Research Scientist – Speckle Physics & IP

Praxa Sense; Rotterdam; Hybrid; EUR 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Praxa Sense in Rotterdam is seeking a Research Scientist – Speckle Physics & IP to advance our ALIS sensor platform. You will work at the interface of physics, optics and physiology, translating measurements into new intellectual property and practical health sensing insights.

You will design bench and in‑vivo experiments, develop theoretical and numerical models, and help protect inventions through disclosures and patent texts.

Qualifications

• MSc or PhD in Physics, Applied Physics, Physical Chemistry or Biomedical Engineering.
• Experience with speckle, DCS, LSCI or PPG is a strong plus.
• Experience translating research into applied health sensing.
• Strong understanding of coherent light scattering and tissue optics.
• Fluent in English; Dutch is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Deepen our understanding of the physics behind SPG and the Blood Flow Index (BFi).
• Link the BFi and PPG signals to physiology and arterial flow.
• Design and run bench and in-vivo experiments with the sensor.
• Analyze data and explain observed physical and physiological effects.
• Develop theoretical and numerical models linking signals to physiology.
• Guide IP protection: identify patentable inventions and draft disclosures.
• Carry out prior-art searches and support freedom-to-operate analyses.

Skills

Python data analysis

Hands-on experiments

Technical writing

IP disclosures

Photonics & tissue optics

Applied health sensing

Cardiovascular physiology

English fluency

Education

MSc/PhD in Physics/Optics/Biomedical Eng

Job description

Who we are

At Praxa Sense, we are redefining non-invasive health monitoring with our optical innovation ALIS® – a speckle-based biosensor enabling new frontiers in remote vital sign tracking.

We are looking for a curious, creative and very sharp Research Scientist – Speckle Physics & IP who wants to fully understand what the ALIS® sensor measures, from the physics of laser speckle and tissue optics to the underlying physiology. You combine deep understanding with hands-on work: you set up measurements yourself, tinker and explore with the technology, explain what you see, and turn new insights into strong intellectual property.

What you will do

• Deepen our understanding of the physics behind SPG and the Blood Flow Index (BFi): speckle statistics, speckle dynamics, light-tissue interaction and their relation to blood flow.
• Link the BFi and PPG signals to physiology: microvascular and arterial blood flow, perfusion, and pulse wave characteristics.
• Design and run experiments with the sensor, on the bench and in-vivo, often against reference methods such as ECG, ultrasound or blood pressure measurements.
• Analyze the data and explain the observed physical and physiological effects.
• Develop theoretical and numerical models that link measured signals to physiological parameters.
• Guide the next steps in IP protection: identify patentable inventions, write invention disclosures and draft patent descriptions and claims together with our patent attorney.
• Carry out prior-art searches and support freedom-to-operate analyses.

What we are looking for

• Msc or PhD in Physics, Applied Physics, Physical Chemistry or Biomedical Engineering, with a background in photonics, optoelectronics, light-matter interaction or biomedical optics. Experience with speckle, DCS, LSCI or PPG is a strong plus, but not required.
• Experience translating research into applied health sensing, for example as a research engineer at a medtech or consumer health company.
• Strong understanding of coherent light scattering and tissue optics, or the ability to master these quickly.
• Solid knowledge of human physiology, in particular cardiovascular physiology and hemodynamics.
• Hands-on experimental skills.
• Data analysis and modelling skills in Python.
• Demonstrable interest in intellectual property, ideally with experience in invention disclosures or patent texts.
• Ability to write clear, precise technical text and to separate what is truly novel from what is known.
• Fluent in English; Dutch is a plus.

What we offer

• Salary matching your experience with potential equity participation.
• 25 holiday days per year, additional special leave days for big life events such as weddings, moving houses and funerals.
• 7% of your salary as a contribution to life annuity.
• Free office lunch on Fridays.
• Fun company outings, but no unnecessary obligations.
• If you live more than 5km from the office: travel cost reimbursement of €0,23 per kilometer, also (or especially) when you come by bike.
• Work-from-home reimbursement so you can also drink quality coffee at home.
• Hybrid work culture: in-person collaboration at the Groot Handelsgebouw in Rotterdam at least 3 days/week, work from home when you need to focus (or do some laundry).
• Direct collaboration with experts in optics, signal processing, and data science and very friendly and ambitious colleagues.
• The satisfaction of contributing to technology that directly improves health monitoring.