Assistant Professor-Willmore Fellow in Applied Mathematics

Working at Durham University  

A globally outstanding centre of teaching and research excellence, a warm and friendly place to work, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other.

As one of the UK’s leading universities, Durham is an incredible place to define your career. The University is located within a beautiful historic city, home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and surrounded by stunning countryside. Our talented scholars and researchers from around the world are tackling global issues and making a difference to people's lives.  

We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things in the world. Being a part of Durham is about more than just the success of the University, it’s also about contributing to the success of the city, county and community.

Our University Strategy  is built on three pillars of research, education and wider student experience, but also on our keen sense of community and of inspiring others to achieve their potential. 

Our Purpose and Values

We want our University to be a place where people can be free to be themselves, no matter what their identity or background. Together, we celebrate difference, value one another and are each responsible for creating an inclusive community that is respectful and fair for all.

Find out more about the benefits of working at the University and what it is like to live and work in the Durham area on our Why Durham? information page.   

The Department 

The Department of Mathematical Sciences is one of the UK’s leading Mathematics Departments with an outstanding reputation in teaching, research and students’ employability. It has an active programme of internationally recognized research in Pure Mathematics, Mathematical and Theoretical Particle Physics, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, and Probability. The research culture is vibrant, with many visitors, seminars, international conferences, and workshops. We aim to provide a supportive and friendly environment with a strong sense of community. The Department currently has over 100 permanent members of staff.  In 2021, we moved to a newly constructed building, shared with Computer Science.

The Department has a proud tradition of delivering excellence in its undergraduate programmes through research-led and small group teaching. Attracting some of the best students in the country (8th best average UCAS entry tariff), the Department was ranked 11th in the Complete University Guide 2023.

The Department holds an Athena SWAN Bronze award.  Athena SWAN is a national initiative that recognises the advancement of gender equality, representation, progression and success for all in academia. The Department also supports the London Mathematical Society Good Practice Scheme, whose aim is to support mathematics departments to embed equal opportunities for women within their working practices.

For more information, please visit our website at https://www.dur.ac.uk/mathematical.sciences/ .

Role

The Department of Mathematical Sciences at Durham University seeks to appoint a talented individual to the role of Assistant Professor (Willmore Fellow) in Applied Mathematics. This 3-year fixed term position is for candidates who are in the early stages of their research career. A Durham Willmore Fellowship provides the opportunity to build an independent research career. We advertise on average one Willmore Fellowship each year. Those appointed are expected to be strong candidates for permanent posts in universities at the end of their fellowships.

More information the Willmore Postdoctoral Fellowships is available on our websites at https://www.dur.ac.uk/mathematical.sciences/distinguishedfellows/willmorefellows/ .

This post offers an exciting opportunity to make a major contribution to the development of applied mathematics research at Durham. The ideal candidate will be able to enhance and/or complement our existing areas of strength in applied mathematics. Our existing expertise includes strong research in fluids dynamics (astrophysical, biological, and geophysical) and mathematical biology, as well as in the use of asymptotics, scientific computing, nonlinear dynamics, and applied topology. The successful candidate will be expected to undertake and publish original research of the highest level, to contribute to the research activities of the Applied Mathematics research group and of the Department as a whole.  It will allow you to participate in internationally excellent research and teaching, while allowing you unrivalled opportunities to build your career in an exciting and progressive institution.  For more information, please visit our Department pages at Mathematical Sciences - Durham University .

We expect Willmore Fellows to contribute modestly to the Department’s teaching, typically in the form of final-year undergraduate project supervision in their area of research, delivering tutorials or computer practical classes, and possibly some lecturing. Allocation of teaching duties will take account of the Fellow’s expertise and experience as well as the Department’s needs. The teaching and administration load would typically take up around 20% of the Fellow’s time each year.

Assistant Professors (Research) at Durham

The University is committed to enabling all of our colleagues to achieve their full potential. We promote and maintain an inclusive and supportive environment to ensure that all colleagues can thrive.  Academic colleagues are supported to publish world-class research in their area of interest with a focus on quality in high impact journals, rather than quantity. We will fully support your research needs including practical help, such as resources to attend conferences and to fund research activity, as well as a generous research leave policy and a designated mentor.

All of our Assistant Professors (Research) are encouraged to focus on research but also to engage in wider citizenship to enhance their own development, to support their department and wider discipline. Durham University is also committed to ensuring outstanding teaching quality, stimulating learning environments, and innovative curricula for all our students. You will be supported to develop your teaching expertise and skills as Willmore Fellowships include teaching duties up to 0.2 FTE. 

Key responsibilities:

• To pursue high-quality research, individually or collaboratively, and actively contribute to enhancing the research atmosphere of the Department
•  To publish research outcomes in appropriate journals of international standing
• To contribute to the external visibility of the Department by attending and presenting research findings at conferences and workshops
• To manage their own research activity, planning and resources
• To deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines
• To liaise with research colleagues and make internal and external contacts to develop knowledge and understanding
• To be involved in the supervision of final year undergraduate student projects, as appropriate, including responding constructively and in a timely manner to student feedback on supervision, and engaging in project marking and moderation
• To give lectures, problems classes, tutorials and computer practical’s to undergraduate students as requested by the Head of Department
•  To undertake specific departmental roles as may be reasonably required by the Head of Department
•  To participate in Department activities such as Open Days and Graduation ceremonies, as required
• To engage in continuous professional development
• To undertake external commitments which reflect well on and enhance the reputation of the University.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key component of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do.  We also live by our Purpose and Values  and our Staff Code of Conduct.   At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive. It’s important to us that all colleagues undertake activities that are aligned to both our values and commitment to EDI. 

