Research Fellow in Industrial Design, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Harvard University


Title: Research Fellow in Industrial Design

School: Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Department_Area: Bioengineering

Position Description: The Biodesign Lab at Harvard University is seeking a talented and creative individual to contribute to the design, fabrication and documentation of soft robotic systems and associated materials. The Research Fellow in Industrial Design will work closely with a team of engineers and educators on educational robotic kit development and prototyping using soft goods, textiles, and low-cost manufacturing related to soft robotics and STEM education. The subject matter will involve mechanical and electrical engineering, computer programming, materials science, manufacturing methods, bio-inspiration, robotics, anatomy, artificial muscles, and more. The individual will support ongoing research into development of these materials, as well as translational and outreach efforts, while interacting with external educational professionals and industry partners. More specifically, the successful candidate will:

• Create technical drawings / sketches / graphics and representations of concept designs such that construction information and strategic concepts can be reviewed by other team members and used for reports, presentations and grant/patent applications.
• Provide design input to the construction of the soft robotic designs to better fit the overall aesthetic theme of the project, while not compromising on the educational and engineering qualities of these materials.
• Develop visual instructional materials for educators to provide a quality learning experience for middle schoolers and high school students.
• Interact with educators and engineers to effectively communicate the content of soft robotic learning experiences through visual and tactile mediums.
• Interact with potential end users of soft robotic devices and incorporate feedback into the design of these devices.
• Seek to reduce cost and utilize creative use of materials and sourcing to ensure repeatable and accessible design.
• Document and illustrate key takeaways from outreach experiences involving these materials, to better represent the experiences surrounding these materials for future participants.
• Test and iterate upon designs to improve the user experience, clarity of instruction, and visual appeal of the soft robotic materials.

Basic Qualifications: Bachelor and MS degrees in Industrial Design, engineering, or related discipline. Prior experience with product design, graphics, and research in a laboratory setting .



Contact Information: Mark Peterson

Contact Email: mpeterson@seas.harvard.edu

Equal Opportunity Employer: Harvard is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, age, protected veteran status, disability, genetic information, military service, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or other protected status.

Minimum Number of References Required: 3

Maximum Number of References Allowed: 3


Supplemental Questions: Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

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