Assistant Professor (Research and Education) in Sports Physiology and Performance - School of S

Position Details

School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences

School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences

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, Permanent

Closing date: 25th 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.

The School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Birmingham, UK, is a world-leading department that combines innovative and translational research with evidence-based professional practice to promote lifelong engagement in physical activity, optimising health, wellbeing and performance for everyone. Consistently in the top 10 of the QS World University Rankings by Subject and in the top 5 in the latest UK’s Research Excellence Framework our research allows us to address societal challenges from multidisciplinary perspectives and enriches our degree programmes.

We are seeking to appoint a full-time Assistant Professor in Sports Physiology and Performance who will contribute to a range of research, teaching and administration. In addition you will be expected to demonstrate academic citizenship, developing and maintaining generous, 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 can carry out theirs.

Research is likely to involve initiating, conducting and disseminating original research. Your research will have measurable outcomes reflecting in your growing national (and ideally international) reputation. As part of our efforts to enhance the professional development and employability of our sport, exercise and rehabilitation sciences students, we would welcome applications from individuals who can evidence involvement in sport physiology and performance research in, or in collaboration with, high performance sporting organisations.

You will have a clear and coherent research vision aligned to enhancing athlete performance, recovery, or adaptation. This includes team sports, individual sports, performance aspects of environmental physiology, sport nutrition, strength and conditioning, biomedical science, and applications of sport technology. We particularly welcome applicants with an excellent research profile with a track record of publishing in leading sport science journals and demonstrable potential to secure external funding.

Teaching is likely to include a substantial contribution to: (a) the management, development (including programme/module review) and delivery of teaching and assessment; and (b) enhancement of the student experience or employability. The role will typically also involve developing and advising others, including: (a) providing expert advice to staff and students, (b) supervising and examining PhD students, and (c) developing and advising others on learning and teaching tasks and methods.

Experience in the development and delivery of placement/internship provision and/or industry partner/stakeholder engagement would also be welcomed. We invite applicants who can clearly articulate how their research and scholarly activity informs and shapes their teaching.

Management and administration is likely to involve contributions at Departmental and School level, and/or making an important contribution to some managerial/leadership activities (e.g. working groups) within the university. This may include developing and making substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement, widening participation, schools outreach, or similar activities at Department/School level or further within the University.

We…