THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM
RECRUITMENT ROLE PROFILE FORM
Job Title:
Associate Professor (Senior Lecturer) in Translational Stem Cell
Technology
School/Department:
School of Medicine, Division of Cancer & Stem Cells, Department
of Stem Cell Biology
Salary:
£49,230 - £58,754 per annum, depending on skills and
experience. Salary progression beyond this scale is subject to
performance
Job Family and Level:
Research and Teaching, level 6
Contract Status:
Permanent
Hours of Work:
Full-time
Location:
Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, University Park
Reporting to:
Head of STEM Research Group
Purpose of the Role:
Stem Cells, Tissue Engineering and Modelling (STEM) at the University of Nottingham, United
Kingdom, is undergoing a major strategic expansion, wherein 4 new academic posts are being
recruited. This will add critical mass to the Department and to the newly-formed Nottingham
Research Priority Area in Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cells, which comprises ~60 academics
spanning an interdisciplinary portfolio of stem cell biology, drug discovery, tissue engineering
and biomaterials (see https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/research/global-research-themes/healthand-wellbeing.aspx for more information)
Three of the new posts have already been recruited, with an Assistant Professor (Dr. Nick
Hannan; pluripotent stem cells to gut, liver and lung lineages) and an Associate Professor Dr.
Cathy Merry; glycan biology) starting in summer 2015; through strong mentorship, both have
already started to win new grant funding to expand their research groups. A further Associate
Professor post, Dr. Andreas Theotokis (stem cell and cancer signalling biology), will start 1st
April 2016.
We are now seeking to fill the final position of Associate Professor (Senior Lecturer / Reader)
who will be a research-active investigator in stem cell biology and/or the various associated
fields that are required to translate technologies into drug, gene, cell or biomaterial therapies.
A desire to add translational value in the cardiovascular or neural systems would be an
advantage, as would be an interest in applying technologies to human pluripotent stem cells or
progenitor stem cells. Additional skill sets of interest may include use of robotics, automated
liquid handling systems or bioreactors; advanced phenotyping (electrophysiology, calcium,
optical mapping, energetics, contractility, imaging, metabolomics, gene arrays, proteomics);
expertise in drug discovery / repurposing; interdisciplinary research such as (bio)materials
science and bio-/tissue-engineering to enhance in vitro cell function or to facilitate
transplantation; a desire to work with clinicians to facilitate translation.
The successful candidate will also contribute to teaching on our taught Masters Course in Stem
Cell
Technology
(see
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/pgstudy/courses/medicine/medicalsciences/stem-cell-technology-msc.aspx).
For an informal discussion, prospective candidates are invited to contact Professor Chris
Denning, Tel 0115 82 31236, email chris.denning@nottingham.ac.uk.
Summary of Main Duties and Responsibilities:
Research (80%)
 The successful research-active applicant will bring their own established area of
research to the department and develop it further in Nottingham. They will have a track
record in attracting grant funding as lead investigator and co-investigator, and in
publishing as senior author in good quality journals. Their core area of expertise will be
in stem cell biology and/or the various associated fields that are required to translate
technologies into drug, gene, cell or biomaterial therapies. This will also encompass
additional areas within at least some of the broad remits of interest in:
o adding translational value in the cardiovascular or neural systems
o applying technologies to human pluripotent stem cells or progenitor stem cells
o using robotics, automated liquid handling systems or bioreactors to assist with
solving or answering biological questions
o advanced phenotyping (electrophysiology, calcium, optical mapping, energetics,
contractility, imaging, metabolomics, gene arrays, proteomics);
o drug discovery / repurposing;
o interdisciplinary research such as (bio)materials science and bio-/tissueengineering to enhance in vitro cell function or to facilitate transplantation;
o working with clinicians to facilitate translation.
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



In addition to synergising with other academics in STEM, the successful candidate is
likely to collaborate in the highly dynamic and interdisciplinary environment of our
building, Centre for Biomolecular Sciences (CBS). CBS houses over 300 scientists in an
environment that promotes core science and interdisciplinary research. A total of £40
million has been invested to create an excellent blend of chemistry and biology
laboratories (see http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/cbs/index.aspx).
The candidate should already have collaborative networks with other academic groups,
and/or small and large industry. They will likely extend these further, possibly including
government agencies such as the Cell Therapy Catapult.
