Research Engineer 2 - Hardware and Software Design (Temporary)
About The Position
The Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition has an outstanding opportunity for a temporary Research Engineer 2 to join their team. Reporting to Dr. Ian Sweet, Research Associate Professor, the Research Engineer 2 is responsible for developing and optimizing in vitro fluidics instrumentation for research aimed at maintaining and assessing real-time tissue function in response to changes in dissolved, trace signaling gases (including O2, H2S, NO and CO). The methodologies are then applied to investigations of diabetic complications including retinopathy, nephropathy and islet dysfunction. This project is part of an ongoing collaboration between the Sweet laboratory and the laboratories of James Hurley (Biochemistry), John Kramlich (Dept of Mechanical Engineering) and James Hermanson (Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics). Research Sponsors/Stakeholders: NIH, Helmsley Foundation, UW Dept of Mechanical Engineering and UW Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related engineering field
- two years of designing hardware and software
- Experience in instrumentation, electronics, engineering principals and software development.
Nice To Haves
- CAD drawing
- 3D printing
- numerical solutions and data processing
- Experience working in a research setting.
Responsibilities
- Design fluidics hardware and analytical instrumentation (25%): Using CAD software, instrumentation will be designed and fabricated with either 3D printing or other forms of fabrication. Design projects would include incorporating a gas mixing system that would flow into various measurement modalities including spectrophotometric cuvettes, fluorescent imaging systems, perifusion systems and a well-stirred tissue chamber. Each system assesses various metabolic, signaling or hormonal responses while maintaining viabilty and function of the tissue.
- Build/test gas control systems, autoinjectors and gas/liquid equilibration system with existing flow and static culture systems and other analytical modalities (25%): Materials and components will be purchased, fabricated and/or assembled according to optimized designs and drawings. Operation of the instruments will be tested and optimized according to criteria that include stability of flow rate, response times of injected test compounds and measurement of O2 concentration.
- Develop software for computer-control and automation of fluidics systems (25%): Instrumentation will be controlled by User Interface which will port data to Data Processing software. Devices to be automated will include controlling time dependent autoinjectors, composition of gas from multiple mass flow controllers, and liquid flow control by variable resistance valve.
- Testing and optimization of devices to precisely control dissolved gas composition based on software-driven mass flow controllers with tissue samples (15%): Data will be generated to demonstrate maintenance of tissue viability and accurate assessment of tissue function.
- Process, graph and report data and document methodologies for papers and grants (10%): Data will be generated confirming the accuracy and reliability of the instrumentation. Methodologies need to be clearly and concisely described.
Benefits
- For information about benefits for this position, visit https://www.washington.edu/jobs/benefits-for-temporary-per-diem-and-less-than-half-time/
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
