Research Scientist – Speckle Physics & IP

Who we are

At Praxa Sense, we are redefining non-invasive health monitoring with our optical innovation ALIS® – a speckle-based biosensor enabling new frontiers in remote vital sign tracking.

We are looking for a curious, creative and very sharp Research Scientist – Speckle Physics & IP who wants to fully understand what the ALIS® sensor measures, from the physics of laser speckle and tissue optics to the underlying physiology. You combine deep understanding with hands-on work: you set up measurements yourself, tinker and explore with the technology, explain what you see, and turn new insights into strong intellectual property.

What you will do

• Deepen our understanding of the physics behind SPG and the Blood Flow Index (BFi): speckle statistics, speckle dynamics, light-tissue interaction and their relation to blood flow.
• Link the BFi and PPG signals to physiology: microvascular and arterial blood flow, perfusion, and pulse wave characteristics.
• Design and run experiments with the sensor, on the bench and in-vivo, often against reference methods such as ECG, ultrasound or blood pressure measurements.
• Analyze the data and explain the observed physical and physiological effects.
• Develop theoretical and numerical models that link measured signals to physiological parameters.
• Guide the next steps in IP protection: identify patentable inventions, write invention disclosures and draft patent descriptions and claims together with our patent attorney.
• Carry out prior-art searches and support freedom-to-operate analyses.

What we are looking for

• Msc or PhD in Physics, Applied Physics, Physical Chemistry or Biomedical Engineering, with a background in photonics, optoelectronics, light-matter interaction or biomedical optics. Experience with speckle, DCS, LSCI or PPG is a strong plus, but not required.
• Experience translating research into applied health sensing, for example as a research engineer at a medtech or consumer health company.
• Strong understanding of coherent light scattering and tissue optics, or the ability to master these quickly.
• Solid knowledge of human physiology, in particular cardiovascular physiology and hemodynamics.
• Hands-on experimental skills.
• Data analysis and modelling skills in Python.
• Demonstrable interest in intellectual property, ideally with experience in invention disclosures or patent texts.
• Ability to write clear, precise technical text and to separate what is truly novel from what is known.
• Fluent in English; Dutch is a plus.

What we offer

• Salary matching your experience with potential equity participation.
• 25 holiday days per year, additional special leave days for big life events such as weddings, moving houses and funerals.
• 7% of your salary as a contribution to life annuity.
• Free office lunch on Fridays.
• Fun company outings, but no unnecessary obligations.
• If you live more than 5km from the office: travel cost reimbursement of €0,23 per kilometer, also (or especially) when you come by bike.
• Work-from-home reimbursement so you can also drink quality coffee at home.
• Hybrid work culture: in-person collaboration at the Groot Handelsgebouw in Rotterdam at least 3 days/week, work from home when you need to focus (or do some laundry).
• Direct collaboration with experts in optics, signal processing, and data science and very friendly and ambitious colleagues.
• The satisfaction of contributing to technology that directly improves health monitoring.