The candidate’s success will continue to attract speaker invitations to national and
international conferences
The applicant’s team will comprise postdocs, technicians and/or PhD students, who they
will manage and supervise.
The nature of their research will be stem cell-related and / or in the various associated
fields that are required to translate technologies into drug, gene and cell therapies. A
desire to add translational value in the cardiovascular and neural systems would be an
advantage, as would be an interest in applying technologies to human pluripotent stem
cells or progenitor stem cells.
Teaching (20%)
The University of Nottingham is a major centre for undergraduate and postgraduate education.
STEM established the world’s first taught Masters Course in Stem Cell Technology in 2007
(www.nottingham.ac.uk/pgstudy/courses/medicine/medical-sciences/stem-cell-technologymsc.aspx). This intensive one year course uses a combination of lectures, tutorials and
practical classes to teach students about the biology and potential utility of different stem cell
populations, their legal and ethical regulation and how they can be combined with state-of-theart tissue engineering approaches. This culminates in a 3 month summer project, where
students are aligned with one of the academics to carry out ‘real’ research. The course also has
a strong emphasis on transferrable skills, which includes a bioscience business plan
competition judged in ‘Dragon’s Den’ style by experts from the biotech industry.
The successful candidate will deliver selected lectures, tutorial and practicals from across the
Course in Modules that span Cell & Developmental Molecular Biology (Module 1), Pluripotent
Stem Cells (Module 2), Adult Stem Cells (Module 3); Translation Technologies for Stem Cells
(Module 4); Transferrable Skills (Module 5) and Summer Research Project / supervision of 2-3
MSc students (Module 6). They will also mentor students and provide pastoral care and
supervise BMedSci students. The role will also entail setting / marking exams and assessed
coursework, and contributing to administration of the Course. It is likely that the candidate
would have the opportunity to take on the role of Course Director within around 2 years of
joining the University.
Administration
 Contribute to Division/Centre/University administration
 Contribute to the successful development of STEM.
Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications & Experience
Qualifications
Knowledge /
Skills / Training
Essential
 PhD in biological science




Research-active bringing own
established area to the department
and develop it further in Nottingham.
Have a track record in attracting
grant funding as lead investigator or
co-investigator and in publishing as
senior author in good quality
journals.
Core area of expertise will be in stem
cell biology and/or the various
associated fields that are required to
translate technologies into drug,
gene, cell or biomaterial therapies.
This will also encompass additional
areas within at least some of the
broad remits of interest in:
 adding translational value in the
cardiovascular or neural systems
 applying technologies to human
pluripotent stem cells or
progenitor stem cells
 using robotics, automated liquid
handling systems or bioreactors
to assist with solving or
answering biological questions
 advanced phenotyping
(electrophysiology, calcium,
optical mapping, energetics,
contractility, imaging,
metabolomics, gene arrays,
proteomics);
 drug discovery / repurposing;
 interdisciplinary research such as
(bio)materials science and bio/tissue-engineering to enhance in
vitro cell function or to facilitate
transplantation;
 working with clinicians to
facilitate translation.
Desirable
 Undergraduate degree in
biological science or other
relevant scientific degree
 30 credits of a UK
Postgraduate Teaching
Certificate or Educationrelated Masters, or
equivalent
 Higher Education Academy
Fellow status or equivalent
nationally recognised status
for HE teaching from another
country.
 The candidate’s success will
also attract speaker
invitations to national and
international conferences
Excellent oral and written communication
skills, including the ability to
communicate with clarity on complex
information
Experience
Proven ability to provide effective
leadership and management of groups
and teaching activities.
 Grant award and publication in one
or more of the areas listed above
 Teaching and supervision of
undergraduate or postgraduate
students, possibly having been
convener of modules
 Existing collaborations with academic
and/or industrial partners. with
researchers in the UK or abroad
 Extensive experience in
developing and devising new
research programmes, models,
techniques and methods.
 Proven record of promoting and
maintaining collaborative links
with industry / business /
community.


Reviewer or manuscripts for
journals or grants for funding
agencies
Organization of conferences
and seminar programmes
Decision Making
i)
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


Taken independently by the role holder;
Planning general research programme and direction
Devising applications for new research funding
Planning the content and delivery of teaching
Decisions surrounding the management, administrative and professional development of
their team
ii) Taken in collaboration with others;
 Collaborative research applications
 Structure/content of joint modules
 Academic unit level organisation, management and strategic planning.
