Assistant Professor; Education - School of Biosciences Grade 8

Job Description

Position Details

School of Biosciences

Location:

University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Salary: £47,389 to £56,535, with potential progression to £63,606 once in post.

Grade: 8

Contract:

Full Time, Fixed Term up to 12 months

Closing date: 9th August 2026

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.

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.

The School of Biosciences carries out world-leading research and education in fundamental and applied biological sciences. We are seeking to invite applications 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.

• You will contribute across the range of teaching and learning activities: 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 your 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.
• 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…