Heriot-Watt University
KTP Associate/Clinical Researcher in Medical Compression and Orthosis
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Role: KTP Associate/Clinical Researcher in Medical Compression and Orthosis
(Heriot-Watt University and DM Orthotics)
Salary: £34,000 per annum
Contract: Full-Time (35 hours per week), Fixed Term for 13.5 months
Detailed Description
The successful candidate will secure a 13.5-month collaborative Knowledge Transfer Project (KTP) position. The associate will learn about medical compression therapy and dynamic movement orthoses from experts at Heriot-Watt University and DM Orthotics Ltd, before leading a project to improve patient care.
They will lead the development of a tool that facilitates the design of garments/orthoses that deliver a defined pressure and integrate this with DM Orthotics existing design systems. The Associate will use the new method to generate evidence for clinical efficacy for compression burns therapy, garments and orthoses. The associate will develop a wide range of technical skills, understanding and collaborative working practices of relevance to medical product and functional textile industries.
This project, and its Associate, fulfils a critical role within this business and will be responsible for the transfer of knowledge from Heriot-Watt University to DM Orthotics and contribute to market growth for the business. DM Orthotics’ primary business objective is to provide products that have real clinical benefits and positively impact patient's lives.
This project will underpin DM Orthotics’ products with the science of pressure garments/orthoses and how this translates into positive, predictable clinical outcomes that can be demonstrated quantitatively. As a KTP associate you will receive training as part of a cohort and training time/budget for personal development.
This full-time position is funded by DM Orthotics Ltd and InnovateUK. The successful appointee shall be based at DM Orthotics’ facility at Redruth, Cornwall and the project will involve working closely with colleagues at Heriot-Watt University’s Galashiels campus in the Scottish Borders. DM Orthotics hope to offer a permanent post to the Associate after completion of the project.
Keyword search: medical compression, orthoses, garment construction, textile testing,
Key Duties and Responsibilities
The successful appointee will be expected to undertake the following:
- Design and set-up extensive laboratory experiments and clinical tests to establish key properties of materials for medical compression and orthoses
- Lead the analysis and interpretation of research data, and develop required outputs drawn from the research findings
- Investigate and implement new design and production processes, using pattern cutting software, based on effective use of test data and clinician input
- Plan and manage the activity of the project in line with the identified workplan
- Contribute to, and lead, results dissemination
- Contribute to identifying business opportunities that new insights and methods open up
- Actively participate in the activities of the wider business
Please note that this job description is not exhaustive, and the role holder may be required to undertake other relevant duties commensurate with the salary of the post. Activities may be subject to amendment over time as the role develops and/or priorities and requirements evolve. A flexible working schedule may be required to meet all key duties and responsibilities.
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The role will be based at Redruth, Cornwall. Travel to Galashiels in the Scottish Borders will be required from time to time throughout the project to undertake testing in Heriot-Watt’s laboratories.
We will measure applicants based on the essential criteria, not by the key duties.
As a valued member of our team you can expect:
- A competitive salary of £34,000.
- An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work.
- You will get to work with clinicians and world-leading compression/orthoses experts at Heriot-Watt and DM Orthotics to make real improvements to people’s lives.
- As a KTP Associate, you will be part of the national Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (ktp-uk.org) scheme and entitled to specialist management training alongside other Associates, protected time for self-development and a professional development budget.
- Opportunity to attend, and present at, international conferences.
- Comprehensive Staff Benefits, such as a generous holiday entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, family-friendly initiatives, and flexible work options. Check out the full list on our staff benefits page (https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/about/work/why-heriot-watt-university.htm).
- We will measure applicants based on the essential criteria, not by the key duties.
Education, Qualifications and Experience
Essential
- A first degree in textiles, fashion or mechanical or textile engineering
- Excellent organisational/project planning skills
- Excellent verbal and written (including report writing) communication skills
- Excellent laboratory skills or demonstrable capacity to learn them
- Good team player with capacity for independent work
- The candidate must be comfortable with numbers and possess basic data analysis skills
- The candidate must be a creative problem solver
- Empathetic, with a genuine commitment to improving patient care
Desirable
- Experience in product development of technical/functional clothing
- Experience of conducting textile testing, working with Standard test methods
- Experience of applying theoretical data to a real-life application
- Experience of identifying market/business opportunities
- CAD skills, particularly pattern making and pattern cutting software
- Data analysis and presentation skills
- Interview skills – assess at interview only
- Garment/orthoses fitting and evaluation skills
- Understanding of compression and pressure theory
- Research skills and a curiosity to learn
About Heriot-Watt University
Heriot-Watt University has established a reputation for world-class teaching and leading-edge, relevant research, which has made it one of the top UK universities for innovation, business and industry.
Heriot-Watt University has five campuses: three in the UK (Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Orkney), one in Dubai and one in Malaysia. The University offers a highly distinctive range of degree programmes in the specialist areas of science, engineering, design, business and languages. Heriot-Watt is also Scotland's most international university, boasting the largest international student cohort.
About The School of Textiles and Design
The School of Textiles and Design has a rich heritage dating back to 1875 when it was founded by local textile manufacturers to educate their employees. The School has developed and diversified significantly over the years but our foundation in industrially relevant education, innovation and research is as important now as ever in its history. We have excellent design, technical and prototyping facilities and a wide range of design and technical staff. The School is situated in Galashiels close to some of the world’s most established luxury textile manufactures including Barrie knitwear, Johnstons of Elgin, Lochcarron and Schofields.
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About DM Orthotics Ltd
DM Orthotics is the leading UK manufacturer of bespoke pressure garments for hypertrophic burn scar treatment and is world leading in producing Dynamic Elastomeric Fabric Orthoses (DEFOs) for managing neurological and biomechanical disorders. It is a research-led business with ISO13485 certification and experienced host of KTP Associates
How to Apply
Please submit a 2-page CV that specifically links your existing skills and expertise to the job description, essential and desirable criteria listed here.
Please also submit a one-page cover letter explaining why this role is attractive to you and why we should invite you for interview.
DO NOT submit any additional documents at this stage and do not exceed the page limit, minimum font size 11, please include your name in the document titles when you upload them.
Please must submit via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment system. Applications can be submitted until midnight on Monday 27th July 2026.
We expect interviews to commence in early August 2026.
Candidates can make informal enquiries about this position to Dr Lisa Macintyre l.m.macintyre@hw.ac.uk and Mr Martin Matthews m.matthews@dmorthotics.com
At Heriot Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team.
Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.
Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.
Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our University community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/equality-diversity.htm and also our
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