Cardiff Met PhD secures prestigious global talent visa following research success
A Cardiff Metropolitan University graduate whose research is helping to tackle one of sport's most significant injury challenges has secured a prestigious UK Global Talent Visa, recognising his growing international reputation as an emerging researcher.
Dr Akhilesh Ramachandran, 33, originally from Chennai, India, recently completed his PhD in Sports Biomechanics at Cardiff Met and graduated in July. He has been awarded a UK Global Talent Visa through the Royal Society's peer-review endorsement route, a highly competitive programme designed to attract exceptional researchers and innovators to the UK.
Akhilesh first joined Cardiff Met through a Vice-Chancellor funded PhD studentship and has gone on to build an impressive research portfolio spanning sports performance, healthcare and injury prevention.
His doctoral research focused on identifying biomechanical factors associated with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury risk in young female athletes. He studied how growing and developing, as well as differences between the two legs, can change how people jump and land. He also looked at how accurately these movements can be measured and whether virtual reality training can help people learn safer ways to move. The broader aim was to improve early identification of potentially modifiable risk factors and inform strategies to reduce ACL injury risk.
His doctoral research focused on understanding why female athletes are two to three times more likely to suffer anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries than their male counterparts, with the aim of identifying risk factors and developing strategies to reduce the risk of injuries before they occur.
Since completing his PhD, Akhilesh has continued to contribute to Cardiff Met's research community, supporting research case studies and working on a project led by Dr Lucy Kember to establish an ACL clinic at the University.
Akhilesh said: "Receiving the Global Talent Visa is a proud milestone for me and reflects the support, opportunities and encouragement I've received during my time at Cardiff Met.
"When I arrived from India to begin my PhD, I was welcomed into a research environment that challenged me to develop as a scientist while also supporting me personally. Cardiff Met gave me the platform to grow my skills, build international collaborations and pursue research that can make a real difference to athletes' lives.
"Cardiff has become a second home. It's a vibrant city with a fantastic sporting culture, and the University's supportive atmosphere has made it a great place to live, work and develop my career."
Akhilesh's path into sports biomechanics began after studying electrical engineering and combining his passion for sport with an interest in technology and performance science. Coming from a family with strong sporting links, including an uncle who worked as a strength and conditioning coach with India's Cricket World Cup-winning team, he was inspired to explore how research and innovation can improve athletic performance and wellbeing.
Professor Jon Oliver, Associate Dean for Research in Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, said:
"Akhilesh's achievement is a testament to his talent, dedication and ambition, as well as the outstanding research environment we strive to provide at Cardiff Met.
"He arrived as an international doctoral researcher and has developed into a highly productive early career researcher with an increasingly strong international profile. Securing a Global Talent Visa is a significant achievement and highlights the opportunities available for international students to thrive and build successful research careers here in Cardiff."