Carnegie Mellon University is a private, global research university that stands among the world’s most renowned education institutions. With ground-breaking brain science, path-breaking performances, creative start-ups, big data, big ambitions, hands-on learning, and a whole lot of robots, CMU doesn’t imagine the future, we invent it. If you’re passionate about joining a community that challenges the curious to deliver work that matters, your journey starts here!
Innovation. Interdisciplinary collaboration. Complex problem solving. In Carnegie Mellon University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, faculty members, researchers, and students are revolutionizing focus areas in advanced manufacturing, bioengineering, computational engineering, energy and the environment, product design, and robotics. They also use their expertise in interdisciplinary research centers across the university.
Carnegie Mellon University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering is searching for a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join their team. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who thrives in an interesting and challenging work environment. You will contribute to the department by providing support by focusing on system integration and device preparation for the biosensing devices, connecting nucleic-acid analysis workflows with small-scale fluidic systems, sensors, electronics, and data acquisition.
The role combines device fabrication and assembly, experimental setup, assay-compatible sample handling, electronics integration, and quantitative testing of the complete system.
Your core responsibilities will include:
You will develop repeatable preparation and operating procedures, identify failures at subsystem interfaces, and work with the sensing and assay teams to improve integrated prototype performance.
Lead assigned research activities, plan reproducible experiments, and communicate progress and technical risks against project milestones.
Analyze quantitative data with appropriate controls and statistical methods; maintain traceable laboratory records, protocols, and analysis workflows.
Collaborate across biological, device, sensing, and electronics teams to resolve interfaces and interpret integrated system performance.
Prepare technical reports, presentations, manuscripts, and other research materials; contribute to project meetings and scientific dissemination.
Mentor students and junior researchers as appropriate, coordinate shared experimental activities, and follow applicable laboratory safety and research protocols.
Prepare, fabricate as needed, assemble, seal, and inspect MCDS devices, cartridges, fixtures, and fluidic connections using repeatable build and quality-control procedures.
Integrate sample handling, assay chambers, sensing elements, electronics, and data acquisition into functional experimental systems; define and document subsystem interfaces.
Develop and evaluate nucleic-acid analysis workflows with assay collaborators, including sample preparation, transfer, loading, and compatibility with the selected detection method.
Establish controls for contamination, carryover, sample loss, inhibition, and device-material effects that can alter nucleic-acid measurements.
Set up and troubleshoot electrical connections, measurement instrumentation, control interfaces, and synchronized data collection in coordination with electronics and firmware specialists.
Design integrated test plans addressing fluidic integrity, assay and sensor performance, calibration, timing, run-to-run reproducibility, and complete workflow reliability.
Analyze system data and trace failures to mechanical, fluidic, biochemical, electrical, or software interfaces; compare design and preparation changes through controlled experiments.
Produce build records, preparation and operating protocols, calibration checks, and transfer documentation; coordinate with the biochemical sensing role on shared interfaces and integration tests.
Other duties as…