Assistant Professor - Education and Research - School of Mathematics - 97846 - Grade 8

Position Details
School of Mathematics
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £42,149 to £50,296 with potential progression once in post to £56,587.
Grade 8
Full Time Permanent
Closing date 5 December 21

Background
To create and disseminate knowledge through initiating and conducting original research, through publication and through developing and delivering undergraduate, postgraduate and CPD programmes, as appropriate to the disciplinary area. In addition, to contributing to the department/school through management/leadership, and enterprise activities, as appropriate.
The Centre for Systems Modelling and Quantitative Biomedicine (SMQB) seeks to recruit an Assistant Professor. The SMQB is a unique interdisciplinary activity, bringing together outstanding scientists from our Schools of Mathematics, and Computer Science, and the Institute for Metabolism and Systems Research. It has strong links with a number of other University activities, including the Healthcare Technologies Institute, the Institute for Interdisciplinary Data Science, the Centre for Digital Health and the Centre for Human Brain Health. Supported by core funding of £7M, alongside external research grants of £4M, the Centre currently consists of 3 Professors, 1 Birmingham Fellow, 3 Independent Research Fellows, 9 Postdoctoral Researchers and 2 PhD students. The Centre additionally has significant professional services support, comprising a Centre Manager, Senior Research Manager, Communities Engagement Manager and a Senior Administrator.
The primary research themes of the Centre are:
-    mathematical and computational modelling of biomedical and clinical systems;
-    neuroscience and neurology;
-    neuroendocrinology, metabolism and reproduction;
-    wearables and sensors.
We are seeking to appoint an outstanding individual with expertise in one or more of these themes.

Summary of Role
You will contribute to a range of research, teaching and administration.  In addition you will be expected to demonstrate academic citizenship, developing and maintaining generous, mutually respectful and supportive working relationships with all staff and students, and ensuring the way you carry out your role impacts positively on how others can carry out theirs.
Teaching is likely to include a substantial contribution to: (a) the management, development (including programme/module review) and delivery of teaching and assessment; and (b) enhancement of the student experience or employability.  The role will typically also involve developing and advising others, including: (a) providing expert advice to staff and students, (b) supervising and examining PhD students, and (c) developing and advising others on learning and teaching tasks and methods.  Teaching within the SMQB reflects our interdisciplinary ethos and respects the cross-School nature of our Centre. For example, the post will contribute to the development and delivery of new post-graduate taught provision within Mathematics and Computer Science, as well as the development of online professional development training in quantitative methods for biology and medicine. The role will further contribute to supervision of Biomedical Science projects within the Medical School and the delivery of our new MSc in Biomedical Innovation. 

Research is likely to involve initiating, conducting and disseminating original research.   Your research will have measurable outcomes reflect in your growing national (and ideally international) reputation. The successful applicant will conduct research within one or more of our primary research themes.  They will actively seek industry collaborations and will work with Business Engagement and University of Birmingham Enterprise to commercialise IP generated through their research.
Management and administration is likely to involve contributions at Departmental and School level, and/or making an important contribution to some managerial/leadership activities (e.g. working groups) within the University.  This may include developing and making substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement, widening participation, schools outreach, or similar activities at Department/School level or further within the University.

Main Duties/Responsibilities

Education 
Using a variety of methods in teaching and advising individuals and groups of undergraduates, postgraduates, or CPD students, including (as appropriate):
•    teaching and examining courses at a range of levels;
•    planning and reviewing your own teaching approaches and encouraging others to do the same;
•    designing contemporary, inclusive, engaging and academically challenging curriculum content;
•    working collaboratively with colleagues to design and deliver teaching, learning and assessment;
•    using digital resources/environments effectively to support learning and assessment;
•    developing programme proposals and making substantial contributions to the design of teaching programmes more widely;
•    where appropriate, undertaking and developing the full range of responsibilities in relation to supervision, marking and examining;
•    developing and advising others on learning and teaching tasks and methods;
•    developing and making substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement,  public engagement activities or similar on own specialism that enhances the student experience or employability and which benefits the College and University;
•    devising and supervising projects, student dissertations and practical work. 

Research
Planning and carrying out research, including (as appropriate):
•    planning and publishing high quality research, including winning financial support in areas aligned to dynamical systems and computational modelling applied to at least one of: i) neuroscience and neurology; ii) endocrinology, metabolism and reproduction; and iii) wearables & sensors;
•    project managing research activities, and/or supervising other research staff;
•    presenting findings in publications and conference proceedings;
•    effectively supervising and mentoring PhD students or early Career Researchers;
•    providing expert advice to staff and students within the discipline;
•    participating in research-related enabling activities such as adding value to a cross disciplinary network;
•    applying knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding;
developing and making substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, and enterprise (including business engagement, public engagement) and similar activity that is of benefit to the College and the University, including ensuring that the impact of your activities is realised fully and the impact is documented.

Management/Administration
Contributing to Departmental/School administration, including:
•    contributing to the administration/management of research and/or teaching across the Department/School;
•    leading and managing a team to devise and implement a new and/or revised process (e.g. new programme or a recruitment drive);
•    advising on personal development of colleagues and students;
•    making a major contribution to some administrative activities within the University (e.g. appeals panels, working groups);
•    managing enterprise, business development, and public engagement activities;
•    developing and making substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement, widening participation, schools outreach.
•    actively manages equality, diversity and inclusion through monitoring and evaluation and actively challenging unacceptable behaviour.

Citizenship 
Contributing to an inclusive working environment:
•    demonstrating a willingness to be involved in a variety of activities supporting University life (e.g., participation in graduation, Departmental/School committees);
•    demonstrating support for colleagues, such as sharing resources, providing advice;  
•    willingness to volunteer for one-off duties (such as supporting School, Institute, and Departmental projects);
•    positively engaging in School strategic initiatives;
•    proactive support and involvement in activities specifically contributing to a positive and inclusive community spirit across the School/College/University.

Person Specification

•    Normally, a higher degree relevant to the research/teaching area (usually PhD) or equivalent qualifications
•    Extensive research/teaching experience and scholarship within subject specialism
•    Proven ability to devise, advise on and manage learning/research
•    Skills in managing, motivating and mentoring others successfully at all levels

Teaching
•    Ability to design, deliver, assess and revise teaching programmes
•    Extensive experience and demonstrated success in developing appropriate approaches to learning and teaching, and advising colleagues 
•    Experience and success in knowledge transfer, enterprise and similar activity that enhances the student experience or employability

Research
•    Strong track record of publications in areas aligned to dynamical systems, computational modelling, neuroscience & neurology, neuroendocrinology, metabolism & reproduction, wearables & sensors
•    Experience and achievement reflected in a growing reputation
•    Extensive experience and demonstrated success in planning, undertaking and project managing research to deliver high quality results
•    Extensive experience of applying and/or developing and devising successful models, techniques and methods
•    Demonstrable track record of securing external research funding
•    A track record of engaging with stakeholders beyond their core discipline, for example industry and clinicians
•    Experience and achievement in knowledge transfer, enterprise and similar activity

Management Administration
•    Ability to contribute to School/Departmental management processes
•    Ability to assess and organise resources effectively
•    Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes
•    Experience of championing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in own work area
•    Ability to monitor and evaluate the extent to which equality and diversity legislation, policies, procedures are applied 
•    Ability to identify issues with the potential to impact on protected groups and take appropriate action

For informal enquiries please contact Dr Rebecca Ward, SMQB Centre Manager email  - [email protected].

Interviews will take place w/c 10th January 2022. 

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment

We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working