Research Fellow in Environmental Sensors

Cranfield University - Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Location: Bedfordshire, Cranfield

Salary: £34,450 to £37,337 per annum

Hours: Full Time

Contract Type: Fixed-Term/Contract

Placed On: 6th January 2026

Closes: 3rd February 2026

Job Ref: 5183

Fixed Term Contract until 31 October 2027

Full time starting salary (if PhD close to completion) is normally in the range of £34,450 per annum

Full time starting salary (if PhD obtained) is normally in the range of £37,337 per annum

Based at: Cranfield Campus, Cranfield, Bedfordshire

We welcome applications from a Research Fellow with a strong passion for and experience in biosensing, microfluidics, microbiology and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The successful candidate will join our Advanced Sensors team and contribute to the One Health Environmental Sensing project, which focuses on the development of novel sensors to enhance the understanding of multi-drug resistance and track AMR using a One Health approach.

About the Role

The postholder’s primary responsibility is to conduct cutting-edge research on environmental sensor development for monitoring pathogens and AMR genes, utilising state-of-the-art facilities in the Advanced Sensors Laboratory at Cranfield University. This will involve cutting-edge tools, including CRISPR/Cas diagnostics, paper-based microfluidics, high-throughput single-cell analysis using droplet-based microfluidics, in collaboration with Harvard University and industrial partners. The successful candidate will be working with Professors Zhugen Yang and Frederic Coulon in Cranfield, and they are likely to be seconded to a partner University for collaborative study, subject to progress.

You will contribute to the delivery of Cranfield University’s research portfolio in the Advanced Sensors Laboratory for Water-Environment-Health, led by Professor Zhugen Yang, and to a major, transformative UKRI-funded programme, tackling one of the most urgent global health challenges. The successful candidate will join a vibrant, interdisciplinary collaboration bringing together leading expertise in biosensing, microfluidics, microbiology, and environmental health.

About You

You will hold a doctoral degree (or be near completion) in biosensing, microfluidics, environmental science, microbiology or a related discipline. You will have demonstrable experience with experimental skill sets, including sensor development, wastewater surveillance, or reverse inference modelling for source tracking. You will bring laboratory expertise in designing experiments, handling advanced instruments, and troubleshooting. Collaboration and mentoring within interdisciplinary teams are also desirable.

About Us

As a specialist postgraduate university, Cranfield’s world-class expertise, large-scale facilities and unrivalled industry partnerships are creating leaders in technology and management globally. Learn more about Cranfield and our unique impact here.

Our Values and Commitments

Our shared, stated values help to define who we are and underpin everything we do: Ambition; Impact; Respect; and Community. Find out more here.

We aim to create and maintain a culture in which everyone can work and study together and realise their full potential. We are a Disability Confident Employer and proud members of the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme. We are committed to actively exploring flexible working options for each role and have been ranked in the Top 30 family friendly employers in the UK by the charity Working Families. Find out more about our key commitments to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Flexible Working here.

Working Arrangements

Collaborating and connecting are integral to so much of what we do. Our Working Arrangements Framework provides many staff with the opportunity to flexibly combine on-site and remote working, where job roles allow, balancing the needs of our community of staff, students, clients and partners.

How to apply

For an informal discussion, please contact Zhugen Yang, on (E): zhugen.yang@cranfield.ac.uk

To apply please click above 'Apply' Button. For further details please contact peoplerecruitment@cranfield.ac.uk, quoting 5183.

Closing date: 3 February 2026

www.cranfield.ac.uk