Job Description
Job title
Research Associate
Department/School
Mechanical Engineering
Job family
Education and Research
Grade
7 (0.58 FTE)
Reporting to
Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-Investigator (CI)
Responsible for
Managing day-to-day interaction with the European
partners in the SPARK consortium, conducting the
research activities and constructing documents for
University of Bath’s deliverables, direction of the PhD
student’s research activities.
Location
University of Bath premises
Background and context
The SPARK project has recently been funded by the EU-H2020 funding programme.
This project aims to investigate how Spatial Augmented Reality can improve design
processes in SME’s in the creative industries. Specifically, this three-year research
programme will iteratively develop a new cost-effective way of projecting onto early
3D prototypes together with a knowledge capturing platform for collaboration. The
research at University of Bath will investigate how this new tool can be used in the
design process to be more collaborative, more time-efficient and more creative.
Job purpose
To provide subject-specific research expertise and undertake specific research work to
a Principal Investigator (PI)/Co-Investigator (CI) and their research team for a specified
grant / project.
The Research Associate will be responsible (together with the PhD student) for
conducting the research tasks assigned to the University of Bath in the SPARK
proposal. The Research Associate will manage the tasks and divide this work between
himself/herself and the PhD student. The Research Associate will manage the day-today interaction with the European partners in the SPARK consortium. Research
Associate will be responsible for constructing University of Bath’s deliverables for
submission to the Project Coordinators in Milan. The Research Associate will
contribute to the PhD student’s research activities. Research Associate will help write
research papers on findings of the research conducted.
Main duties and responsibilities
Responsible to the PI/CI for:
1
Conducting this collaborative research project with the SPARK partners across
Europe. Take a lead in the experimental design and the execution of the
project responsibilities of the University of Bath.
2
Collecting and analysing data gathered during the project using qualitative and
quantitative techniques.
3
Writing up the results of research and contributing to publishing of results in
high-quality peer-reviewed academic literature.
4
Project management: timetabling and meeting project milestones; managing the
tasks and deliverables; and divide this work between himself/herself and the
PhD student.
5
Participating in regular discussions with collaborative partners. Liaise with
SPARKS’s industrial partners and other creative industry partners in the early
stages.
6
Helping organise and conduct the controlled design workshop experiments at
University of Bath with student volunteers.
7
Disseminating results of project by presentations at conferences and industrial
showcases towards the end of the project
8
Participate regularly in group meetings and prepare and deliver presentations to
project team, internal and external partners and the Project Officer
9
Assist with the supervision of the PhD student appointed, any related
undergraduate project students.
10
Continually update knowledge and understanding in fields of: Spatially
Augmented reality, Co-design, Creativity and Design Process Efficiency.
11
Identify sources of funding and provide assistance with preparing bids to funding
bodies contribute to securing of funds for further research where appropriate, in
the last year of the project.
12
Disseminate knowledge of research advances to inform departmental teaching
effort.
Person Specification
Criteria
Qualifications
A PhD degree in a topic that intersects design,
innovation, engineering and business.
Essential
Desirable
√
Experience/Knowledge
Post-doctoral experience including the
management and delivery of EU collaborative
projects.
√
Demonstrated significant depth and breadth of
specialist knowledge in tools and methods to
improved design/innovation practice in industry.
√
Experience of defining requirements for novel
technologies.
√
√
Demonstrates awareness of latest developments in
the field of Spatially Augmented reality, Co-design,
Creativity and Design Process Efficiency and in
research methods for field research and controlled
experiments in design practice.
Demonstrated potential to publish in high quality,
peer-reviewed journals and to present research
results to industry.
√
Skills
Ability to prepare research proposals, to conduct
individual research work and to disseminate results
√
Ability to organise and prioritise own workload
√
Ability to write research reports and to effectively
disseminate outcomes
Excellent oral, interpersonal and written
communication skills
Proficiency in experimental techniques (as
appropriate to discipline)
√
Proficiency in IT skills (as appropriate to discipline)
√
Attributes
Innovation and developing creative solutions
√
√
√
Enthusiasm and self-motivation.
√
Organisation – able to plan and deliver work to
meet required deadlines
Tenacity – working to achieve own and team
objectives and to overcome obstacles
Ability to be an effective team worker
√
√
√