UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN
COLLEGE OF LIFE SCIENCES AND MEDICINE
SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
LECTURER / SENIOR LECTURER (ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION)
YBS558A
FURTHER PARTICULARS FOR APPLICANTS
1.
THE POST
The School of Biological Sciences is seeking to fill a position at the Lecturer / Senior Lecturer level in
Ecology/Evolution. This post will be closely aligned with the research and teaching activity undertaken within the
School and the Institute of Biological and Environmental Science (IBES; www.abdn.ac.uk/ibes), in particular the
Ecology & Evolution research programme. Aberdeen has one of the largest concentrations of internationallyrecognised ecologists in Europe, with a broad research portfolio that spans from gene to ecosystem, across
terrestrial, marine and aquatic realms, and encompasses both theoretical and empirical approaches. We are
acknowledged as world leading in several areas such as population ecology, deep sea biology, molecular
ecology and conservation biology, and have a long and proud tradition of using long-term, large-scale field
studies to answer both pure and applied questions.
Our research activity and potential has recently been reinforced through the establishment of the University’s
Centre for Genome Enabled Biology & Medicine, which provides infrastructure and bioinformatic capacity for
multi-‘omics analysis; a dedicated research computing facility, with a 400 node cluster to analyse and archive
burgeoning empirical datasets and modelling applications; and focussed strategic investment in multidisciplinary
research in Environment and Food Security.
We seek applicants who have or are building international reputations for research that will complement and
enhance our existing areas of expertise. While exceptional individuals from all relevant ecological disciplines are
encouraged to apply, we particularly seek applicants in two research domains: 1) quantitative or theoretical
ecology – broadly defined as using mathematical, statistical and/or simulation modelling approaches to
understand ecological systems at the individual, population or community level; 2) animal evolutionary
ecology/ecological genomics – using empirical molecular genetic, ‘omic or quantitative genetic approaches to
understand how non-model species of animals respond or adapt to challenges in their natural environment or
long term environmental change.
We expect applicants to have a vision for developing a research programme at the leading edge of ecology
and/or evolutionary biology, and a plan for securing competitive funding and developing appropriate
collaborations to ensure this vision is realised. An emphasis on communicating research through publication in
high profile journals and through knowledge exchange to maximise impact is essential.
It is expected that the appointee will contribute to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, and show a
commitment, enthusiasm and aptitude for effective supervision of research students from undergraduate to PhD
level.
2.
KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES
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Conduct high quality research at the leading edge of the ecology/evolution field, and establish/develop a
research team with an international profile.
Prepare and submit manuscripts for publication in leading high quality peer-reviewed journals.
Prepare, submit and secure grant applications for external (e.g., Research Council) research support.
Develop collaborative links with colleagues to enable joint multidisciplinary grant applications.
Take responsibility for the supervision and training of undergraduate and postgraduate research
students.
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Plan, design, develop and deliver teaching material as appropriate to the objectives of each course or
session.
Balance the pressures of teaching, research and administrative demands and competing deadlines.
Actively contribute to our ambitions and strategic aims.
To undertake School/College level administration as determined by the Head of School.
ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
Knowledge
 PhD in ecology or evolution.
 Broad knowledge of current issues and developing research areas in ecology or evolution.
 Knowledge of ethics and research governance procedures.
Skills
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Excellent communication skills with colleagues and students.
Ability to teach in such a way as to enthuse and engage students.
Ability to respond to new developments and opportunities (e.g., calls for research funding).
Ability to prepare and write (with the potential of leading) successful grant applications and publishable
research papers.
Ability to work independently as well as within the educational team.
Good organisational and IT skills.
Willingness to engage in continuous professional development.
Experience
 Evidence of publication in peer-reviewed, high-quality journals.
 Evidence of, or potential for, securing competitive research funding.
4.
THE UNIVERSITY
The University of Aberdeen, which was founded in 1495, has over 14,000 full-time matriculated students. The
University is a world-class research-led centre of learning and teaching excellence. Coupled with these excellent
results, the biological and medical researchers have a strong track record of grant income from the UK research
councils, EU and medical charities.
The University has two campuses. The King’s College Campus retains its medieval layout and village
atmosphere, its fifteenth-century cathedral and its sixteenth-century university chapel. This heritage is fused with
modern, state of the art facilities for research, learning and teaching, making it fit for purpose for the students of
today. The Foresterhill campus is approximately 1.5 miles from King’s, a comfortable walk through leafy streets.
