Postdoctoral Associate (Soft Materials)

SINGAPORE-MIT ALLIANCE FOR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY CENTRE; Pasir Panjang; On-site; MYR 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research institution in Malaysia is seeking a Postdoctoral Associate for the Wearable Imaging for Transforming Elderly Care project. The role involves designing soft materials for wearable ultrasound systems and collaborating with clinicians and engineers. Applicants should hold a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or a related field, with strong expertise in hydrogels and mechanical characterization. Interested candidates can apply via the provided link.

Qualifications

• Strong expertise in hydrogels, elastomers, or soft polymeric systems.
• Solid foundation in solid mechanics and material characterization.
• Experience in experimental mechanics and acoustic impedance characterization.

Responsibilities

• Design and synthesize soft materials for wearable ultrasound transducers.
• Develop multiphysics models to predict the behavior of soft materials.
• Collaborate with clinicians to integrate materials into ultrasound systems.

Skills

Soft materials synthesis

Mechanical engineering

Team collaboration

Education

Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline

Job description

Project Overview

The Wearable Imaging for Transforming Elderly Care (WITEC) interdisciplinary research group (IRG) is committed to creating next-generation wearable imaging technologies tailored for aging populations. By combining expertise in wearable transducers, biomedical imaging, materials science, data analytics, and healthcare innovation, WITEC aims to design solutions that will improve quality of life, support preventative medicine, and reduce healthcare burdens. Specific objectives include the development of wearable ultrasound imaging systems for doing cardiovascular echography, AI-powered diagnostic algorithms, and integration with digital health platforms for real-time monitoring and clinical decision support.

WITEC brings together interdisciplinary researchers from MIT and Singaporean institutions, including hospitals and research agencies. Through deep collaboration with local partners, including clinicians, industry, and policymakers, WITEC will ensure that its technological advancements are innovative, clinically validated, and suitable for industrial scale up.

Key Responsibilities

The WITEC IRG at SMART is seeking a qualified candidate for a Postdoctoral Associate position supervised by professors from MIT and Singapore. This position will entail the following technical responsibilities:

1. Design, synthesis, and characterization soft materials, such as hydrogels or elastomers, to serve as biocompatible skin adhesive couplant for wearable ultrasound transducers.

2. Develop and validate constitutive and multiphysics models to predict the mechanical, rheological, and acoustic behavior of soft materials under dynamic conditions relevant to long-term wear.

3. Establish experimental protocols for mechanical, acoustic, and biosafety testing, including ultrasonic impedance, adhesion performance, tissue compatibility, fatigue behavior, and long-term stability on skin.

4. Collaborate closely with clinicians and engineers to integrate soft materials into functional wearable ultrasound systems and participate in protocol development and deployment for pilot human studies.

5. Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

1. Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Polymer Science, Biomedical Engineering, or a related discipline.

2. Strong expertise in hydrogels, elastomers, or other soft polymeric systems, including synthesis, formulation, and functional characterization.

3. Solid foundation in solid mechanics, soft material mechanics, and fracture or fatigue modelling; experience with FEM or multiphysics simulations is highly desirable.

4. Demonstrated experience in experimental mechanics and material characterization, including techniques such as rheometry, tensile testing, or acoustic impedance characterization.

5. Prior experience in biocompatible or wearable materials is advantageous. Familiarity with ultrasound imaging or acoustic coupling is a plus.

6. The candidate needs to work well in a team with good communication skills.

To apply, please visit our website at: https://portal.smart.mit.edu/careers/career-opportunities

Interested applicants are invited to send in their full CV/resume, cover letter and list of three references (to include reference names and contact information). We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.