 Contribute to the University’s strategic planning processes.
iii) Referred to the appropriate line manager by the role holder;
 Any items implying changes in School policy.
 Any submission of funding documents will require the approval of either HoS or the
Director of the research institute
Appendix 1
Stem Cell Biology
Academics
The Department of Stem Cells, Tissue Engineering and Modelling (STEM) comprises a team of
successful, young scientists with an interest in combining a range of state-of-the-art
technologies to further key basic questions and biomedical goals utilizing stem cell systems.
The academics comprise the Stem Cell Biology Group, Tissue Engineering Group and the
Mathematical Modelling Group. STEM academics are highly research active and have a current
grant holding in excess of £30m. Academics within STEM were instrumental in winning a
£6.5m Doctoral Training Centre Award held between Nottingham, Loughborough and Keele
Universities, which is in the final stages of training 50 PhD students over the a 5 year period
(2009-2014). This award has been renewed for another 5 year period from 2015-2020. The
same University partners have also received funding for a £6.3m EPSRC Centre in
Regenerative Medicine.
The Stem Cell Biology group is within the Division of Cancer & Stem Cells and forms part of the
School of Medicine (www.nottingham.ac.uk/medicine/research/themes/cancer-and-stemcells/index.aspx). Professor Chris Denning is applying his expertise in genetic modification and
gene targeting (Cas9/CRISPR) to human embryonic / induced pluripotent stem cells,
particularly to establish novel human disease models / methods for translational approaches
such as drug development. He is a partner in the £2.5m British Heart Foundation Centre for
Regenerative Medicine that is held jointly with Imperial College London. Dr Virginie Sottile
investigates the in vitro differentiation properties of both neural and mesenchymal stem cells,
as well as their differentiation in situ upon transplantation into the chick embryo. Dr. Alexey
Ruzov investigates how epigenetic modifications such as 5-hydroxymethyl-cytosine regulate
cell fate and development. During the recent expansion, new academic appointees to the
department include Dr. Nick Hannan (from University of Cambridge; started on 1st July 2015)
to lead a programme on hPSC differentiation in lung and gut lineages. Dr. Cathy Merry (from
University of Manchester; started on 1st Sept 2015) brought her programme on
Glucosaminoglycans (GAGs). Starting on 1st April 2016, Dr. Andreas Theotokis will bring his
established team to grow and area HES3 signalling in stem cells and cancer biology.
Included within the Tissue Engineering Group are Professor Kevin Shakesheff, who combines
the incorporation of biomolecules into novel scaffold materials for regeneration of tissues such
as liver and bone (www.nottingham.ac.uk/pharmacy/research/ddte/index.aspx). Kevin is also
pioneering the use of supercritical fluids to enhance cell survival on synthetic polymers. He is
lead in the £3.5m MRC Regenerative Medicine Hub for Accelular Technologies. Dr Felicity Rose
focuses on the tissue engineering of intestinal, bone and cartilage tissue using a variety of
scaffolds and bioreactor systems and is also engineering wound repair systems for corneal
transplants. Dr Lee Buttery is investigating the engineering of scaffolds to improve both 3D
differentiation and clinical delivery of both fetal osteoblasts and osteogenic progenitors derived
from embryonic stem cells. Dr. James Dixon is applying genetic engineering to provide
advanced delivery systems of DNA, RNA, proteins and macromolecules to direct cell fate, while
Dr. Jing Yang is using 3D bioprinting towards regenerative medicine goals.
The application of mathematical modelling to regenerative medicine systems is a major
interest of Profs John King, Marcus Owen and Simon Preston. Collectively, their interests within
Centre for Mathematical Medicine & Biology (http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/cmmb/index.aspx)
include development and validation of mathematical models for tissue growth, cell signalling
and differentiation.
Facilities
Housed within the purpose-built laboratories and offices of the Centre for Biomolecular
Sciences building, STEM is directly linked to the University Medical School, Fertility Clinic and
Clinical Grade Stem Cell & Tissue Processing Laboratory. STEM scientists also have a close
proximity with physical scientists, including electrical / optical / manufacturing engineers,
polymer biologists, chemists, physicists etc.
