medical Robotics

Website: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/eee

For informal enquiries about this job contact
Lin Cao, PI on l.cao@sheffield.ac.uk or Alex Rothman, Co-I, alex.rothman@sheffield.ac.uk

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place on the week commencing 16 June 2025. This will consist of a presentation and an interview. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage in early June 2025. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact eee-postaward@sheffield.ac.uk.

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What we offer

• A minimum of 38 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.

• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.

• Generous pension scheme.

• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.

• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).

• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.

• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Academic Career Pathways.

• A range of generous family-friendly policies

• paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies

• support for those going through the menopause

• paid time off and support for fertility treatment

• and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.