Lecturer/Senior Lecturer (G7/8) in Forensic Linguistics

18530BR

Cardiff School of English, Communication & Philosophy

Teaching & Research

Advert

Lecturer / Senior Lecturer in Forensic Linguistics – Teaching and Research

The School of English, Communication and Philosophy at Cardiff University is seeking to appoint a Lecturer or a Senior Lecturer (depending on skills and experience) in Forensic Linguistics, open-ended on a Teaching and Research career pathway, to join a team of experienced academics.  This is an opportunity to contribute to the full range of research and teaching activities of this dynamic unit. The successful candidate will teach at both undergraduate and postgraduate level in Forensic Linguistics with particular focus on one or more areas of expert evidence in forensic speech science/ forensic phonetics, authorship attribution, internet sexual crime or other areas of linguistic evidence or the legal process. They will also be instrumental in making distinct and influential contributions to a thriving culture of forensic linguistic research in the School.  

The successful applicant will have a successful national/growing international academic reputation, an excellent record of high-quality publications and teaching, and the enthusiasm and drive to play a key role in enhancing the School’s reputation for impactful research and community engagement.   

The successful applicant will engage effectively with academic, professional and public institutions and groups to raise the School’s profile, cultivate strategic alliances and enhance the School’s ambition to be a creative and inclusive community renowned for its impact on policy, practice and public life.
This is a full-time (35 hours per week) open-ended post.  Posts to commence 1 September 2024.
Salary: (for which new appointments are usually made at the bottom of the salary scale)
£49,794 - £54,395 per annum (Lecturer - Grade 7)
£59,421 - £64,914 per annum (Senior Lecturer - Grade 8)
For enquiries about the post please contact Michelle Aldridge ([email protected] ) for further information.  

To work for an employer that values and promotes equality of opportunity, please visit www.cardiff.ac.uk/jobs and search for the vacancy number.

Date advert posted: Wednesday, 10 April 2024

Closing date: Sunday, 28 April 2024

Please be aware that Cardiff University reserves the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.

Cardiff 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 therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age.  In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

Cardiff University is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions we will evaluate applicants on the quality of their research, not publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which the research is published. More information is available at:  Responsible research assessment - Research - Cardiff University

Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

Job Description

Main function

To deliver high-quality and research-led teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate level and contribute to the research record of the School, through a commitment to carrying out research leading to the publishing of high-quality outputs.  To pursue excellence in research, teaching and enterprise and to inspire others to do the same.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Research

To conduct research within Forensic Linguistics and contribute to the overall recognised research performance of the School and University by the production of measurable outputs including bidding for funding, publishing in peer-reviewed academic journals and international conferences and/or other research outputs, and the recruitment and supervision of research staff and postgraduate/MSc research students.
Grade 8: publish in international journals and/or other research outputs

• To independently develop research objectives, projects or proposals for own or joint research including research funding acting as a PI as required. To develop research networks through regular national/international conference/seminar presentations

                  Grade 8: present at international level, developing standing

• To participate in School research activities.

                  Grade 8:  contribute fully to the management of postgraduate research

Teaching

• To independently contribute to module and curriculum development and lead modules at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, inspiring students

                  Grade 8: lead on degree & module development and contribute to pedagogy of subject area

• To carry out other forms of scholarship including work associated with examinations (setting and marking paper and providing constructive feedback to students), administration, participation in committee work, and the pastoral care of students of Cardiff University
• To supervise the work of students including the supervision of Undergraduate and Master’s students, the co-supervision of PGR’s and acting as a PGR progress review panel member as required
• To act as a Personal Tutor and provide pastoral support to students

Leadership – Grade 8 only

• To provide academic leadership by co-ordinating the work of others to ensure areas of research/degree courses are organised and delivered effectively.
• To be involved in the departmental level strategic planning and contribute to wider strategic planning processes in the University.
• Undertake and lead operational administrative duties

Other

• To engage effectively with industrial, commercial and public sector organisations, professional institutions, other academic institutions etc., regionally and nationally to raise awareness of the School’s profile, to cultivate strategically valuable alliances, and to pursue opportunities for collaboration across a range of activities. These activities are expected to contribute to the School and the enhancement of its regional and national profile.

