Professor David James MEng. PhD.

Professor David James is the Director of the Centre for Sports Engineering Research (CSER). His research is primarily focused on sports mechanics and injury; however, his interests also include sports performance analysis and sports ethics. David is a visiting professor at the TU Delft. 

David has a mechanical engineering background with a MEng from the University of Sheffield. During his degree, David also studied in Grenoble, France. David continued his studies at the University of Sheffield with a PhD in cricket dynamics sponsored by the ECB. 

David joined Sheffield Hallam University in 2006 and shortly after established the world-renowned MSc Sports Engineering programme. More recently, David established the Alliance for Sports Engineering Education to create an educational partnership with TU Delft (Netherlands) and TU Chemnitz (Germany).

David’s current research is focused on sports equipment mechanics and the ethical considerations of an increasingly scientific sporting arena. David supervises numerous PhD students on projects such as skin laceration risk in rugby, the efficacy of snowboard wrist protectors, and the effect of traction on player performance in football. 

In addition to his research David is the treasurer of the International Sports Engineering Association, grant reviewer for the Royal Academy of Engineering, project advisor to Research Councils UK, the Royal Institution and the Wellcome Trust. In 2014, David was the Editor-in-Chief of the International Sports Engineering Association Conference hosted in Sheffield.  

David is a leading international science communicator and was awarded the very first fellowship in public engagement from the Royal Academy of Engineering. He is a regular voice in broadcast and print media and delivers high profile keynote lectures on the role that technology plays in sport. David has appeared on countless stages including the Cheltenham Science Festival; Manchester Science Festival, the British Science Festival, and the Royal Institution’s Faraday lecture theatre.

Areas of interest:

• Sports engineering
• Sports equipment mechanics
• Sports injury
• Sports performance analysis
• Sports ethics

MSc Sports Engineering:

• Mechanics of Sports Equipment

Research centre:

• Centre for Sports Engineering Research (CSER)

Research theme groups:  

• CSER Design Engineering

Current research projects: 

• Fundamental studies on the flight of a dart
• Effect of moment of inertia on swing speed 
• Understanding stud laceration injuries in rugby and football
• Understanding the efficacy of wrist guards in snowboarding 
• The effect of traction on player performance in small sided football

Collaborators and sponsors: 

• Labosport Ltd
• FIFA
• Adidas
• World Rugby
• Nova International
• Royal Institution
• Research Councils UK
• Royal Academy of Engineering
• Arts Council England
• Engineering and Physical Science Research Council
• European Social Fund
• British CouncilInstitute of Physic

A list of publications is available from the institutional repository, SHURA

• Visiting professor at TU Delft, Netherlands
• Editor-in-chief of the 2017 International Conference on Sports Engineering, Jaipur, India.
• Treasurer of the International Sports Engineering Association.Grant and project reviewer for several UK funding bodies.
• Editor-in-chief of the 2014 International Sports Engineering Association conference.
• Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering Ambassador.
• Contributed to House of Lords report on sports science (2012). 
• Member of joint Royal Academies select committee on human enhancement (2010).

Current supervised PhD students:

• Oudshoorn, B. Understanding stud laceration injuries in rugby and football 
• Adams, C. Understanding the efficacy of wrist guards in snowboarding 
• The effect of traction on player performance in small sided football

Completed supervised PhD students:

• Schorah, D. The effect of moment of inertia on the speed of a swung implement, July 2015.
•  Foster, L. Modelling the effect of technology on elite sport, September 2012

Completed postgraduate examinations:

• MPhil Internal: 1
• MPhil External: 0
• PhD Internal: 3
• PhD External: 2

Professor David James is the Director of the Centre for Sports Engineering Research at Sheffield Hallam University. David is a leading science communicator specialising in sports equipment mechanics. David’s current research is focused on sports equipment mechanics and the ethical considerations of an increasingly scientific sporting arena. David is a visiting professor at TU Delft, Netherlands. 

In addition to his research David is the treasurer of the International Sports Engineering Association, grant reviewer for the Royal Academy of Engineering, project advisor to Research Councils UK, the Royal Institution and the Wellcome Trust. The Centre for Sports Engineering Research (CSER) is led by Dr David James. It is the world's largest academic group in sports engineering and an internationally renowned centre of excellence for research and knowledge transfer. 

The centre's work is based on four research disciplines; applied computing, biomechanics, design engineering, and skill acquisition. In each area, researchers develop fundamental knowledge and deliver applied solutions to enhance athletic performance, reduce injury and promote physical activity.  

CSER works in partnership with many sport, health and commercial organisations. We are immensely proud of our work with Team GB Olympic, and Paralympic athletes, and we enjoy research partnerships with global organisations such as the International Tennis Federation, FIFA, and Adidas.

Areas of expertise:

• Sports engineering
• Sports equipment mechanics
• Sports injury
• Sports performance analysis
• Sports ethics

Notable media coverage:

• Sheffield Hallam University Seminar - What makes a World Champion? July 2017
• BBC 5 Live - Russian doping scandal 2015
• BBC 1 Look North - Announcement of £14 million for the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre 2015
• The Sheffield Telegraph - Tour de France legend visits Sheffield July 2014
• The Hindu - Sporting Glory March 2013
• E&T - Sports engineer working with Team GB Olympic athletes June 2012
• bbc.co.uk - Swing bowling not due to humidity, research suggests May 2012
• Fox News - Manmade vs. natural: Oscar Pistorius stokes debate July 2012