Job number: ENG04102
Faculties: Faculty of Engineering
Departments: Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Salary or Salary range: £50,733 - £59,484 per annum
Location/campus: South Kensington Campus - On site only
Contract type work pattern: Full time - Fixed term
Posting End Date: 7 Dec 2026
About the role
Are you a talented cell and developmental biologist ready to work at the interface of biology and microelectronics? As a Research Associate in Brain Organoids and Organ-on-Chip Platforms, you will lead the biological arm of a new programme combining semiconductor-based lab-on-chip technology with human brain organoids.
You will bring the biological expertise that our engineering team needs, and in return gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge chip technology, co-author high-impact interdisciplinary papers, and help shape the direction of a growing research area. Within two years, you will deliver validated brain-organoid protocols and device-compatible culture methods for our semiconductor platforms.
The group of Prof. Pantelis Georgiou develops lab-on-chip systems based on semiconductor technology. We design, fabricate and test integrated sensing and microfluidic platforms built on CMOS technology, taking ideas from concept through to working devices for biological applications, clinical validation and translation. We are now extending this work to complex three-dimensional human brain organoid models, in collaboration with colleagues in Medicine. Imperial offers an outstanding environment for this work, with access to world-class cleanroom, imaging and bioengineering facilities and a strong community in engineering, neuroscience and stem cell biology.
What you would be doing
You will establish and characterise robust brain organoid culture in our laboratory and work alongside engineers and device physicists to integrate organoids onto chip platforms, creating organ-on-chip systems that enable sensing, stimulation and monitoring of organoids.
You will be responsible for:
- Generating and maintaining brain organoids (for example cortical or region-specific organoids) from human pluripotent stem cells, with reproducible quality control
- Characterising organoids using immunostaining, imaging, gene expression and functional assays
- Working with engineers to design biocompatible chip interfaces, culture conditions and protocols for long-term organoid culture on devices
- Testing and validating device performance with living tissue, and feeding results back to the design cycle
- Analysing and interpreting data, and writing papers, reports and conference presentations
- Helping train and supervise PhD and MSc students in cell culture and biological methods
- Contributing to grant applications and collaborations
What we are looking for
You will hold (or be about to obtain) a PhD in a relevant discipline such as stem cell biology, neuroscience, developmental biology, tissue engineering or a related field.
You will have demonstrable hands-on experience of culturing human pluripotent stem cells and generating 3D neural models, and you will be keen to work in a multidisciplinary team with engineers. You do not need a background in electronics or microfabrication; we will teach you what you need, however prior experience with commercial MEA platforms may be useful.
You will be an excellent communicator, with the ability to manage work to deadlines.
What we can offer you
An exciting opportunity to develop a new programme at the interface of biology and microelectronics, working with a welcoming multidisciplinary team, state-of-the-art facilities and cutting-edge technologies.
As a member of Imperial research staff, you will have the opportunity to:
- continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to continue science for humanity,
- grow your career with access to Imperial’s dedicated career support for researchers, plus opportunities for promotion and progression,
- develop your skills and explore your career prospects with 10 development days per year,
- benefit from a sector-leading salary and remuneration package,
- be part of a diverse, inclusive and collaborative work culture with various staff networks and resources to support your personal and professional wellbeing.
Further information
Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have not yet been officially awarded will be appointed as a Research Assistant.
Please include in your application a CV with publication list and cover letter (maximum two pages) describing your experience with organoids and your interest in working with engineering platforms.
If you require any further details about the role, please contact: Prof Pantelis Georgiou (pantelis@imperial.ac.uk)
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 before the stated closing date, should we receive a high volume of applications. Please submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
If you have any general queries about this vacancy, please contact the hiring manager listed in the ‘Further Information’ section. Alternatively, you can contact the Recruitment Hub at recruitmenthub@imperial.ac.uk, and we will be happy to assist you.
If you experience any technical issues that prevent you from submitting an application, please contact our Technical Support team at support.jobs@imperial.ac.uk, who will be able to help resolve the issue.
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, eliminating discrimination, and 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 web pages.
Proud signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant. We welcome applications from the Armed Forces community.
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.