• To participate in School administration and activities to promote the School and its work to the wider University and the outside world.
• Any other duties not included above, but consistent with the role.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Qualifications and Education

Postgraduate degree at PhD level in a related subject area.

Postgraduate Certificate in University Teaching and Learning or equivalent qualification or experience

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

An established expertise and proven portfolio of research and/or relevant industrial experience within the following research fields:

• • Forensic Linguistics (specifically expert evidence/forensic investigation (e.g. authorship attribution/forensic speech/science/forensic phonetics or internet sexual crime) / applied linguistic research on legal processes and practices / language and law

                                  Grade 8: well established experience and significant proven portfolio

Significant teaching experience at a high level of quality at undergraduate/postgraduate level.

                    Grade 8: substantial experience, demonstrating teaching innovation

Growing national reputation within academic field

                    Grade 8: established national and growing international reputation

Proven substantial record of publications in national journals and/or other research outputs

                                  Grade 8:  proven record in international journals and/or other research outputs

Proven ability attain competitive research funding along with a strong portfolio of research grants

                    Grade 8: Proven experience

Ability to contribute to the delivery and continued development of modules across the School teaching programmes

Pastoral, Communication and Team Working

Proven ability in effective and persuasive communication

                   Grade 8: Proven record of academic leadership

The ability to provide appropriate pastoral support to students, appreciate the needs of individual students and their circumstances and to act as a personal tutor

Desirable Criteria

Relevant professional qualification(s)

Evidence of collaborations with industry

Proven ability to work without close supervision

Proven ability to adapt to the changing requirements of the Higher Education community

Evidence of ability to participate in and develop both internal and external networks and utilise them to enhance the teaching and research activities of the School

A willingness to take responsibility for academically related administration

Additional Information

We are seeking to appoint an ambitious and committed colleague who can specialise in an area of forensic expertise, ideally bringing direct experience of case work, presentation in and for courts and/or police with a theoretically and methodologically rigorous approach. The ability to teach across other areas of Language and Applied Linguistics and a proven record of taking responsibility for academically related administration is desirable. We hope that the individual appointed will contribute to the School’s thriving Forensic Linguistics activities, particularly to the longest-running Forensic Linguistics MA in the world. 

Candidates are asked to submit the following with their application:

• A covering letter explaining and evidencing the strength of their candidacy (indicating clearly skills and experience against G8 criteria if applying at Senior Lecturer level) and its relevance to this post and detailing their plans to prepare a strong submission to the next Research Excellence Framework exercise, clearly structured according to the criteria under ‘Person Specification’ above.   
• A full curriculum vitae and list of publications. If listing a significant publication not yet in the public domain, please supply a copy or a sample in pdf.    

   

(When submitting/uploading your supporting documents, please ensure that you include the vacancy number in the document name.) 

At interview, shortlisted candidates will be asked to give a 20-minute presentation to staff on their current and future teaching and research plans and how their appointment would enhance research and teaching in the School of English, Communication and Philosophy at Cardiff University.  

The School of English, Communication & Philosophy at Cardiff hosts over 1000 undergraduates and some 130 postgraduate students. The School specialises in a range of distinctive approaches to literature, language, visual culture and cultural identities, utilising a range of humanities and social science methodologies. Around 65 experienced academic staff are supported by a dedicated team of professional services colleagues. 

English Language and Literature at Cardiff was ranked 16th in the UK on GPA, 4th for Impact and 5th for Research Power in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework, with 92% of its research activity rated as world-leading or internationally excellent.  

The School is committed to expanding and diversifying its MA Forensic Linguistics provision; increasing supervisory capacity at doctoral level; and proactively seeking out and seizing new opportunities in forensic linguistics evidence and process. This expansion marks a new chapter in Cardiff’s established reputation in Forensic Linguistics. Further, the School wishes to embed students’ experience of Forensic Linguistics in the civic and legal spaces locally and internationally. The continued prominence of our international postgraduate research culture is a key aim. The School is also committed to enhancing students’ employability through the development of innovative, market-facing provision and assessment.  

We are members of the South, West and Wales Doctoral Training consortium, funded by the AHRC and the Welsh Graduate School for the Social Sciences funded by the ESRC. 

For further information, please contact Dr Michelle Aldridge ([email protected]

Job Category

Academic - Teaching & Research