Job Title:
Research Assistant Optimised Retrofit
School/Unit:
Cardiff School of Art and Design
Location:
Llandaff Campus, Cardiff
Salary:
Grade 5, £30,942 – £33,797per annum
Hours:
37 hours per week
Tenure:
Fixed term for 12 months
Welsh University of the Year 2021 by The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide.
Our performance in this year’s Guide is exceptional. Our University was the biggest riser in Wales, and the third biggest in the UK, placing us in the UK top 40 for student satisfaction with teaching quality and the wider student experience.
We are very pleased that our strong performance has resulted in the University attracting high numbers of well qualified students and we are now seeking additional staff in both our academic schools and professional services departments.
The opportunity
Cardiff School of Art and Design recently celebrating its 150th anniversary, is a community of learning, that enjoys excellent facilities and is proud of its cross- disciplinary curriculum and research. It embodies Cardiff Metropolitan University’s values of Freedom to enquire and explore, Creativity applied to challenges across different disciplines, Diversity in the ideas and contexts studied and Innovation in testing the traditional and extending practices with the latest digital technology.
The School currently has 13 inter-linked undergraduate programmes in a unique cross-disciplinary undergraduate scheme, and 8 inter-linked Masters awards.
You will be part of a multi-disciplinary team of applied researchers and practitioners within the Sustainable and Resilient Built Environment (SuRBe) Research group, part of Cardiff Metropolitan University’s Human Centred Design Global Academy, contributing to the Optimised Retrofit Project (ORP).
As a Research Assistant you will be a vital part of the Cardiff Met/SuRBe team contributing to both mini projects, and the wider ORP. You will require strong interpersonal skills, and a willingness to share ideas and work alone or as part of a team from home, the University, in the field and in other locations.
You will be an enthusiastic and friendly professional with excellent communication and interpersonal skills coupled with a commitment to providing an excellent student experience.
What you’ll do – key duties
Data collection through online and face to face engagement with occupants, through a variety of methods including (but not limited to) questionnaires, which use quantitative and/or qualitative approaches.
Monitor internal and external environmental conditions during occupant engagement, with a range of equipment.
Analyse occupant questionnaire data and monitoring data, and report on findings in relation to energy use, thermal comfort, indoor air quality, and quality of life. In addition, to comparing data and findings with other monitoring by the partners. Provide recommendations to the Cardiff Met/SuRBe team and project partners from the findings.
Undertake physical testing of dwellings using air permeability, thermography, artificial smoke generators and other equipment to assess thermal comfort (occupant physical health), or sound penetration (occupant mental wellbeing), or paths for fire, smoke, or toxic gas movement (occupant safety and physical wellbeing). There could be other equipment and tools used.
Analyse physical testing data, and report on findings, and compare with the occupant engagement data and findings. Provide recommendations to the Cardiff Met/SuRBe team and project partners from the findings.
Provide technical expertise at project workshop events online and with physical attendance.
Assist with the preparation and delivery of guest lectures or tutorials for CSAD & CSSHS undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Conduct critical literature reviews specific to the ORP project, co-author academic papers for journals, conference presentations and reports.
Maintain a range of databases to store project information regarding aspects of the research.
Engage with project administration and reporting requirements, from the Cardiff Met/SuRBe team & ORP team and liaising with Cardiff School of Art & Design & Cardiff School of Sport & Health Sciences administrative teams as required.
What you’ll bring – essential experience & strengths
Working in the architecture, or built environment, or environmental public health sectors with considerable experience.
Designing, and conducting interviews online, face to face or in workshops with buildings users, analysing findings, making recommendations and reporting.
Conducting critical literature reviews and co-authoring producing papers for peer reviewed academic publications and professional industrial publications or technical reports.
What you’ll have - essential qualifications
A relevant undergraduate degree from an architecture, built environment, environmental public health, engineering, or scientific discipline.
Post graduate qualification from an architecture, built environment, environmental public health, engineering, or scientific discipline.
Our total reward package
We have a range of great benefits for employees including:
Annual leave of 25 days, rising to 30 days after 1 years’ service, plus 12 bank holiday / concessionary days (pro rata if part time)
Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme with generous contributions
Flexible and remote working opportunities
Award winning sports and fitness facilities with subsidised membership, plus subsidised physiotherapy/complementary therapy/sports massage
Access to all library facilities
Salary sacrifice schemes including cycle to work
How to apply
If you would like to talk with us about this opportunity please contact Dr John Littlewood, Senior Lecturer in Architectural Design and Technology, at jlittlewood@cardiffmet.ac.uk
To start your application please visit www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/jobs
Closing date: Tuesday 27 April 2021 at 4:30 pm.
Should a high volume of applications be received, we may need to close this vacancy early. We therefore encourage you to apply as early as possible.
We are committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. Our Strategic Plan underpins our commitment to recruit and retain the best talent and we welcome applications from people from diverse backgrounds. We appoint on merit.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic all of our recruitment is being conducted virtually. We aim to respond to your application as soon as possible.
Further Information
Full Job Description and Person Specification
Our Candidate Pack
Please visit our website for information about working for us, our culture, benefits, work-life balance and our career progression and development opportunities.