Research Assistant

Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI); Dublin; On-site; EUR 32,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) is seeking an Research Assistant in the Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Medicine. The role focuses on leading technical input into catheter-based delivery device design and engineering, translating clinical requirements into specifications, CAD modelling, and material selection.

The post involves bench testing, rapid prototyping, simulated-use evaluations with clinical collaborators, and maintaining design documentation.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Medical Device Design or closely related discipline.
• 1–3 years' relevant research and/or industry experience in medical device design, development or engineering.
• Experience with CAD software (SolidWorks/Fusion 360) and 3D modelling.
• Practical experience with rapid prototyping including 3D printing and hands-on device assembly.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical input into device design and engineering, translating clinical requirements into engineering specifications, CAD modelling, and material selection.
• Support detailed design and modelling work, including structural/mechanical assessment and test rig design.
• Fabricate functional prototypes using rapid manufacturing methods (e.g. extrusion of tubing, 3D-printed components, manual assembly).
• Execute bench testing of prototypes, including deliverability, insertion force, positioning accuracy, and flow/pressure performance assessments.
• Coordinate and support simulated-use evaluations with clinical collaborators, gathering structured usability feedback.
• Support at least one full design iteration cycle, documenting verification against requirements.
• Assist with market, competitor and stakeholder analysis, including literature review and coordination of expert engagement.
• Maintain project documentation including a Design History File, risk files and design traceability records.

Skills

CAD software proficiency

3D modelling

Bench testing

Independent work

Communication

Education

Master's degree in Biomedical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Fusion 360

3D printing

Job description

Department: Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Medicine

Reporting to: Dr Aamir Hameed

Location: RCSI, 118 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin

Contract/Duration: Fixed-Term, Specified Purpose Contract – 12 months

Remuneration: IUA Research Assistant Scale, Level 1, up to Point 8 (depending on experience)

Closing Date: 5:00pm on Thursday 22nd of October

RCSI is a community of academic, research, clinical and professional staff working collaboratively to lead the world to better health. Here, you will thrive in an innovative and inclusive atmosphere and your personal development and wellbeing will be supported. We invite you to join us to help deliver on our exciting mission “To educate, nurture and discover for the benefit of human health”. We seek candidates whose experience to date has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to the “Race Equality Action Plan 2025-2029” at RCSI. Our students come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds. This makes our university stronger and ensures we hire the best talent.

Innovating for a Healthier Future 2023-2027 is RCSI’s new five-year strategic plan. Through it, RCSI will enhance human health by meeting the health workforce needs of society, creating the insights and inventions that drive health improvements, and working in partnership with patients and the public in support of better health and wellbeing for all. The strategy unites the RCSI community in supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals – with a particular focus on Goal 3, which targets good health and well-being.

For each of the last six years, RCSI has been positioned in the Top 300 of universities worldwide in the Times Higher World University Rankings. We are proud that RCSI ranks fifth in the world for “Good Health and Well-being” in the Times Higher Education #SDG #SDG Impact Rankings 2024. This reflects our commitment to supporting people of all ages to live healthy lives and our work to promote the concepts of well-being and positive health. In 2024, RCSI was delighted to be named one of the Sunday Times Best Places to Work in Ireland.

At RCSI, our core values of Respect, Collaboration, Scholarship, and Innovation are at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive environment where every colleague is valued and empowered to thrive. Our dedication to these values ensures that we foster a culture of mutual respect, open collaboration, continuous learning, and innovative thinking. Join us at RCSI, where your contributions will be recognised, and you will be part of a dynamic team making a real impact on global health.

About Our Research

RCSI recognises that excellence in research is critical to the quality of its educational activities, its credibility, and, overall, to its mission to enhance human health. RCSI’s research strategy aims to build upon its strength intranslational biomedical and clinical research to deliver transformational, high impact changes in health care. Targeting both Irish national and EU funding, along with increased collaboration with industry, is a major part of the RCSI research strategy. Forging increased collaboration between RCSI PIs and industry is of critical importance to achieving success in this area. RCSI is also committed to provide its researchers with the supports and developmental opportunities to enable them to continuously grow and support their overall career development.

Summary of Post

This post is funded under an Enterprise Ireland Commercialisation Fund (Proof of Concept) award supporting the development of a novel catheter-based delivery system for administering therapeutic agents to a targeted anatomical cavity. Over 12 months, the project will advance the device from early concept through detailed engineering design, prototype fabrication, and bench/simulated-use testing, building on a completed feasibility study that validated the clinical and commercial opportunity. The Research Assistant will provide hands‑on technical support across all workpackages of the project, working closely with the Principal Investigator, CoInvestigator, and external design and commercialisation consultants.

Specifically, the duties of the post are:

• Lead technical input into device design and engineering, translating clinical requirements into engineering specifications, CAD modelling, and material selection.
• Support detailed design and modelling work, including structural/mechanical assessment, bench test rig design, and design documentation.
• Fabricate functional prototypes using rapid manufacturing methods (e.g. extrusion of off‑the‑shelf tubing, 3Dprinted components, manual assembly).
• Execute bench testing of prototypes, including deliverability, insertion force, positioning accuracy, and flow/pressure performance assessments.
• Coordinate and support simulated-use evaluations with clinical collaborators, gathering structured usability and workflow feedback.
• Support at least one full design iteration cycle, documenting verification against requirements established in earlier workpackages.
• Assist with market, competitor, and stakeholder analysis activities, including literature review and coordination of expert/stakeholder engagement.
• Maintain accurate project documentation, including a Design History File, risk files, and design traceability records, and contribute to project reports and deliverables for the funding body.

Qualifications – (Essential):

• Essential: A Master's degree (MSc or equivalent) in Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Medical Device Design, or a closely related discipline.
• Desirable: Additional training or certification in medical device design, quality systems, or regulatory affairs.

Knowledge & Experience – (Essential):

• A minimum of 1-3 years' relevant research and/or industry experience in medical device design, development, or engineering.
• Demonstrated experience with CAD software (e.g. SolidWorks, Fusion 360, or equivalent) and 3D modelling.
• Practical experience with rapid prototyping methods, including 3D printing and hands‑on device assembly.
• Experience conducting bench testing, mechanical/structural evaluation, or experimental validation of physical prototypes.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage research/project tasks with minimal supervision, and communicate technical findings clearly in written and verbal form.
• Desirable: prior experience with catheter-based or minimally invasive medical device design, and/or familiarity with medical device regulatory pathways.

At RCSI, people are at the heart of everything we do. Watch our short video to discover our culture, values, and shared commitment to making a meaningful impact on health worldwide. RCSI: Ensemble - Body Meets Mind.