Job description

This is a postdoctoral position to be appointed on a 1-year project investigating the effects of helmet use and a helmet balance system on neck function and indices of neck pain and/or injury.   The post is located within the Centre for Human and Applied Physiological Sciences, within the Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine at King’s College London, and is sponsored by the Buizza Mazzei Agency.  

The successful applicant will be expected to undertake a range of biomechanical and physiological assessments including electromyography, kinematics with body-worn 3-axial accelerometers and gyroscopes, and musculo-skeletal ultrasound imaging. 

The aims of the work are to evaluate neck injury and/or pain associated with helmet use (typically in aircrew), and to determine whether an experimental unloading system can improve these parameters.  The post holder will be responsible for conducting all testing, analysing data and writing up the studies.   The successful candidate should have a background in biomechanics and/or physiology, experience with the techniques listed above, and analysis with Matlab, Python or equivalent software.  The position will primarily be supervised by Dr Ross Pollock and Dr Irene Di Giulio with the broader team including Dr Pete Hodkinson and Dr Federico Formenti.  The work will be conducted on the Guy’s Campus of King’s College London.

This post will be offered on an a fixed-term contract for 1 year with a start date of 01/09/2022 

This is a full-time post - 100% full time equivalent

Key responsibilities

•         Undertake high-quality research consistent with achieving the aims of the project  

•         To perform testing procedures (including electromyography, accelerometry and ultrasound imaging) to assess the response of the neck to helmet wear 

•         To be responsible for participant recruitment and screening 

•         Collect, analyse and interpret data from assessments, and draw conclusions 

•         Keep up to date with advances in the biomechanics and physiology fields related to neck pain and injury 

•         Develop expertise in a range of techniques for the study of human neck biomechanics 

•         Communicate complex information orally and in writing 

•         Prepare research and progress reports required for the project 

•         Work as part of a collaborative team to ensure the successful completion of the project 

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.  

Skills, knowledge, and experience

Essential criteria  

1.       A PhD (or equivalent) in biomechanics or physiology 

2.       Experience of using electromyography 

3.       Experience of collecting and analysing ultrasound and accelerometry data 

4.       An understanding of the research process performed in accordance with the ethical principles of working with humans 

5.       Proven ability to work as part of a team 

6.       Excellent communication skills when dealing with participants 

7.       Experience in data analysis using Matlab/Python or equivalent software 

8.       Able to work independently under own supervision 

9.       Experience of journal article/report writing evidenced by first, last or corresponding authored publications  

Desirable criteria

1.       Experience of liaising with commercial companies/Ministry of Defence 

2.       Experience of research on neck pain and/or injury 

3.       Experience of research related to helmet use in aircrew or other individuals