Research Associate

Cardiff University, Sports Labs and World Rugby have recently developed a new test protocol that will assess skin injury risk on synthetic sports surfaces. This is the culmination of a 4-year PhD program, which addressed a recognised limitation in current surface testing capabilities. These efforts have led to establishing a new injury metric and the fabrication of a new prototype test device, which is expected to be adopted by international governing bodies. We have recently been awarded funding to develop this prototype device into a new product, which would enable the international adoption of our new injury metric. This has the potential to significantly improve player welfare and, in doing so, create significant research impact. 

The successful applicant will be responsible for developing the concept device into a commercially viable test machine, so will have engineering knowledge and expertise. Machines for investigating different surface characteristics are already located at many international ‘test houses’, with customers expecting them to generate reliable and repeatable data. You will benefit from working directly with colleagues at Sports Labs, who are expert in designing, fabricating and having adopted, sports-related test devices. You will form a detailed understanding of the prototype device and new injury metric, then by integrating the combined know-how of you and colleagues, produce a final, high-quality design that is fit-for-purpose, reinforcing the Sports Labs brand.

Your main duties will include:

• Utilising your existing engineering knowledge and skills to develop our prototype design into a commercially viable rig, for testing skin friction on synthetic playing surfaces.
• Perform a rigorous scientific analysis to demonstrate the validity of the final design, relative to the prototype.
• Work with colleagues from within Sports Labs and the University, to establish an appropriate commercialisation strategy.

The successful applicant will be seconded to Sports Labs for the duration of this project. They are based in Sterling (Scotland), nestled between Glasgow and Edinburgh. You will receive day-to-day supervision from the Sports Labs team, with direct line management provided online and in-person by the Principal Investigator. You will be a Cardiff University employee, though will be expected to comply with the local (i.e. Sports Labs) working conditions, standard operating procedures, and risk assessments. These will all be formalised through a Secondment Agreement. This approach will ensure that you are able to work closely with highly relevant technical colleagues, whilst also liaising with the Sales & Marketing teams, for example to identify an appropriate price point and profit margin. 

This post is full time (35 hours per week), available from the 1st April 2024 and is fixed term until 31st December 2024.

Salary: £39347 - £46974 per annum (Grade 6). We do not anticipate appointing this position above point 6.32, £39347 per annum.

Location: Sports Lab, Stirling Scotland

For informal enquiries about the post please contact Dr Peter Theobald, [email protected]

For further details about working at Cardiff School of Engineering please contact [email protected]

Closing date: 28 February 2024

It is anticipated the interviews will be held on Wednesday 6th  March 2024