Assistant Professor

Position Details

School of Biosciences

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £47,389 to £56,535 with potential progression once in post to £63,606

Grade: 8

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to 12 months 

Closing date: 9th August 2026

Academic Development Programme - new Assistant Professors will undertake a 5-year development programme, at the end of which they are expected to be promoted to Associate Professor.  The programme consists of a variety of development opportunities and the time to reflect and develop. 

Background

This is a fixed-term post, but the role holder will be supported to achieve their Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy if not already achieved.

Role Summary

The School of Biosciences carries out world-leading research and education in fundamental and applied biological sciences. We are seeking to invite application for an education-focused Assistant Professor in Biological Sciences, with expertise specifically covering animal behaviour and biology, evolution, conservation and bioinformatics. The successful candidate will be motivated to further develop their teaching profile in Higher Education, contribute to undergraduate teaching across a range of degree programmes (including Biological Sciences and Human Sciences) and to support delivery of inclusive, research-informed, education within a challenge-led school tackling the global challenges faced by society and the environment to safeguard future generations. 

This post will bring opportunities for career development, enable you to realise your ambitions in teaching, and enhance your leadership and management skills.  You will make substantial contributions to the management, development and delivery of teaching and assessment, including module leadership and opportunities to feed into module and programme design and development. Management and organisational activities will allow you to make important contributions at School level and enhance the student experience and employability, in addition to contributing to leadership activities (e.g., working groups) across the wider University.

You will contribute to a range of education-related activities. In addition, you will be expected to demonstrate academic citizenship, developing and maintaining mutually respectful and supportive working relationships with all staff and students, and ensuring the way you carry out your role impacts positively on how others carry out theirs.

Teaching is likely to include a substantial contribution to: (a) the management, development and delivery of teaching and assessment at all levels; and (b) enhancement of the student experience and employability.  The role will typically also involve developing and advising others, including: (a) providing expert advice to staff and students, and (b) developing and advising others on learning and teaching tasks and methods.

You will be expected to advance teaching and learning practice in your modules within the school, take a role in leading curriculum development, and play an important role in student academic and pastoral support.  You will deliver excellent teaching that inspires students, and is informed by discipline-based research.

Management and administration is likely to include developing and making substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement widening participation, schools outreach, or similar activities at School level or further within the University.

Main Duties

Education

1.           You will contribute across the range of teaching and learning activities: 

• contribute to leading curriculum development and/or renewal; 
• develop and manage approaches to teaching and learning that are best practice in the subject area or institution; 
• advise others on aspects of learning, teaching and assessment; 
• deliver (where appropriate to the discipline) specific professional programmes; 
• advance the practice of teaching in their modules and within the school, and play an important role in student academic support such as personal tutoring; 
• inform your teaching practice by discipline-based research; 
• frequently update your subject expertise, and undertake personal professional development in teaching, including self-reflection on own teaching, using student and peer review feedback, to enhance own teaching and learning processes;
• you may play an important role in the recruitment and admission of students; and co-supervise doctoral students to completion.

2.           Using a variety of methods in teaching and advising individuals and groups of undergraduates, postgraduates, or CPD students, including (as appropriate):

• teaching and examining courses at a range of levels;
• planning and reviewing your own teaching approaches and encouraging others to do the same;
• designing contemporary, inclusive, engaging and academically challenging curriculum content;
• working collaboratively with colleagues to design and deliver teaching, learning and assessment;
• using digital resources/environments effectively to support learning and assessment;
• developing programme proposals and making substantial contributions to the design of teaching programmes more widely;
• where appropriate, undertaking and developing the full range of responsibilities in relation to supervision, marking and examining;
• developing and advising others on learning and teaching tasks and methods;
• developing and making substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement,  public engagement activities or similar on own specialism that enhances the student experience or employability and which benefits the College and University;
• devising and supervising projects, student dissertations and practical work. 

Management/Administration

To contribute to Departmental /School administration. This may include:

• contributing to the administration/management of teaching across the Department/School; 
• where appropriate, leading and managing a team to devise and implement a new and/or revised process (e.g. new programme or a recruitment drive);
• advising on personal development of colleagues and students;
• making a contribution to administrative activities within the University (e.g. appeals panels, working groups);
• managing enterprise, business development, and public engagement activities;
• developing and making substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement, widening participation, schools outreach;
• promoting equality, diversity and inclusion through monitoring and evaluation and actively challenging unacceptable behaviour.

Citizenship 

Contributing to an inclusive working environment:

• pursuing your activities in a way that helps others to pursue their activities effectively and efficiently;
• demonstrating a willingness to be involved in a variety of activities supporting University life (e.g., participation in graduation, Departmental/School committees);
• demonstrating support for colleagues, such as sharing resources, providing advice; 
• willingness to volunteer for one-off duties (such as supporting School, Institute, and Departmental projects);
• positively engaging in School strategic initiatives;
• proactive support and involvement in activities specifically contributing to a positive and inclusive community spirit across the School/College/University.

Person Specification

• Normally, a higher Degree relevant to the discipline area (usually PhD) or equivalent qualifications.
• Extensive teaching experience and scholarship in animal behaviour and/or animal biology is required. Experience in bioinformatics and large scale data analysis is desirable. 
• Proven ability to devise, advise on and manage learning.
• Skills in managing, motivating & mentoring others.

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 achievement 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.
• Experience of championing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in own work area.
• Ability to monitor and evaluate the extent to which equality and diversity legislation, policies, procedures are applied. 
• Ability to identify issues with the potential to impact on protected groups and take appropriate action.

Informal enquiries to Claire Cooper, email: c.e.cooper@bham.ac.uk

Use of AI in applications: We want to understand your genuine interest in the role and for the written elements of your application to accurately reflect your own communication style. Applications that rely too heavily on AI tools can appear generic and lack the detail we need to assess your skills and experience. Such applications will unlikely be progressed to interview.

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.