New England HERC

TECHNICAL ASSOCIATE I, GRIFFITH LAB, Biological Engineering, to join the Hardware Innovation Team in the Department of Biological Engineering reporting to Prof. Linda Griffith and David Trumper. Working closely with engineering collaborators and our internal biology team, will play a central role in the development, evaluation, and implementation of next generation fluidic platforms. These platforms aim to replicate microscale organs ("organs on chips" platforms) to model human diseases in the lab, including liver, gastrointestinal, gynecologic, and chronic infection. Will perform mechanical and fluidic QC testing of platforms, including design evaluation, pump verification, calibration, and troubleshooting; prepare and present weekly progress reports covering scientific/logistical updates, data analysis, and long-term planning needs; develop and maintain technical documentation, tutorials, and train collaborators in device operation and troubleshooting; fabricate and maintain PDMS and plastic devices, including bonding, sterilization, and post-experiment cleaning using established protocols; perform routine mammalian cell culture, including thawing, passaging cells and media change; and conduct routine biological sample analysis (i.e. ELISA, qPCR, immunostaining).

REQUIRED: Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or a closely related field; a minimum of two years of specialized lab experience (which may include experience gained as an undergraduate); experience using CAD/CAM software such as Fusion 360 or SOLIDWORKS; experience in micro-scale manufacturing methods such as CNC machining and 3D printing; experience in ordering tools and components fabricated from external vendors, including iterating on designs, cataloguing, maintaining inventory of parts; proficiency in basic experimental methods and data reporting; and willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends, and travel to partner labs for equipment setup. PREFERRED: Hands-on experience with fluidic systems, mechanical design, sensors, and actuators; programming experience with MATLAB, LabVIEW, and/or Python; experience with PDMS/plastic device fabrication and sterilization; familiarity with peristaltic pump calibration and tubing setup; and mammalian cell culture and aseptic techniques.

This is a 1-year position with the possibility of an extension, subject to funding availability.

5/27/2026