Associate Professor (Education and Research) - School of Mathematics - 56022 - Grade 9

Position Details 

School of Mathematics 

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK 

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £51,799 to £60,022, with potential progression once in post to £78,265  

Grade 9  

Full Time and Permanent 

Closing date:  21 November 2021

There are 2 posts available either as Assistant Professor or Associate Professor

Background

To create and disseminate knowledge through initiating and conducting original research, through publication and through developing and delivering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. To contribute to the School through management and leadership.

Summary of Role

Contribute to the whole range of research, teaching and administration. 

Research will involve initiating, conducting and disseminating original research in Mathematical Analysis.  The research has measurable outcomes and is reflected in a growing international reputation.

Teaching is likely to include a substantial contribution to: (a) the management, development and delivery of teaching and assessment, and (b) the enhancement of the student experience or employability.  The role will also involve developing and advising others, including: (a) providing expert advice to staff and students, and (b) supervising and examining PhD students.

Management and administration will involve contributions at School and University levels.  This may include developing and making substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, public engagement, widening participation, schools outreach, or similar activities at School level or further within the University.

Main Duties/Responsibilites

Research
To plan and carry out research, using appropriate methodology and techniques.  This includes:
•    Pursuing personal research and seeking appropriate financial support
•    Planning, executing and publishing high quality research
•    Presenting findings in high quality publications and conference proceedings
•    Developing novel methodologies and techniques appropriate to the type of research being pursued
•    Supervising and examining PhD students, both within the institution and externally
•    Providing expert advice to staff and students within the discipline
•    Developing and making contributions to knowledge transfer (such as public engagement)

Education 
You will contribute across the range of teaching, development/training/CPD/professional practice activities, including practice/industry focussed:
•    contributing to enhancing teaching/development/training practice, the development of teaching resources and/or practice-based research; 
•    leading on the management and the development of approaches to teaching and learning, including designing innovative approaches and supporting colleagues to use them in the subject area or institution;
•    leading on curriculum design at module and programme level to ensure it is contemporary, inclusive, engaging and academically challenging;
•    actively engaging students in curriculum design;
•    making an impactful, high quality contribution to debates about education policy, methods and practices through internal and external publications, subject societies and conference activity;
•    playing an important and sustained role in the recruitment and admission of students; 
•    co-supervising students to completion; 
•    leading the development of teaching, learning and assessment policies and strategies;
•    leading the development of new and appropriate approaches to learning and teaching;  
•    leading sustained high value impact in knowledge transfer and enterprise (including business engagement, public engagement) that enhances the student experience and/or or employability, and is of manifest benefit to learning and teaching in the College and the University
•    undertaking own teaching, which will include teaching and examining courses at a range of levels, planning and reviewing own teaching approaches, developing programme proposals, supervision, marking and examining. You will ensure that your teaching practice is informed by discipline-based research, through participating in the research culture of the School. 

Management/administration
Lead activities in the Department/ School and represent the School on College/ University committees or working groups.  Where appropriate to the discipline, this is likely to include some but not all of the responsibilities listed below: 
•    making an important contribution to the development and running of the Department or School; 
•    leading successful international engagement at School or College level;
•    developing and managing staff and resources in support of major research and/or teaching and/or EEI activities
•    making important contributions to the development of the Department’s strategies, particularly in relation to any EEI activities;
•    contributing significantly to the development and delivery of knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement and public engagement activities with sustained high value impact of manifest benefit to the College and the University;
•    promoting a culture (including policies and procedures) that embeds equality and values diversity and inclusion;
•    leading, serving on and assisting the work of committees and task and finish groups beyond School/Department e.g., Senate, Council, other University level committees etc.;
•    leading external committees, e.g., those associated with public/professional bodies or delivery of activities for an external body at an appropriate level, e.g., chairing sub committees associated with large elements of work;
•    leading/project managing a team to devise and implement a new and/or revised process (e.g. new EEI initiative);
•    making a sustained contribution to widening participation, schools’ outreach and/or public understanding of the discipline;
•    contributing to administrative activities within the University (e.g. appeals panels, working groups).

Citizenship
•    identifying wellbeing issues within the School/College/University and developing appropriate solutions to address these;
•    taking collective ownership of challenges faced by the School or College and working with colleagues to develop solutions;
•    mentoring and coaching of colleagues, particularly those in the early stages of their career. 

Person Specification

•    Normally, a higher Degree relevant to research in Mathematics (usually PhD) or equivalent qualifications.

Research
•    Experience and achievement reflected in a growing international reputation
•    Extensive experience and demonstrated success in planning, undertaking and project managing research to deliver high quality results
•    Extensive experience of applying and developing successful techniques and methods
•    Experience and achievement in knowledge transfer

Learning and teaching requirements
An excellent teaching profile and performance in terms of both impact and quality.  Teaching quality demonstrated to be informed by an appropriate level of scholarship.  

Where appropriate, evidence of success under the following headings.
•    High national reputation for the development of teaching and learning excellence within the discipline
•    Successful and sustained use of a range of appropriate teaching methods, and assessment strategies that promote high quality learning, including learning that is flexible, distinctive and current and stimulates learners’ natural curiosity. 
•    Significant and sustained contribution to one or more of the following: strategic development of new programmes, approaches to learning, the development of learning resources.
•    High quality and sustained contributions to fostering excellence in teaching activities more widely, i.e. in the Department/School or College and/or externally.
•    Mentoring and expert advice which develops the skills of colleagues in teaching and in fostering learning.

Management and administration-related requirements
Demonstrated significant achievement in management and administration-related activities, which may include leadership of activities/initiatives.  Evidence of success under the following headings.

Informal enquiries should be directed to Prof Jon Bennett (tel. +44 121 414 6579, email [email protected]).

The School of Mathematics aims to provide a supportive and friendly environment for staff to develop as researchers and lecturers. The School is a supportive and people-focused friendly environment, committed to equality, diversity and inclusivity. We encourage applications from the widest community and provide equal opportunities in our recruitment processes. The School of Mathematics 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 School 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, and is a member of the Piscopia which forms a UK-community of women and non-binary students and mathematics researchers. The University of Birmingham holds the Advance HE's Race Equality Charter Bronze award, a framework through which we are working to self-reflect, identify and remove barriers standing in the way of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and students.

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.