[1] He is a Professor of Superconducting Engineering, former Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Strategy and Planning at the University of Cambridge (2018-2024), former head of the University of Cambridge Department of Engineering (2014-2018), former co-director of the KACST-Cambridge Research Centre and a fellow of Fitzwilliam College.

[3] Cardwell studied at the University of Warwick (BSc 1983, PhD 1987).

[2] Professor Cardwell's research interests include the processing, modelling and characterisation of bulk superconductors for high-field engineering applications.

Materials of particular interest include high-temperature superconductors within the (RE)BCO family and MgB2.

[clarification needed][5] He has authored or co-authored more than 370 published papers.