Assistant Professor in Environmental Biology (Teaching Focussed) (107221-0323)
Vacancy Type/Job category Teaching Only
Department Life Sciences
Salary £44,414 - £52,841 per annum
Location University of Warwick, Coventry
Vacancy Overview Permanent, full-time, position available immediately.
The School of Life Sciences (SLS) is committed to the delivery of a high-quality student experience. As a Teaching Focussed Assistant Professor you will join our team to deliver a comprehensive package of teaching, with a particular focus on delivery of lecture and seminar teaching, tutorials, project supervision and practical teaching. You will particularly support the course management, curriculum development and delivery of the MSc Global Decarbonisation, a newly approved interdisciplinary course forming part of the University of Warwick’s STEM Grand Challenge. You will design teaching material and deliver teaching and assessment across a range of lecture modules and laboratories within the areas of climate change science, nature-based carbon capture and storage practices and the sustainability of food production systems. You will also play an important role in pastoral support for students.
As an ideal candidate, you will have a good honours degree and possession of a PhD in a relevant biological or environmental science discipline. You will have ideally have experience in delivering excellent university level teaching, including via online learning, and expertise in supervising student research projects. You will support the work of the School to develop and enhance its teaching reputation Environmental Biology, both internally and externally. Preference may be given to candidates who hold teaching accreditation, such as HEA or equivalent. Candidates should expect to demonstrate how they would help to deliver excellent teaching of Environmental Biology modules within the School.
We welcome applicants with industrial experience who can support an industrially relevant curriculum and who have a desire to engage in research. The University aims to promote work life balance for all employees and the School of Life Sciences will consider a range of possible flexible working arrangements in order to recruit the best candidate.
We believe that collegiality, openness, inclusivity and diversity are essential for an excellent environment; this ethic has enabled us to gain an Athena SWAN Silver award. We are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you are excited by this role, we encourage you to apply, even if your past experience does not match exactly. We also encourage applications from all groups with protected characteristics (traditionally under-represented in STEM fields.)
In your application, you can also include any career breaks you may have taken (e.g. parental/caring/long-term sick leave, part-time work, secondments) or any periods where you were unable or restricted to work because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
For those eligible, the University of Warwick offers relocation and Immigration Support Scheme packages to assist with costs of relocating and any associated visa applications and HIS (health) surcharge fees.
Interview date: TBC.
Job Description JOB PURPOSE
You will undertake development, delivery and administration of teaching and learning in the discipline of Environmental Biology, and enhance the School of Life Science’s teaching reputation, both internally and externally. You may also deliver small group and laboratory teaching.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Teaching and Learning Support:
• Develop your own teaching materials, methods and approaches, corresponding to a variety of teaching modes as needed (face-to-face, online, blended, termly, weekly etc.).
• Identify learning needs of students and define appropriate learning objectives.
• Ensure that content, methods of delivery and learning materials will meet the defined learning objectives.
• Supervise the work of students, provide advice on study skills and help them with learning problems.
• Select appropriate assessment instruments and criteria, assess the work and progress of students by reference to the criteria and provide constructive feedback to students.
• Design teaching material for delivery across a range of modules within your subject area.
• Use appropriate teaching, learning support and assessment methods.
• Supervise student projects, field trips and placements, where appropriate.
• Identify areas where current provision needs revision or improvement.
• Contribute to the planning, design and development of objectives and material.
• Set, mark and assess work and examinations and provide timely feedback to students.
• Routinely communicate complex and conceptual ideas to those with limited knowledge and understanding as well as to peers using high level skills and a range of media.
• Have academic ownership for modules.
• Where required act as the leader of an element of study (such as a course, module, programme, etc).
• Challenge thinking, foster debate and develop the ability of students to engage in critical discourse and rational thinking.
Administration and Other Activities:
• Participate where necessary in committees and working groups within the School, the faculty and the University and attend School meetings whenever possible.
• Contribute to School committees and administrative duties and tasks undertaking specific roles, as required.
• Undertake duties related to course administration, such as attendance records etc.
• Assist in the preparation of proposals or applications to external bodies.
• Support and comply with the University and School teaching quality assurance standards and procedures, including the provision of such information as may be required by the School or the University.
• Ensure compliance with Health and Safety, and other University regulations and good working practices in all aspects of work undertaking risk assessments, where appropriate.
• Work within budget constraints.
• Act as a personal tutor and be responsible for the pastoral care of students within a specified area.
• Participate in and develop internal and external networks, for example you may contribute to student recruitment, secure student placements, facilitate outreach work, generate income, obtain consultancy projects, or build relationships for future activities.
• Participate in relevant professional activities.
• Engage in subject, professional, pedagogic and practitioner research and other scholarly activities.
Research and Scholarship:
• Reflect on practice and the development of your own teaching and learning skills.
The duties and responsibilities outlined are not intended to be an exhaustive list but provide guidance on the main aspects of the job. The postholder will be required to be flexible in their duties.
Person Specification
The Person Specification focuses on the knowledge, skills, experience and qualifications required to undertake the role effectively. This is measured by (a) Application Form, (b) Test/Exercise, (c) Interview, (d) Presentation.
