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Research and Development Post-Graduate Associate (KTP Associate)
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About This Opportunity
Cardiff University, one of the UK’s leading research-intensive institutions, is delighted to offer an outstanding opportunity for a talented researcher to join an exciting Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with Centregreat Rail Ltd (CGR) — a major Welsh railway engineering firm and Network Rail Principal Contractor.
This KTP, titled Rail-AI, aims to develop a next-generation AI-enabled, immersive digital platform for centralised railway asset management — combining advanced analytics, structural intelligence, large language models, and a metaverse-style interactive environment. You will play a central, leading role in building the software, decision-making and visualisation components of this system.
As a KTP Associate, you will be employed by Cardiff University, based primarily at CGR in Cardiff, and work alongside industrial engineers and leading academics specialising in AI, digital twins, computational mechanics, and structural intelligence. This post is ideal for someone who wants to drive real-world innovation, develop advanced technical expertise, and be positioned for leadership roles in digital infrastructure.
About The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP)
KTP is a UK Government-supported programme that enables exceptional early-career innovators to work directly between universities and industry on high-impact, strategic innovation projects.
KTP Associates Benefit From
- A substantial personal development budget
- Access to specialist training, including management qualifications
- 10% of time dedicated to development-related activities
- Opportunities to present at national events
- Exposure to commercial decision-making and real-world engineering environments
- Close mentoring from both academic and industrial supervisors
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This 28-month role gives you a rare platform to develop cutting-edge capabilities in AI-driven decision systems, immersive modelling, and computational-engineering integration within a rapidly digitising rail sector.
The Rail-AI Project
This project will create a unified, intelligent platform for railway asset management by integrating:
- Large Language Model (LLM)–driven decision-making
- Real-time digital visualisation in an immersive metaverse environment
- Multi-source data fusion and semantic modelling
- Interoperable middleware and system architecture for real-time analytics
You will work in parallel with another Associate, who specialises in sensor systems, structural analytics and PINNs. Together, you will build the UK's first coherent AI-augmented rail asset management ecosystem.
Salary, Hours, Duration and Location
- Salary fixed £49,321 per annum
- 35 hours per week
- Fixed-term for 28 months
- Employed by Cardiff University
- Main location: Centregreat Rail Ltd, Cardiff (some Hybrid mode permitted)
- Some work will also take place at Cardiff School of Engineering
Athena SWAN Bronze Award
The School of Engineering holds an Athena SWAN Bronze Award that recognises good employment practice and a commitment to develop the careers of women working in science. Cardiff University is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity. For this vacancy we actively encourage women to apply. We will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share opportunities.
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Cardiff University is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions we will evaluate applicants on the quality of their research, not publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which the research is published.
Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. We especially welcome and encourage applications from those under-represented groups within the University workforce, such as those who identify as LGBT+, Ethnic Minority or those with disabilities. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.
Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.
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