Lecturer / Senior Lecturer in Plant Physiology or Ecophysiology

Job Purpose

The post holder will contribute at a senior level on a sustained basis to a whole range of research, teaching leadership and administration.

The post holder's research is likely to involve an established national and developing international reputation through significant original research work and a clear record of impact, and/or designing and developing significant innovative underpinning technologies.

The individual will undertake teaching which is likely to include: (a) development and leadership of major teaching programmes or equivalent; and (b) enhancement off the student experience or employability that is of manifest benefit to the College and University.

Research

To pursue sustained research activity through original research and scholarship, including other research-related contributions through conference papers and presentations and/or consultancy projects and advice.

Where appropriate for the discipline, this may include some but not all of the responsibilities listed below:

• Make a significant contribution to the management of research activities
• Generate research income through applications to major funding bodies including UKRI Research Councils
• Undertake and publish high-quality research relevant to tree physiology, cognisant of relevant metrics for international reputation and scholarly merit
• Provide expert advice internally and externally
• Provide leadership of research that contributes to the progression of the discipline (in disciplines where this is possible)
• Referee and peer review articles for peer reviewed academic journals and grant applications by research councils and/or other major funding bodies
• Lead sustained high value impact activity in knowledge transfer and enterprise (including business engagement, public engagement) that is of manifest benefit to the College and University, and: a) makes a significant contribution to policy development at a national and international level; and/or b) involves development of industrial links and comparable networks and initiatives.

In addition, research responsibilities will include some but not necessarily all the indicative responsibilities from grade 8 listed below:

• Supervise and examine PhD students, both within the institution and externally
• Manage research activities and/or supervise other research staff
• Develop novel methodologies and techniques appropriate to the type of research being pursued

Learning and Teaching

To contribute at a senior level on a sustained basis in learning and teaching. Where appropriate for the discipline, this may include some but not all of the responsibilities listed below:

• Lead the development of new and appropriate approaches to learning and teaching. This may be underpinned by research and evaluation of teaching methods and systems.
• Act as adviser for teaching and learning methods through excellent practice and mentoring other colleagues
• Lead the design and/or co-ordination of programmes or equivalent activities across the School Contribute to the development of teaching and learning policy, methods and standards, more widely than the School Contribute to debate nationally about policy, methods and practices through publications, conference activity and roles that advance quality in the discipline
• Lead the development and management of assessment strategies within the School
• Lead sustained high value impact activity in knowledge transfer and enterprise (including business engagement, public engagement) that enhances the student experience and/or employability and is of manifest benefit to learning and teaching in the College and the University. This may include the development of industrial links and comparable networks and initiatives.

In addition, the learning and teaching responsibilities will include some but not necessarily all the indicative responsibilities from grade 8 level listed below:

• Contribute to the planning, teaching, examining and assessment of undergraduate and postgraduate modules in their area of expertise
• Plan and review own teaching approaches and act as a mentor to encourage others to do the same
• Develop programme proposals and make substantial contributions to the design of teaching programmes more widely in the School, as appropriate
• Undertake and develop the full range of responsibilities in relation to supervision, marking and examining
• Use appropriate approaches to learning and teaching in their field
• Disseminate appropriate practices through suitable media Develop and advise others on learning and teaching tasks and methods

Management/administration

To lead activities in the School/Institute and representation on University committees or working groups. Where appropriate to the discipline, this is likely to include some but not all of the responsibilities listed below:

• Make an important contributionto the development and running of the School, for example, leading activity on teaching assessment and/or on research
• Develop and manage staff and resources in support of major research and/or teaching activities
• Make important contributions to the development of the School/Institute research strategy and/or learning and teaching strategy
• Contribute significantly to the development and delivery of knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement and public engagement activities with a sustained high value impact of manifest benefit to the College and the University

Person Specification

The successful candidate will be a plant biologist with experience in field studies ready to contribute to the scientific work at BIFoR Free-Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment (FACE) ( https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/bifor/face/index.aspx ) through one or more of the following research themes: tree metabolism, water relations and nutrition; plant and tree ecophysiology; environmental and ecosystem physiology; forest-plant acclimation and adaptation to climate change; tree-microbe interactions; tree functional traits. In addition to a sound basis in plant physiology the candidate should have expertise in cutting edge research.

Skills and Experience

• A PhD in a relevant field such as plant science, plant physiology, forest science or other relevant field with demonstrated experience in, or closely cognate to, plant physiology / ecology
• Ability to manage projects and work collaboratively with fellow scholars
• Experience of working within, and assuming responsibilities in, internal and external networks
• Engagement with external bodies to enhance national or international standing of the discipline
• Successful collaboration with other universities and industry; commitment to the promotion of equal opportunities;

Research requirements

• Commitment to and success in the promotion of research
• An emerging international reputation for excellence in research demonstrated through an excellent publication record
• A record of attracting external funding or clear evidence of the potential for external funding and engagement in knowledge-transfer activities
• Knowledge of the UK Research and Innovation structure, the UK government's Industrial Strategy as it affects university research
• 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 commitment to and success in the promotion of research

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 willingness to foster academic collaboration across disciplinary boundaries

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
• Experience of resource planning and management
• Ability in strategic planning, showing effective implementation and evaluation
• Ability to implement the mission of the School, College and University

Closing Date 31 May 2019

Salary £40,792 - £75,744 (Lecturer salary from £40,792 - £48,677 a year with potential progression (to £54,765 a year)). (Senior Lecturer/Reader salary from £50,132 - £58,089 a year with potential progression (to £75,744 a year)).