Essential Criteria 1 Good honours degree and possession of a PhD or equivalent in a discipline relevant to the Life and Environmental sciences. (a,c)
Essential Criteria 2 Breadth and depth of specialist knowledge from previous research, teaching or industrial experience in Environmental Biology to develop teaching, learning and assessments. (a,c)
Essential Criteria 3 Competence in teaching in higher education or equivalent industrial training in Environmental Biology. (a,c)
Essential Criteria 4 Proven ability to use a range of delivery techniques to engage and enthuse students and inspire effective learning, including via online learning. (a,c)
Essential Criteria 5 Demonstrable ability to work collaboratively and effectively with academic and administrative colleagues, including those external to the University, to promote and contribute towards a collegiate environment. (a,c)
Essential Criteria 6 Strong communication skills including the ability to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing. (a,c)
Desirable Criteria 1 Teaching accreditation, such as HEA or equivalent, or willingness to pursue continuous professional development and ability to engage with teaching management activities at the School level. (a,c)
Desirable Criteria 2 Understanding of equal opportunity issues as they may impact on areas of teaching. (a,c)
Desirable Criteria 3 Experience of pastoral care of students. (a,c)
Desirable Criteria 4 Research and teaching experience in climate change science, nature-based carbon capture and storage practices and the sustainability of food production systems. (a,c)
Desirable Criteria 5 Proven track record in publication in disciplines related to climate change science, nature-based carbon capture and storage practices and the sustainability of food production systems. (a,c)
Further Particulars For further information about the University of Warwick, please read our University Further Particulars.
For further information about the department, please visit the departmental website. We believe that collegiality, openness, inclusivity and diversity are essential for an excellent research and teaching environment. We regard inclusivity and diversity as important criteria and thus particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups. Our flat departmental structure ensures that everyone has an equal voice that is listened to. Our supportive, dynamic and collegiate ethic has enabled us to gain an Athena SWAN Silver award.
The Post
The School of Life Sciences at the University of Warwick is seeking to appoint an Assistant Professor (Teaching Focussed) to undertake development, delivery and administration of teaching and learning in the discipline of Environmental Biology. The successful candidate will primarily work on the MSc Global Decarbonisation that has been developed as part of the University’s STEM Grand Challenge project. The STEM Grand Challenge is a significant investment by the University of Warwick to improve teaching, learning and research capabilities for Science and Engineering. This is an opportunity to be part of the University’s vision to develop cutting-edge teaching facilities alongside education which will be characterised by learning beyond boundaries, greater interdisciplinarity, and by student research.
We are looking for an enthusiastic and excellent individual to help drive the development of this new interdisciplinary programme, contributing to the establishment of the course curriculum and to deliver teaching. You will support teaching, learning and assessment activities including lectures, tutorials, and project supervision. You will enhance the School’s teaching reputation, both internally and externally, and contribute to the development of high-quality teaching and student experience in Environmental Biology.
You must demonstrate sufficient breadth and depth of specialist knowledge in Environmental Biology through previous research, teaching or industrial experience to develop teaching, learning and assessments focussed on climate change science, nature-based carbon capture and storage practices and the sustainability of food production systems. You will have a good honours degree (minimum 2:1) and a postgraduate qualification (PhD) in a relevant discipline.
You will be familiar with a variety of strategies to promote and assess learning and have proven competence in teaching in higher education. You will also have an ability to use a range of delivery techniques to engage the interest and enthusiasm of students and inspire effective learning.
You must have the capacity to contribute collegiately to the life and community of the School by undertaking a variety of duties, such as supporting offer holder days and outreach activities which may occasionally require weekend work.
You will have strong communication, IT, time management and organisational skills, along with excellent interpersonal skills with relevant experience of working independently and as part of a team. You will understand equal opportunity issues and practical health and safety concerns in a teaching or industrial context. Engagement in professional, pedagogic and practitioner research and other scholarly activity is also expected.
For informal enquiries please contact Professor Gary Bending, Deputy Head of School: gary.bending@warwick.ac.uk
Warwick is committed to building an organisation of mutual respect and dignity, promoting a welcoming, diverse and inclusive working and learning environment. We recognise that everyone is different in a variety of visible and non-visible ways, and that those differences are to be recognised, respected, and valued. Where possible, we go beyond legislation to provide a place where everyone can thrive, supporting all staff to achieve their full potential. We aspire to remove economic, social and cultural barriers that may otherwise prevent people from succeeding.
We therefore welcome and encourage applications from all communities regardless of culture, background, age, disability, sex/gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion/belief, or sexual or romantic orientation. To find out more about our social inclusion work at Warwick visit our webpages here.
The University of Warwick holds an Athena SWAN Silver award; a national initiative to promote gender equality for all staff and students. Further information about the work of the University in relation to Athena SWAN can be found at the following link: Athena Swan (warwick.ac.uk)
The University of Warwick is one of the six founder institutions of the EUTOPIA European University alliance, whose aim is to become by 2025 an open, multicultural, confederated operation of connected campuses.
Right to work in the UK
If you do not yet have the right to work in the UK and/or are seeking sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa in the UK points-based immigration system please click on this link which contains further information about obtaining right to work in the UK and details about eligibility for sponsorship for a Skilled Worker Visa.
Recruitment of Ex-Offenders Policy
As an organisation using the (DBS) Disclosure and Barring Service to assess applicants’ suitability for positions of trust, the University of Warwick complies with the DBS Code of Practice and undertakes not to discriminate unfairly against any subject of a Disclosure on the basis of a conviction or other information revealed. More information is available on the University’s Vacancy pages and applicants may request a copy of the DBS Code of Practice.
Closing Date 12 Apr 2023
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