Senior Research Assistant for Living Manufacture Project

Northumbria University; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job description

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Job Description

ABOUT THE ROLE

You will be responsible for integrating mechanical, electronic, and software-controlled systems to enable precise manipulation of bacterial cellulose growth and microbial modification processes. Key tasks include developing programmable robotic actuators, ensuring sterile and controlled bioreactor conditions, and working on precision delivery systems for chemical and light-based patterning. You will also collaborate closely with specialists in synthetic biology, biomaterials, and computational modelling to ensure seamless integration of hardware, wetware, and software components.

This role provides a unique opportunity to contribute to a highly interdisciplinary and innovative research programme that bridges engineering, synthetic biology, and digital fabrication. You will gain experience in advanced manufacturing techniques, biological-materials research, and automation technologies, with opportunities to publish in leading journals and present at international conferences. Based at Northumbria University, you will work within a pioneering and high profile team in the Living Construction group shaping the future of biofabrication and sustainable materials.

This is a fixed term role for a duration of 24 months.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The Living Manufacture project pioneers a new paradigm in biological fabrication, integrating microbial self-assembly, programmable genetic modifications, and robotic control to create Engineered Living Materials (ELMs). This interdisciplinary initiative seeks to develop a biofabrication platform that harnesses bacterial cellulose as a scalable, functional material, modified in real-time using engineered microbes responding to light and chemical inputs.

The research aims to create a fully automated system for growing and patterning biological materials, offering novel solutions in sustainable manufacturing, bio-based textiles, smart materials, and biomedical applications. By combining synthetic biology, materials science, robotics, and computational modelling, the project will establish a highly tunable fabrication process, enabling precise control over material properties at multiple scales.

Key research areas include:

1. Developing a biofabrication system that integrates engineered bacterial cellulose production with external microbial modification.
2. Creating hardware solutions, including bioreactors, robotic dispensing systems, and light-based patterning technologies.
3. Advancing synthetic biology techniques, designing genetic circuits that regulate microbial interactions and material functionality.
4. Implementing computational modelling and automation, optimizing material growth and structure through data-driven control systems.

A collaboration between Newcastle University, Northumbria University, the University of Oxford, and Imperial College London, this project brings together leading researchers in synthetic biology, biomaterials, and digital fabrication. The outcomes will provide scalable, sustainable, and adaptable manufacturing solutions, addressing critical challenges in material science and bioengineering.

ABOUT THE TEAM

The Living Manufacture project is led by a dynamic, interdisciplinary team at the forefront of Engineered Living Materials (ELMs), biofabrication, and synthetic biology. At its core, the research is driven by Northumbria University's Living Construction Group (HBBE), dedicated to integrating biological processes into construction, materials science, and sustainable manufacturing.

The team at Northumbria University brings expertise in microbial biotechnology, materials engineering, and biofabrication, with key contributions to bacterial cellulose modification, microbial co-culturing, and bio-based material testing. The project is further strengthened by collaborators from the University of Oxford and Imperial College London, who contribute cutting-edge advances in robotic fabrication, synthetic biology, and computational modelling.

ABOUT YOU

We are looking for a highly motivated Research Associate to lead Work Package 1 (Hardware Development) in the Living Manufacture project. You will have expertise in robotic fabrication, bioreactor systems, or automated biofabrication, with experience in mechanical, electronic, or control system engineering. Strong skills in hardware prototyping, automation, and system integration are essential, and familiarity with biotechnology or biofabrication systems is desirable although not essential. You will work closely with an interdisciplinary team, contributing to the development of a fully automated biofabrication platform that integrates robotic dispensing, environmental control systems, and microbial culture management to create next-generation Engineered Living Materials (ELMs).

Further information about the requirements of the role is available in the person specification.

If you would like an informal discussion about the role, please contact Prof Martyn Dade-Robertson ([e-mail]).