We welcome and encourage applications from those who are currently under-represented in our work force, including people with disabilities and from racially minoritised ethnic groups.

If you have taken a career break or periods of leave that may have impacted on the volume and recency of your research outputs and other activities, such as maternity, adoption or parental leave, you may wish to disclose this in your application. The selection committee will take this into account when evaluating your application.

The University has been awarded the Disability Confident Employer status. If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role. 

Person Specification 

Research  

Candidates must have the capacity for and be progressing towards the independent development of internationally excellent research that produces high-quality outcomes, including some work that is recognised as world-class or that has world-class potential.   

Essential Research Criteria

1.    Qualifications - a good first degree and a PhD in Mathematics or a related discipline.

2.    Outputs - evidence of a recent recognized publication record in Applied Mathematics, in high quality international journals, with several papers that are internationally excellent or world-leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour. Candidates are asked to submit pdf copies and web links to two research papers with their application.  Candidates may additionally choose to submit evidence such as external peer review of their outputs.

3.    Personal Research Plan – strong research potential evidenced by a personal research plan which supports and enhances the Department’s research strategy. Capability to develop an independent research programme.

4.    Significant evidence of independent research.

Service, Citizenship and Values 

This post is focused mostly on research but candidates will be expected to actively engage in the administrative requirements of the Department, notably related to their research, and/or the research and research environment of the department.

Candidates must positively contribute to fostering a collegial environment; as well as demonstrating their commitment to equality diversity and inclusion.

Essential Services, Citizenship and Values criteria 

Desirable Criteria 

The desirable criteria for this post (for which candidates should provide evidence of some if not all criteria) are:

A.    Income generation - engagement in the development of successful research project proposals.

B.    PhD supervision - involvement in the provision of excellent supervision for PhD students.

C.    Research Leadership - contribution to the leadership of research groups and the mentoring of early career researchers.  Candidates may choose to include information about research group leadership, mentoring of research colleagues, invitations to and engagement with external events, and/or involvement with international networks or projects.

D.    Research Impact – evidence of the impact of research that the candidate has been involved with beyond the candidate’s institution.

E.    Leadership - engagement in activities that contribute to the administrative functioning of the candidate’s academic department and/or discipline including any leadership or other responsibilities in an academic/research context.

F.    Teaching – previous teaching experience with small or large groups such as lecturing, tutoring, providing support in practical classes or computer labs.

G.   2+ years of postdoctoral experience or other evidence of independent research beyond doctoral work

Contact Information 

Department contact for academic-related enquiries 

Dr Andrew Krause

Email:  [email protected]

Contact information for technical difficulties when submitting your application 

If you encounter technical difficulties when using the online application form, we prefer you send enquiries by email.  Please send your name along with a brief description of the problem you’re experiencing to [email protected]  

Alternatively, you may call 0191 334 6801 from the UK, or +44 191 334 6801 from outside the UK. This number operates during the hours of 09.00 and 17.00 Monday to Friday, UK time.  We will normally respond within one working day (Monday to Friday, excluding UK public holidays).  

University contact for general queries about the recruitment process 

Lauren Gulliver- Recruitment Coordinator- [email protected] 

How to Apply  

We prefer to receive applications online.    

Please note that in submitting your application, we will be processing your data.  We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement https://www.dur.ac.uk/ig/dp/privacy/pnjobapplicants/  which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.  

If you are unable to complete your application via our recruitment system, please get in touch with us on [email protected] .  

What to Submit 

All applicants are asked to submit: 

• A CV  
• A covering letter which details your experience, strengths and potential in the requirements set out above; 
• Personal research plan of at most 5 pages. 
• Two of your most significant pieces of written work.
• An EDI & values statement – (of no more than 500 words) which outlines work which you have been involved in which demonstrates your commitment to EDI and our values. I.e. Involvement in quality, diversity, and inclusion activities such as mentoring, volunteering, or attending conferences 

Where possible we request that you provide accessible web links to your publications, which the hiring Department will use to access your work.  The application form contains fields in which to enter each of the web links. Please note we are unable to access publications behind a paywall.  

Your work should be uploaded as PDFs as part of your application in our recruitment system. Please ensure that your PDFs are not larger than 5mb. Please note that your work may be read by colleagues from across the Department and evaluated against the current REF criteria; 

Please save all application documents with your name and document type as PDF files. 

We will notify you on the status of your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system.  Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to ensure you receive all emails. 

Referees 

You should provide 3 academic referees they should not (if possible) include your PhD supervisor(s).  The majority should be from a university other than your own.

References will be requested for candidates who have been shortlisted and will be made available to the panel during the interview process. 

As part of your application, you will be asked whether you give your consent to your academic references being sought should you be invited to attend an interview. We will only request references where permission has been granted.  

Next Steps 

All applications will be considered; our usual practice is for colleagues across the Department to read the submitted work of long-listed candidates.  

Short-listed candidates will be invited to an online assessment and interview. The assessment for the post will normally include a presentation to staff and students in the Department followed by an interview and we anticipate that the assessments and interviews will take place over two days in or around 2nd and 3rd May 2024.

In the event that you are unable to attend in person on the date offered, it may not be possible to offer you an interview on an alternative date.

Applicant Guidance  

For further guidance on your application please see HERE