Lectureship in Zoology (Teaching and Research)

The School of Environmental and Natural Sciences invites applications for full-time, permanent Lectureship in Zoology to support areas of growth and development within the School. We are a large and diverse School with a strong research record and successful recruitment into our undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.

Candidates should have a PhD in Zoology, Biology or related subject and should demonstrate the capacity to develop and lead their own internationally recognised research programmes to deliver high-quality research outputs and impact. We are looking for candidates who have an enthusiasm for teaching and outreach and have excellent interpersonal skills. We particularly welcome applications from those studying the biology of mammals (ecology, behaviour, health and disease) and/or those working on freshwater ecosystems (community networks, co-evolutionary dynamics, influence of anthropogenic stressors, biodiversity assessment and restoration, fisheries, or water borne diseases). Overall, we are keen to appoint candidates with diverse interests who will be able to collaborate with colleagues across the School.

The successful candidates will commence as soon as possible.

This role will be located on campus at Bangor. Through our Dynamic Working framework, there will also be the option to spend some time working remotely (although remaining in the UK) to support work life balance, which will be discussed further with candidates at interview.

Applications will also be considered to carry out this role on a part-time or job share basis.

Informal enquiries can be made by contacting Professor Nia Whiteley, Head of School, email: [email protected]

Applications will only be accepted via our on-line recruitment website, jobs.bangor.ac.uk. However, in cases of access issues due to disability, paper application forms are available by telephoning 01248 383865.
Closing date for applications: 10 April 2024

Committed To Equal Opportunities

Bangor University, firmly rooted in the beautiful location of North Wales, was established in 1884. The university leadership has a strong focus on contributing to a sustainable world for future generations. The College of Science and Engineering represents one of the largest concentrations of interdisciplinary environmental and natural resource scientists in UK universities. Research in the college is organized into five cross-cutting themes: Conservation and Restoration of Resilient Ecosystems; Sustainable Food Production; One Health; Earth Systems Science and Energy; and Sustainable Manufacturing. In the recent Research Excellence Framework, we were ranked 1st in the UK for the impact of our research in earth systems and environmental sciences. The College has over 2300 students and 350 teaching and support staff and consists of three academic schools and the BioComposites Centre.
The School of Environmental and Natural Sciences (SENS) within this College has a world-class reputation in research and teaching. We are a large and diverse School with research expertise in many aspects of contemporary zoology including behavioural and population ecology, migration and cognition, endocrinology, energetics and biomechanics, molecular ecology, evolutionary and developmental biology, as well as health and disease, and have research groupings focusing on several taxa, such as primatology, ornithology, herpetology, entomology, and ichthyology. Our Zoology research expertise integrates with other successful research areas within the School: microbiology and biotechnology; biogeochemistry of soils, wetlands and marine environments; conservation science; forestry; agriculture, food and the environment; data analytics/geospatial analysis. We are highly focused on addressing global challenges and providing strong pathways to impact via our global networks.

We offer a wide range of degree programmes at undergraduate level in subjects as diverse as Zoology, Biology, Conservation, Forestry, Environmental Science and Geography. Our suite of undergraduate Zoology degree programmes includes Zoology and 7 Zoology ‘with’ degrees (animal behaviour; animal management; conservation; herpetology; ornithology; primatology; and marine zoology). We also offer opportunities to complete 4th year Master degrees, well-subscribed placement opportunities and international years aboard. We offer postgraduate taught programmes on topics from Agroforestry and Forestry to Conservation and Land Management and (from 2024) Wildlife Conservation.

The School of Environmental and Natural Sciences provides important facilities for our research and teaching: the Natural History Museum with its comprehensive collection of vertebrate and invertebrate material; extensive freshwater and marine aquaria; animal holding facilities, newly refurbished teaching laboratories, and the Henfaes Research Centre. The School is co-located with the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (NERC) in the Environment Centre Wales building, where our extensive molecular ecology and soils/biogeochemistry analytical laboratories are situated.

The University’s Treborth Botanic Garden plays an important role in our teaching and research. It was founded over 50 years ago with collections of more than 2000 species of plants across seven glasshouses replicating tropical and subtropical habitats. The Garden contains 12 ha of high conservation-value woodland, as well as species-rich natural grasslands. An attractive teaching laboratory allows students and researchers to study the collections in detail. The garden is also home to an avian housing facility that enables studies on flight energetics and navigation.

The Henfaes Research Centre’s 252 ha of land is a unique resource encompassing the environmental gradient from the sea to amongst the highest mountains in Wales, giving a high diversity of habitats, land uses, climates, and geology. It is a member of the Global Farm Platform Network and hosts long-term Bangor DIVERSE (tree diversity) and silvopasture agroforestry experiments, extensive controlled-environment glasshouses, mobile greenhouse gas emission laboratories, analytical laboratories, and a range of livestock, including alpacas and Zwartble sheep, providing opportunities for animal management placements.

We make the most of our natural environment (between the Menai Straits and Eryri/Snowdonia National Park) and deliver a wide range of local field trips as a key feature of our degree programmes, as well as offering overseas field courses to USA, India, Spain and Tenerife.
Bangor University is a member of the NERC Envision Doctoral Training Partnership.

