Piezoelectric Materials for Non-Invasive Internal Pressure Sensing
Reporting to: Shweta Agarwala, Professor and Associate Dean, School of Engineering and Applied Science
About the University: Ahmedabad University is a private and research-focused university with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary problem-solving and liberal education. With its centrally located campus and internationally renowned faculty, Ahmedabad University fosters a stimulating academic environment that supports creativity and meaningful impact. The School of Engineering and Applied Science contributes to solutions for society, bringing together materials, electronics, energy, manufacturing, computation, and healthcare applications.
Role Summary: The JRF will contribute to the development of hybrid piezoelectric material systems for biomedical sensing. The role involves polymer-ceramic composite preparation, sensor fabrication, structural and electrical characterisation, and experimental validation. Applicants from interdisciplinary backgrounds in materials, electronics, physics, chemistry, and biomedical engineering are welcome.
This position is under the Indo-German collaborative project “Advancing Piezoelectric Material Systems for Non-Invasive Internal Pressure Sensing in Healthcare,” which develops biodegradable PLLA/BaTiO3 hybrid piezoelectric materials, studies resonance behavior under ultrasound and strain, and builds proof-of-concept sensor systems for biomedical monitoring in collaboration with Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany.
Responsibilities
- Prepare and optimize PLLA and related hybrid materials/ thin films through room-temperature fabrication processes.
- Investigate nanoparticle dispersion, interfacial coupling, crystallinity, morphology, and processing parameters for improved piezoelectric performance.
- Carry out various material and electrical characterizations (SEM, TEM, XRD, FTIR, XPS, DSC, PFM).
- Fabricate simple thin-film pressure sensors, support electrode deposition and sensor integration, and participate in experiments using in-house setups.
- Maintain research records, analyze data, and contribute to project reports, manuscripts, presentations, and collaboration activities.
- Support day-to-day lab management, consumable tracking, safety compliance, and collaboration across research groups.
Key Skills
- Strong interest in polymer composites, piezoelectric materials, functional thin films, sensors, or biomedical devices.
- Experimental aptitude in materials processing, electrical testing, and laboratory instrumentation; familiarity with impedance or frequency-response measurements is desirable.
- Ability to interpret characterisation data and correlate material structure with device performance.
- Good documentation, scientific writing, and data-analysis skills; familiarity with Origin, Excel, Python, or similar tools is desirable. A good knowledge of tools for scientific Illustrations, cover art & graphic abstracts will be appreciated.
- Strong teamwork, initiative, and willingness to work in a collaborative and research-intensive environment.
Qualification
- MSc, MTech, ME, or equivalent in Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry, Electronics, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Nanotechnology, or a related interdisciplinary area.
- Prior exposure to polymers, ceramics, composites, thin films, sensors, spectroscopy, microscopy, or electrical characterisation will be preferred.
- Candidates who are motivated to work on sustainable biomedical sensors and collaborative research with international partners are encouraged to apply.
How to Apply: Interested candidates should email a single PDF containing their CV, a brief cover letter, academic transcripts, and contact details of two referees to [email protected]. Please mention “Application for JRF – Piezoelectric Materials” in the subject line. Review of applications will begin immediately and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interview.
