Lecturer or Senior Lecturer in Metallurgy and Materials

Job Purpose

The School of Metallurgy and Materials provides a vibrant multi-disciplinary environment for outstanding research and education.

Research in the School focuses on a number of themes including:

• Alloy processing
• Characterisation and modelling
• Engineering properties of materials
• Critical materials and strategic elements
• Functional materials processing

The University has recently entered into a collaboration with Diamond Light Source relating to the new DIAD beamline that will give University researchers preferential access to DIAD (once it is commissioned) and other Diamond beamlines for proof-of-concept experiments. We seek to appoint to a lecturer or senior lecturer position (depending on experience) with research experience in the use of synchrotron X-ray methods for materials research. In addition to developing their own research programme, the post-holder will co-ordinate interactions with Diamond and as defined by the Birmingham Diamond collaboration agreement, interacting with current and potential synchrotron users across the University (EPS/LES/MDS).

The overall roles within this post are:
• To initiate and conduct international-quality materials research in synchrotron X-ray methods, and to bring originality and new research directions. It is expected that the candidate will bring in significant research funding from research councils and industrial sources.
• To contribute to teaching and administration within the School.

The major strategic research theme of the School is to integrate materials modelling and characterisation with the processing/performance of materials. The proposed post will enhance the characterisation theme of the School, interacting with members of staff within the School and the wider University.

Person Specification

Key Skills

• A good first degree together with a PhD in Materials or a similar discipline
• Membership of relevant professional bodies.
• A good record of teaching.

New staff with teaching responsibilities who have little experience of teaching in UK higher education are normally expected to register for the University’s Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education and to successfully complete the first 20 credit modules of the programme as a probationary requirement. At the point at which an offer of employment is made the successful candidate will be informed if the selection panel requires them to complete the first module of this PG Certificate programme.

Lecturer (grade 8)

• Proven ability to devise, advise on and manage learning/ research
• Skills in managing, motivating and mentoring others successfully at all levels

Research
• 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
• Experience and achievement in knowledge transfer, enterprise and similar activity

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

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


Senior Lecturer (Grade 9)

Demonstrated competence in Research; Learning and Teaching; and Management and Administration; and excellence in at least two of these areas.

Research requirements
An excellent national reputation and a developing international profile through significant original research work and a clear record of impact. Evidence of success under the following headings, as appropriate to the discipline:
• High level peer esteem as evidenced by
• Excellent reputation in the UK and often internationally, reflected in sustained high quality output, level of innovation, impact on subject and recognition
• An excellent and sustained record of peer reviewed research publications
• Successful and sustained supervision of doctoral students to completion
• Substantial and sustained research income generation, e.g. through research grants, contracts, research consultancy or other external funding
• Sustained high value impact knowledge transfer and enterprise that is of manifest benefit to the College and University

Learning and teaching requirements
An excellent teaching profile and performance in terms of both impact and quality. The teaching quality demonstrated to be informed by an appropriate level of scholarship. 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
• Track record of substantial and sustained high value impact on the enhancement of the student experience, and/or employability
• 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
• Successful and sustained performance in significant administrative/managerial role (s) (e.g. exams officer)
• Significant and sustained high quality innovative contributions to the management/administration of the Department/School/College or University
• Successful and sustained contribution to the corporate life of the School/College/University, displaying willingness to contribute actively to committees, collaborative teaching and administrative tasks