Research Associate

JOB TITLE

Research Associate

LOCATION

Worcester

DEPARTMENT NAME

Electrical & Computer Engineering- NFR JM

DIVISION NAME

Worcester Polytechnic Institute- WPI

JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY

The Integrated Circuits and Systems (ICAS) Laboratory at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), in collaboration with MIT, invites applications for a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to lead the design of custom integrated circuits for next-generation sub-mm-scale implantable biomedical devices. This position is aligned with a large-scale ARPA-H-supported effort (Oculab) focused on developing clinically robust implantable sensing platforms.

Project Overview

The Oculab program aims to develop a fully integrated, sub-millimeter-scale implantable system capable of continuous physiological monitoring with embedded intelligence. The device integrates:

• Custom mixed-signal ICs for high-precision biomedical sensing
• Energy harvesting and energy-efficient system design
• Low-latency wireless communication

The long-term vision is to establish a new class of autonomous implantable biomedical devices that enable continuous monitoring, early detection of disease progression, and clinically actionable insights.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Position Responsibilities:

The postdoctoral researcher associate will:

• Architect and design custom mixed-signal integrated circuits for sub-mm-scale implantable systems
• Lead multiple IC tapeouts from concept through silicon validation
• Design ultra-low-power analog front-ends for biomedical sensing
• Develop ADCs, power management blocks, clocking systems, and on-chip interfaces
• Contribute to low-power digital/AI accelerator blocks for on-device inference if needed
• Co-design sensing interfaces with luminescent and other physiological sensor modalities
• Collaborate on energy harvesting and communication subsystems
• Perform post-silicon validation, characterization, and system-level integration
• Mentor graduate students and contribute to proposal writing and high-impact publications

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering or related field
• Strong background in analog/mixed-signal IC design
• Demonstrated experience with multiple successful silicon tapeouts (strongly required)
• Expertise in low-power design techniques
• Experience with advanced CMOS technology nodes (strongly required)
• Proven ability to independently lead full-chip design and validation (strongly required)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing ICs for biomedical or implantable devices
• Knowledge of energy harvesters, power management, and wireless power transfer circuits
• Track record of publications in leading conferences/journals (ISSCC, JSSC, CICC, TBioCAS, etc.)

Ideal Candidate Profile

We seek a candidate who thrives in ambitious, high-impact research environments and is excited about translating advanced integrated circuit design into clinically meaningful biomedical technologies. The ideal candidate will combine deep technical expertise with system-level thinking and a strong interest in advancing next-generation intelligent implantable systems.

Environment

The ICAS Laboratory provides a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary environment, working closely with clinicians, biomedical engineers, and translational partners. The position offers exposure to large-scale federally funded research programs and opportunities to shape the future of implantable intelligent biomedical systems.

To Apply

Interested applicants should submit a CV, a brief research statement, and contact information for a reference.

Compensation:

Annual salary is $60,000 - $70,000. Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity.

FLSA STATUS

United States of America (Exempt)

WPI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability. It seeks individuals from all backgrounds and experiences who will contribute to a culture of creativity, collaboration, inclusion, problem solving, innovation, high performance, and change making. It is committed to maintaining a campus environment free of harassment and discrimination.