Research Assistant I (Part Time - 20 hours) - Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Institute

The Research Assistant will support ongoing wearable sensing projects in the Advanced Wearable Sensors and Electronics Laboratory, with a particular focus on expanding the laboratory’s capabilities in biochemical and electrochemical sensing. The position will contribute to the development, evaluation, and integration of biochemical sensing mechanisms into wearable and point-of-care sensor platforms. 

• Assist with the design and execution of controlled experiments to evaluate biochemical and electrochemical sensing strategies for wearable sensor applications.
• Help identify and compare candidate sensing mechanisms, including but not limited to electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, amperometric/voltammetric approaches, molecularly imprinted polymers, aptamer-based recognition, antibody-based recognition, or other affinity-based sensing approaches.
• Support sensor preparation, surface modification, functionalization, and characterization to determine appropriate binding or recognition mechanisms for target analytes.
• Conduct bench-top experiments to evaluate sensor and circuit responses under controlled conditions, including dose-response testing, selectivity testing, repeatability, stability, and calibration-curve development.
• Assist with data organization, quantitative analysis, visualization, and interpretation of biochemical sensing experiments.
• Contribute to the integration of biochemical sensing capabilities with existing wearable sensor platforms, including coordination with hardware, firmware, mobile, and data-analysis workflows.
• Prepare summaries, figures, presentations, and written materials for lab meetings, manuscripts, grants, and collaborative discussions.
• Participate in lab meetings, research seminars, and multidisciplinary project discussions.
• Performs other related duties

• Education: HS/GED required; bachelor’s degree in biology, biomedical engineering, bioengineering, chemistry, biochemistry, electrical engineering, materials science, or a related scientific field highly preferred
• Experience: None; Prior experience or strong interest in electrochemical sensing, biosensors, point-of-care diagnostics, biochemical assays, or wearable sensing platforms highly preferred
• Familiarity with one or more relevant techniques or concepts, such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, voltammetry, amperometry, sensor functionalization, molecularly imprinted polymers, aptamers, antibodies, surface chemistry, or calibration-curve analysis.
• Experience with data analysis, graphing, and documentation using tools such as Excel, Python, MATLAB, R, GraphPad Prism, or similar platforms.
• Strong interest in translational diagnostics, wearable sensing, biochemical monitoring, and human health applications.