Research Associate: Ultrasound-Triggered Drug-Delivery Bubbles

RFCSR; Greater London; On-site; GBP 49,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous pension scheme

Annual leave

Job summary

Imperial College London is seeking a Research Associate to contribute to a multidisciplinary program focused on mono-responsive microbubbles for acoustically-triggered drug delivery. The role involves designing, fabricating, and evaluating microbubbles and conjugating them with drug-loaded liposomes for ultrasound-triggered release.

You will work with experts in microfluidics, acoustics, and biomedical engineering, publish findings, and supervise junior researchers within a collaborative

Qualifications

• Applicants must hold a PhD (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline such as chemical engineering, biomedical engineering, chemistry, materials science, or a closely related field. Candidates nearing completion of their PhD may also be considered.
• Demonstrated expertise in lipid chemistry and formulation of microbubbles and/or liposomes
• Strong understanding of the physical and chemical principles governing microbubble and liposome formation and stability
• Experience with characterisation techniques such as dynamic light scattering (DLS), optical microscopy, or related analytical tools
• Proven ability to design and conduct independent research within an interdisciplinary environment
• Strong publication record or potential to publish in high-impact journals
• Ability to collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary team and contribute to joint research goals
• Excellent organisational, communication, and problem-solving skills
• Self-motivation and the ability to drive research projects forward independently

Responsibilities

• Design, fabricate, and evaluate mono-responsive microbubbles with tailored shell and gas properties.
• Conjugate microbubbles with drug-loaded liposomes to enable ultrasound-triggered drug release.
• Characterise microbubbles and liposomes using advanced analytical techniques (e.g., DLS, microscopy).
• Assess stability and performance under acoustic stimulation.
• Contribute to scientific publications and supervise junior researchers where appropriate.
• Support planning and execution of project milestones within a collaborative research framework.

Skills

Lipid chemistry

Microbubble formulation

Liposome formulation

DLS

Optical microscopy

Independent research

Publications

Team collaboration

Communication skills

Problem solving

Self-motivation

Education

PhD in chemical/ biomedical engineering/ chemistry/ materials science or related

Job description

Imperial College London is seeking a Research Associate to contribute to a multidisciplinary program focused on mono-responsive microbubbles for acoustically-triggered drug delivery. The role involves designing, fabricating, and evaluating microbubbles and conjugating them with drug-loaded liposomes for ultrasound-triggered release.

You will work with experts in microfluidics, acoustics, and biomedical engineering, publish findings, and supervise junior researchers within a collaborative