STEM has fully equipped molecular biology laboratories that are complimented by dedicated
facilities for radioisotope studies, for chick embryo incubation, for bacterial culture, for tissue
dissection/ preparation, for PCR set-up and in situ hybridization, for histology/
immunocytochemistry and for cell imaging. In addition, the culture suite is one of the best in
an academic institution within the UK if not Europe and has 21 class II culture hoods dedicated
to human stem cell culture, imaging and manipulation. Our most recent acquisitions of a
bespoke £1m stem cell culture & differentiation robot, automated Patchliner electrophysiology,
CardioXcyte impedance system and an Operetta high content confocal plate imager. These
have been acquired through grants including a £1.3m BBSRC industrial partnership award with
Syngenta, a £2.3m EPSRC award and a £715K MRC award. The tissue engineering laboratories
include a supercritical fluid laboratory and state of the art facilities for scaffold bioengineering.
Complimentary computing facilities and IT support are available, with dedicated computing
laboratories for our mathematical modellers.
Between the 3 major University hospital sites, the Medical School offers a full range of clinical
departments and clinical academics. Elsewhere in the University, a new Veterinary School at
the Sutton Bonington campus provides additional opportunities for collaboration.
Teaching
In 2007, STEM started the world’s first taught Masters Course in Stem Cell Technology. This
course has a capacity for 16 students each year, who typically comprise 6 from the UK and 10
internationals. It has attracted funding from BBSRC for 12 Scholarships (2007-2010) and 12
from MRC (2009-2012). The course comprises 6 Modules, which include 1, Cell &
Developmental Molecular Biology; 2, Pluripotent Stem Cells; 3, Adult Stem Cells; 4,
Translation Technologies for Stem Cells; 5, Transferrable Skills; 6, a 3 month Summer
Research
Project.
More
details
can
be
found
at
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/pgstudy/courses/medicine/medical-sciences/stem-celltechnology-msc.aspx.
The University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is a global-leading, research-intensive university with campuses
in the UK, Malaysia and China. Our reputation for world-class research has yielded major
scientific breakthroughs such as Nobel-winning MRI techniques, drug discovery, food
technologies and engineering solutions for future economic, social and cultural progress.
Already ranked among the UK’s elite universities and global polls for research excellence, our
reputation for world-class research has been further enhanced with the 2014 results of the
Research Excellence Framework (REF).
In addition to scoring highly in quality rankings covering major disciplines in science,
engineering, the social sciences, medicine, business and the arts, it is Nottingham’s research
power rankings which demonstrate the impressive volume of excellent research which is
carried out. We are now ranked 8th in the UK on a measure of ‘research power’ which takes
into account both the quality of research and the number of research-active staff who made
REF returns, confirming Nottingham’s place in the top tier of the world’s elite higher education
institutions.
The main University campus is set beside a lake, in an extensive belt of woodland, parks and
playing fields. The 330 acre University Park Campus is the focus of life for more than 32,000
students and houses the majority of the University’s academic schools and many of the central
Services. The Jubilee campus is situated 2 miles away from the University Park, and provides
extra capacity.
The University Medical School is situated next to the University Park.
Together with the University Hospital, it forms the Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC).
University of Nottingham Medical School
Nottingham has a strong reputation for both clinical medicine and teaching. As one of the most
popular medical schools in the country, it is able to select excellent students and produce and
attract good junior doctors.
The School of Medicine comprises the Divisions of Cancer and Stem Cell Sciences, Child
Health, Obstetrics and Gynaecology; Clinical Neuroscience; Epidemiology and Public Health;
Primary Care; Psychiatry and Applied Psychology; Rehabilitation and Ageing; Medical Sciences
and Graduate Entry Medicine; Respiratory Medicine; Rheumatology, Orthopaedics and
Dermatology and the Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre.
The School also hosts the
School of Medicine Education Centre, the Centre for Interprofessional Education and Learning,
the Clinical Research Facility, the Clinical Skills Centre, NIHR design Service East Midlands,
Nottingham Clinical Trials Unit, PRIMIS and Medical Imaging Unit.
The School of Medicine brings together in one School staff undertaking research for the benefit
of the health of patients. It includes all primary care and hospital-based medical and surgical
disciplines, principally in the Queen’s Medical Centre and City Hospital Nottingham Campuses,
Royal Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and also at the University’s main campus and at
the King’s Meadow and Jubilee Campuses. Most of our School’s Senior Researchers and
Teachers are also clinicians who dedicate 50% of their time to patient care within the
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust & Royal Derby Hospitals NHS Trust. This close
juxtaposition brings cutting-edge clinical care to our patients and clinical relevance to our
research and teaching. We are closely integrated with our full time NHS clinical colleagues,
many of whom are themselves leaders in research and teaching and who work closely with the
University and this increases the mutual benefit from integration between the University and
NHS.