The School wishes to appoint a full-time, permanent Teaching and Research Lectureships in Zoology to support areas of growth and development within the School.   We particularly welcome applications from those studying the biology of mammals (ecology, behaviour, health and disease) and/or those working on freshwater ecosystems (community networks, co-evolutionary dynamics, influence of anthropogenic stressors, biodiversity assessment and restoration, fisheries, or water borne diseases).  Overall, we are keen to appoint candidates with diverse interests who will be able to collaborate with colleagues across the School, lead their own international research groups and contribute to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching.

Teaching duties:

• Plan, prepare and deliver lectures, practical classes and tutorials in a wide range of topics and respond effectively to a variety of student backgrounds and class sizes.
• Motivate students to engage in learning and provide meaningful and constructive feedback on the quality of their work.
• Supervise undergraduate and postgraduate research projects.
• Act as personal tutor for undergraduate and postgraduate students and provide pastoral support.
• Contribute to the development of new modules and programmes.

Research duties:

• Develop and lead a programme of internationally recognized research
• Attract external research funding
• Manage research projects
• Publish research with impact, including high-quality peer-reviewed journals and dissemination of research outputs to policy and practitioners through other media.
• Supervise research students.

 Administrative duties:

• Participate in the student recruitment and induction procedures of the School
• Contribute to the School's management and participate in the administration of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
• Undertake an active role in supporting and mentoring less experienced members of staff within the School/College.
• Undertake other administrative duties and responsibilities as directed by the Head of School.

• Post holders will be expected to participate in performance review and career development activities.
• Post holders will be expected to comply with the University’s equality policies and statements, Dignity at Work and Study Policy and the University’s Welsh Language Scheme.
• Post holders have a general and legal duty of care in relation to health, safety and wellbeing and must take all reasonable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for themselves and for other members of staff, students and visitors affected by their actions or inactions. Post holders are also required to comply with all applicable health and safety policies, procedures and risk assessments.
• Post holders must comply with relevant legal and financial policies and procedures and be aware of their responsibilities in terms of the legal requirements of their post.

Qualifications/Training
Essential

• PhD in zoology, biology or related subject.
• Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCertHE) or equivalent, be recognised by the HEA as a Fellow, or have a minimum of 3 years substantial teaching experience for conversion to HEA Fellowship within 2 years of appointment.

Experience/Knowledge
Teaching

Essential

• Capability to effectively teach a wide range of topics in zoology.
• Experience and enthusiasm for teaching and student engagement at higher education level with evidence of successful learning outcomes.
• Evidence of good/ innovative pedagogic practice.
• Experience of module development and delivery in higher education.
• Experience of supervising undergraduate and postgraduate projects.

Desirable

• Experience of delivering safe and effective overseas field trips.
• Evidence of contribution to the wider student experience e.g. in recruitment/retention initiatives, in employability/enterprise initiatives, student welfare.

Research

Essential

• Strong publication record (appropriate for career stage).
• Proven ability to manage and contribute to inter-disciplinary research projects, and to disseminate results through publication in relevant journals.
• Ability to develop a programme of internationally recognized research and attract appropriate external funding to support this research.
• Ability to attract, and successfully supervise, research students.

Skills/Abilities

Essential

• Demonstrate innovative and exciting approaches to teaching and research.
• Demonstrate the ability to prioritise workload and work to deadlines.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and on own initiative.
• Excellent verbal and written skills.
• Excellent computer literacy.

Desirable

• Ability to use and teach “R” for quantitative analysis and data visualisation.
• Evidence of successful external networking and profile-raising.
• Some administrative and organisational experience, related to academic development or equivalent.
• The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If applicants are not able to speak / write in Welsh at present, there are many opportunities to learn if the successful candidate wishes to do so.

The University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds.  We strive to develop a workforce from all sections of the community regardless of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. We promote and facilitate the use of the Welsh language through our progressive Welsh Language Policy. We comply with the Welsh Language Standards and are committed to equality of opportunity. You are welcome to apply for any job in English or Welsh and all applications submitted will be treated equally. 

We are a member of Advance HE's Athena SWAN Gender Equality charter and hold a Bronze award in recognition of our commitment to and progress towards gender equality within the University's policies, practices, and culture. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. 

All members of staff have a duty to ensure their actions are in line with the overall environmental aims of the University and minimise their environmental impact. 

All offers are made subject to proof of eligibility to work in the UK and receipt of satisfactory references.  

We have a legal responsibility to ensure that you have the right to work in the UK before you can start working for us.  When you apply for this post you will be required to explain the basis upon which you believe you will able to live and work in the UK legally on the commencement date of the role should your application be successful.   If you do not have the right to work freely in any position in the UK already, any offer of employment we will make to you will be subject to you obtaining a right to work visa.   The following link provides information on the various visa routes into employment and the eligibility requirements (including switching visa status where permissible) https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas .   If you are successful in your application we will discuss visa options with you at the time of making the offer of employment.     

Candidates should also note that they may be required to apply for an ATAS certificate (Academic Approval Technology Scheme)  from the Counter-Proliferation and Arms Control Centre of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office before being able to apply for a visa - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/academic-technology-approval-scheme  

Please note that, in the event of applications being received from candidates on the University's Redeployment Register with a reasonable skills match to the post specification, these applicants will be given prior consideration.