The University currently employs more than 3900 staff including 1600 academics and has a turnover in excess
of £200 million per annum (web site: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/). In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise
eleven of our research areas were ranked among the top 25% in the UK and 55% of the research within the
School of Biological Sciences was rated as 4*/3*.
The University's organisational and management structure operates within a devolved managerial and budget
system. Academic units are grouped into three colleges: Arts and Social Sciences, Life Sciences and Medicine
and Physical Sciences.
5.
THE COLLEGE OF LIFE SCIENCES AND MEDICINE
The College comprises the following five academic Schools, supported by the Graduate School:
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School of Biological Sciences (Head of School: Prof Elizabeth Baggs)
School of Medicine and Dentistry (Head of School: Prof David Reid)
School of Medical Sciences (Head of School: Prof Colin McCaig)
School of Psychology (Head of School: Prof Neil MacRae)
The Rowett Institute for Nutrition and Health (Director: Prof Peter Morgan)
Graduate School (Director of School: Dr Bernadette Connolly)
The College of Life Sciences and Medicine was created in 2003 as part of organisational restructuring
throughout the University. The College, led by Professor Mike Greaves, Head of College, is home to over 3000
undergraduate and postgraduate students, and is internationally recognised as a research-led centre for
teaching excellence and increasingly commercialisation. The College is run by the Head of College and Heads
of School, who have line management responsibilities, with strategic direction and leadership provided by
College Directors of Teaching and Research together with Directors of Research Institutes.
The main driver for the creation of Colleges was to create organisational units large enough to provide
managerial, budgetary and planning capacity to determine their own strategies and to manage their own
finances at a high level. Within the Colleges, structures have been created to support staff and to promote
research and teaching collaborations, similarly these also apply to working between the Colleges to ensure
interdisciplinary work flourishes.
The School of Medicine and Dentistry and School of Medical Sciences are co-located within two research
institutes on the Foresterhill Medical Campus: the Institute of Applied Health Sciences and the Institute of
Medical Sciences. The Schools of Biological Sciences (with its Institute of Biological and Environmental
Sciences) and Psychology are located a short distance away on the historic Old Aberdeen Campus, which
houses the rest of the University. The College has benefitted from significant estate and infrastructure
development in the past 10 years with refurbishments of its Polwarth, Cruickshank and Zoology buildings, the
last incorporating a science teaching facility. New build projects have created the Institute of Medical Sciences,
the Medical Research Facility, the Health Sciences Building, the deep sea facilities at Oceanlab 1 and 2, the Life
Science Innovation building and the Suttie Centre for Teaching and Learning in Healthcare.
Looking ahead, a new building at Foresterhill for the Rowett Research Institute, which merged with the University
in summer 2008, is scheduled to be opened during session 2013/14.
6. SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
The School was formed 10 years ago, with the merger of the Departments of Agriculture & Forestry, Plant & Soil
Science, and Zoology. Recent capital investment has been significant and two of its main buildings on the Old
Aberdeen site, the Cruickshank building and the Zoology building, have undergone major multi-million
refurbishments. Together with 23 St Machar Drive, these buildings are situated around the Botanic Gardens that
provide an invaluable facility for research, teaching and public engagement. In addition the School has several
field stations, located at Newburgh, Cromarty, Betty hill and at Eynhallow, Orkney. The School has approx. 50
academic staff, 80 research staff (RAs/RFs), 10 teaching fellows, 35 technicians, 3 gardeners and 17
secretaries/admin/finance staff. The school student population consists of approx 140 PGRs, over 50 PGTs and
almost 500 UGs (ftes).
Research is organised within the Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences that seeks to address the
fundamental biological consequences of environmental change. It has significant international expertise in
understanding and modelling the soil/microbe/plant interface and environmental change, the population and
physiological responses of animals and plants from habitats as diverse as the Deep Ocean and tropical forests,
along with environmental effects on mammalian physiology, the immune functions nutriogenomics of fish and
fundamental relationships between diseases and their vectors.
Staff are members of Research Council Peer Review Committees, reflecting the national standing of our groups.
