Research Associate in Brain Organoids and Organ-on-Chip Platforms

Imperial Enterprise; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 51,000 - 59,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

State-of-the-art facilities

Diverse and inclusive culture

Job summary

Imperial College London in London invites applications for a Research Associate in Brain Organoids and Organ-on-Chip Platforms. You will lead the biological arm of a programme combining semiconductor-based lab-on-chip technology with human brain organoids.

You will establish brain organoid cultures and work with engineers to integrate organoids onto chip platforms. The role offers access to world‑class facilities, opportunities to co‑author papers, and to contribute to cutting‑edge

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience culturing human pluripotent stem cells and creating 3D neural models.
• Ability to characterise organoids using imaging, immunostaining and gene expression assays.
• Experience working in a multidisciplinary team with engineers and device physicists.

Responsibilities

• Generate and maintain brain organoids with reproducible QC.
• Characterise organoids with imaging, immunostaining and functional assays.
• Collaborate with engineers to design biocompatible chip interfaces for long-term culture.
• Test and validate device performance with living tissue and feed results back to design.
• Analyse data, write papers and present at conferences.
• Train and supervise PhD and MSc students in cell culture methods.
• Contribute to grant applications and collaborations.

Skills

Stem cell culture

Neural models

Interdisciplinary teamwork

Education

PhD in stem cells

Job description

Research Associate in Brain Organoids and Organ-on-Chip Platforms

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,
• 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.

Attached documents are available under links. Clicking a document link will initialize its download.

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.

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.