Mission:
Our mission is to improve human health and quality of life locally, nationally and
internationally through outstanding education, research and patient care.
Priorities:
1. Teaching and learning, particularly training tomorrow’s doctors and teaching
specialised postgraduates
2. Research and research training: We will perform and support the highest quality
“big” research which impacts on human health and disease
3. Partnership with the NHS and other healthcare providers
4. Visibility and profile of the School of Medicine: We will do what we do better, and
we will tell others about it
Ethos and principles:
1. Having people and patients at the heart of all we do: our teaching and learning,
our research and our patient care
2. Contribution within the School of Medicine and to society beyond our immediate
roles; helpfulness and service
3. Openness and fairness, with particular emphasis on communication (both internal
and external) and on equality and diversity among students and staff
4. Personal and group responsibility for all aspects of our work, within a culture of
opportunity and reward
Our research spans 11 major themes, ranging from cancer to vascular medicine. We work
closely with industry and the NHS. Our world-leading research ranges from basic and
translational science through to clinical trials, epidemiology, and health services research. Our
clear theme is improving human health, underpinning a vibrant postgraduate research training
programme leading to PhD or DM. Many of our academics are clinicians, using their expertise
to provide cutting edge specialised treatment to NHS patients; reflecting our ethos that
patients are at the heart of all we do.
In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework the four Units of Assessment included in the
School of Medicine were among the six most improved in the whole University since RAE 2008:
82% of our research in 2014 was graded as world-leading or internationally excellent. Our
research spans 11 major themes and ranges from basic and translational science through to
clinical trials, epidemiology, and health services research. We work closely with industry and
the NHS. Our research is underpinned by a strong postgraduate research training programme
leading to PhD or DM. Our major research themes are in Cancer and Stem Cells; Child Health,
Obstetrics & Gynaecology; Clinical Neurosciences; Dermatology; Digestive Diseases;
Epidemiology and Public Health; Mental Health; Musculoskeletal physiology and disease;
Primary Care; Rehabilitation and Ageing; Respiratory Medicine; and Renal MedicineThe School
of Medicine trains tomorrow’s doctors on a vibrant undergraduate medical course with a unique
intercalated BMedSci, as well in a specialised graduate-entry programme built around clinical
problem solving. We teach medicine and related disciplines at both undergraduate and
postgraduate level. We have a dedicated clinical academic training programme and are
committed to training PhD and doctoral research students and to supporting postdoctoral
clinicians and scientists in their research.
The School of Medicine holds a Bronze Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment
to advance the representation of women in science, technology, engineering, medicine and
mathematics (STEMM). The award reflects our commitment to promoting equality and
diversity. Please see http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/medicine/about/athena-swan.aspx.
Professor Tony Avery is Dean of the School of Medicine.
For further information, please see our website http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/medicine
Nottingham
Central within the East Midlands, Nottingham is a vibrant and prosperous city with something
to offer everyone. It is one of the UK’s leading retail centres and has a huge variety of
restaurants, bars and nightclubs which attract people from all over the UK. Culturally, it has
good theatres, an arena which attracts both national and international performers and a range
of historical interests relating to subjects such as the lace industry, Lord Byron and DH
Lawrence. Nottingham is also known for sport, being the home of Trent Bridge Cricket Ground,
Nottingham Forest and Notts County Football Clubs, the National Water Sports Centre and the
Nottingham Tennis Centre. There is a good network of roads with easy access to the M1 and
the A1, a fast frequent rail service to London and other major cities. Nottingham East Midlands
Airport is only eighteen miles away.
The city is set within a county of outstanding natural beauty which includes Sherwood Forest,
Wollaton Park, lively market towns and wonderful historic buildings. Housing is relatively
inexpensive and, in addition to the two Universities, there are excellent schools and colleges
available.
To find out more about Nottingham, use the following links:
Nottingham County Council – Tourism
http://www.experiencenottinghamshire.com/
University of Nottingham
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk
Zoopla (Guide to local properties)
http://www.zoopla.co.uk/
My Nottingham (information on schools, term dates, school transport etc.)
http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=8524