Indeed, many of our staff have a strong international reputation and regularly publish in the highest impact
journals such as Nature and Science. There is a large postgraduate population, where training and career
development go hand in hand with laboratory and field work.
There are strong links with local research Institutes, including the Marine Scotland Science (MSS) Marine
Laboratory and the James Hutton Institute. The University and MSS are members of MASTS
(http://www.masts.ac.uk/), a pooling initiative launched in November 2009 that brings together ten of Scotland’s
Universities and Institutions with the aim to ensure Scotland is a world player in marine science through the
delivery of science excellence in the field.
7. THE CITY OF ABERDEEN
With the population approaching 250,000, Aberdeen is big enough to provide all the advantages of city life, yet
compact enough to enjoy the more intimate atmosphere usually associated with small towns.
Aberdeen caters for a wide range of tastes in sporting and cultural activities. To find out more about Aberdeen
and its surrounding area go to www.VisitScotland.com and click on Aberdeen on the map.
8.
SALARY AND TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT
Should you require a visa to undertake paid employment in the UK you will be required to fulfil the minimum
points criteria to be granted a Certificate of Sponsorship and Tier 2 visa. As appropriate, at the time an offer of
appointment is made you will be asked to demonstrate that you fulfil the criteria in respect of financial
maintenance and competency in English. Please do not hesitate to contact Sacha Nicol
(sacha.nicol@abdn.ac.uk), HR Adviser, for further information on this.
It is the policy of the University, in line with the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007, that the
post holder is a member of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme. Any offer of employment will be
conditional on a satisfactory Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme record check being received.
Salary will be at the appropriate point of the Grade 7 Lecturer salary scale (£36,862-£44,016 per annum) / Grade
8 Senior Lecturer scale (£45,336-£52,556 per annum) with placement according to qualifications and
experience.
9.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
To discuss the posts informally or to arrange a visit, please contact Professor Liz Baggs, Head of School (Tel: 44
(0) 1224 272691, Email e.baggs@abdn.ac.uk) or Professor Stuart Piertney, Director of IBES (Tel: 44 (0) 1224
272864), Email: s.piertney@abdn.ac.uk).
PLEASE DO NOT SEND CV’S OR APPLICATION FORMS TO THE SCHOOL OR PROFESSORS BAGGS OR
PIERTNEY
Online application forms and further information is available at www.abdn.ac.uk/jobs.
Please quote reference YBS558A on all correspondence.
The closing date for the receipt of applications is 15 November 2012.
The University pursues a policy of equal opportunities in the appointment and promotion of staff.
UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN
PERSON SPECIFICATION
POST NO:
YBS558A
TITLE:
Lecturer / Senior Lecturer (Ecology/Evolution)
GRADE:
7/8 as appropriate
SECTION/SCHOOL : School of Biological Sciences
ESSENTIAL
1.
EDUCATION/QUALIFICATIONS
Academic, technical and professional education
and training.
2.
WORK AND OTHER RELEVANT
EXPERIENCE (INCLUDING TRAINING)
e g Specialist knowledge, levels of experience,
skills, supervisory experience, research.
 PhD in a biological science with emphasis
on ecology and/or evolution
 Expertise in quantitative/theoretical ecology
or evolutionary/molecular ecology.
 Evidence
of
published
work
in
internationally excellent peer-reviewed
journals.
 Evidence of ability to obtain external
funding or potential to do so.
Senior Lecturer to also demonstrate:
 Experience
of
teaching
at
an
undergraduate and or postgraduate level
3.
PERSONAL QUALITIES AND ABILITIES
e g Initiative, leadership, ability to work on own
or with others, communication skills.
DESIRABLE
 Excellent communication skills
 Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to
interact effectively at all levels.
 Collegiate, collaborative outlook.
 Ability to work as part of a team
 Ability to develop collaborative links
Senior Lecturer to also demonstrate:
 Established collaborations and networks
 Experience of or aptitude for teaching at an
undergraduate and or postgraduate level
Senior Lecturer to also demonstrate:
 Internationally recognised programme of
research
 Experience of wider University roles
 External committee membership (eg research
funding bodies, national professional bodies,
government advisory committees)
 Aptitude for administrative duties commensurate
with level of appointment
4.
OTHER
e g Special circumstances (if any) appropriate to
the job such as unsocial hours, travelling,
physical requirements etc.