Research Assistant in Biomechanics of Locomotion

Drexel University•Philadelphia, PA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This is a research opportunity for graduating biomedical/mechanical engineers starting on or around July 2026 in the Bhandawat Lab. We study how animal behavior emerges from the complex interaction amongst the animal's nervous systems, their muscle-body dynamics, and their environment. We use fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) as our model organism because they perform many complex behaviors with a relatively simple brain, and because of the many genetic tools that are available in the flies. We employ a multi-pronged approach which includes in vivo whole-cell patch clamp recordings, imaging, and quantitative measurement of behavior, biomechanics and computation. For more information on research conducted in the Bhandawat lab, please check our website at http://biomed.drexel.edu/labs/bhandawat/. This position is grant-funded; employment is contingent upon the continued availability of those funds.

Requirements

Minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in Biomedical Engineering, Biosciences, or a related field or the equivalent combination of education and work experience
Knowledge of programming and instrumentation, especially MATLAB or Python
Strong analytical skills
Prior research experience, such as undergraduate research or an undergraduate thesis, is required

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with dynamical systems is highly valued
Some knowledge of neuroscience and muscle physiology will be helpful
Full-time research experience is a plus

Responsibilities

Understand how neural activity, muscle properties, and the relation between muscle contraction and joint movement control the movement of a fly’s legs and the coordination between legs.
Do high-speed videography
Do instrumentation
Make custom-holders, make sensors or combine available devices to perform data acquisition
Use machine learning methods to track the movement of the fly’s body as well as its center of mass
Use mechanics to fit models of locomotion to fly walking data
Use a force sensor to measure forces from a fly’s leg
Share in performing some routine jobs needed to run the lab
Analyze data and write proposals independently
Mentor graduate students