Faculty of Medicine and Health
School of Psychology
Chair in Appetite Regulation and Energy Balance
The Faculty of Medicine and Health wishes to make a strategic appointment in the area of
Psychobiology of Appetite and Energy Balance (broadly construed) based in the School of
Psychology. As a world leading scientist you will have an established track record in appetite,
exercise, nutrition and energy balance research and will join the School as a Chair in Appetite
Regulation and Energy Balance. Your research will complement existing strengths and you will have
a strong track record in research as evidenced by the quality of your publications and success in
obtaining research grant income. Strong links with industry are an advantage.
You will maintain and extend the research into energy balance and appetite control, and the
interactions between energy expenditure and energy intake. In this role you will foster the
development of interdisciplinary research and as Chair you will contribute to the development and
leadership of such a research programme. The successful applicant will be expected to foster
collaborative relationships within the University, Industry and other strategic partners. A leading
authority in your field you will have an evidence base suitable for submission within the REF 2020.
With experience of leading research teams and winning research grants from a variety of sources,
you demonstrate an ability to develop large multi-disciplinary funded collaborations and take on
leadership roles both within the Faculty and in the wider University context.
The University of Leeds is committed to providing equal opportunities for all. The University
is a charter member of Athena SWAN and holds the Bronze award. We will be happy to
consider job share applications and are committed to flexible working for all our employees.
The salary, which is negotiable, will be within the Professorial range - minimum £59,913 p.a.
Preliminary enquiries about the post may be made to regarding the post should be directed to Dr
Peter Gardner, Head, School of Psychology, email: P.H.Gardner@leeds.ac.uk Telephone: +44
(0)113 343 6678
If you have any specific enquiries about your online application please contact Sue Curry, tel: +44
(0)113 343 1845; email s.e.curry@adm.leeds.ac.uk
Job Ref: MHPSY1014
2015
Closing date: 1 September 2015. Interviews will be held on 2 October
CONTEXT AND SUMMARY
This is a major strategic investment by the Faculty of Medicine and Health to achieve an ambitious
continuation and enhancement of a very successful research group currently lead by an academic
with an outstanding international reputation. This chair appointment has a specific research focus
and is designed to maintain the high quality output of research in energy balance and appetite; to
exploit the resources and facilities to obtain significant research funding, and to extend the
partnership and collaborations within the UK and in Europe and the US. The Chair will also make a
high level contribution to the student experience and complement our existing teaching strengths and
ensure that the School’s curriculum reflects the latest developments in the area of Psychobiology.
You will add further depth and experience to our taught programmes.
The School contains an established group of scientists carrying out research into biological
psychology, including expertise in a variety of fields: e.g. general biology of appetite, exercise and
food intake, energy balance, food hedonics, infant nutrition, food and cognition and the impact on
appetite control of resting metabolic rate and gut peptides, amongst others.
This outstanding opportunity arises as a result of a strategic initiative from the University of Leeds to
plan for the retirement of Professor John Blundell and to ensure the continuation of the successful
line of research developed by Blundell over the course of more than 20 years.
The person appointed will:
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Be a recognised expert in the field of energy balance, exercise and appetite regulation in
humans with verified technical capacity and intellectual ability to extend and enhance research
in the area.
deliver top quality research outputs that contribute to impact and innovation, and
generate research funds related to large scale projects that will enhance the reputation of the
research group.
Contribute to team leadership and develop cohesive relationship within the psychobiology
area and beyond with cross disciplinary research.
expect to take on a significant leadership role in the organisation in education and/or research.
MAIN POSTHOLDER RESPONSIBILITIES
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Undertake internationally leading research and inspirational teaching, taking a leadership role
in developing excellence in research and scholarship
Profess and promote biological psychology nationally and internationally, winning prestige for
both the discipline and the University.
Provide a major contribution to the strategic academic development, direction and leadership
of the School, Faculty and University.
Promote and help to deliver excellence in research in the specific field of research developed
by Professor Blundell and colleagues for which the School developed a strong research
structure and achieved an excellent international reputation. Support and mentor less
experienced academic and research staff to promote career development and the nurturing of
academic talent.
STUDENT EDUCATION:
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To undertake research-led teaching at different levels on undergraduate and/or postgraduate
taught courses, regularly collecting, and responding to, student feedback
To contribute at an appropriate level to school and faculty policy and practice in teaching To
play a significant role in the design, development and planning of modules and programmes
within the subject area as required
To play a significant role in the review of modules and programmes and in quality assurance
and enhancement as required
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To develop innovative approaches to learning and teaching as appropriate
To provide timely feedback and assessment of coursework and examinations
To provide general support and guidance to students, resolving issues and/or referring to
specialist parties, where appropriate
To act as a personal tutor, supporting involvement in Leeds for Life
RESEARCH, INNOVATION & IMPACT
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Develop and lead excellent research, innovation and impact at national and international
levels.
Establish and maintain a high quality record of research output in leading internationallyrecognised publications.
Achieve sustained high levels of research funding individually and/or in collaboration with
others and develop and maintain networks and promote links with Research Councils and
external organisations.
Provide academic leadership and guidance to colleagues working within own research area
and more widely across the School, Faculty and University, building research teams and
promoting the development of a vibrant and sustainable research culture, community and
environment in the School.
Attract high quality postgraduate research students to the University and provide them with
excellent supervision which supports timely completion and subsequent employability.
Build and sustain relationship with external bodies to develop the Department’s innovation and
impact agenda.
Promote the integration of research interests within the School, across the University and
externally.
LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT
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Make a dynamic, ambitious, energetic contribution to the development and delivery of the
School’s academic mission.
Provide a major input to the strategic academic development and direction of the School and
the Faculty and to the academic leadership of the discipline.
Make a significant contribution to the University through its governance structures and by
representing the University externally.
Manage or lead major initiatives and/or multidisciplinary areas of work which improve School,
Faculty or University performance.
Actively promote and engage with the University’s People Management Framework
(http://www.leeds.ac.uk/hr/development/pmf.htm) to ensure high standards of employment
practices and staff management across the School.
Adhere to University values and standards, including the Leadership and Management
Standard, and in line with University policies and procedures and local Faculty/School
benchmarks as appropriate, upholding high professional standards and leading by example.
Exercise leadership in alignment with the University Leadership and Management Standard
(http://www.sddu.leeds.ac.uk/sddu-University-of-leeds-leadership-and-managementstandard.html), ensuring that appropriate staff training and development is identified and
undertaken.
Sustain own continuing professional development as a leader.
Maintain a safe and healthy work environment, including ensuring compliance with health and
safety legislation and the undertaking of appropriate risk assessments.
Comply with the University’s financial and procurement procedures and regulations,
undertaking relevant induction/training.
This job description provides a framework for the role and it may be necessary to undertake other
duties commensurate with the post as might reasonably be required.
UNIVERSITY VALUES
All staff are expected to operate in line with the university’s values and standards, which work as an
integral part of our strategy and set out the principles of how we work together. More information
about the university’s strategy and values is available at http://www.leeds.ac.uk/comms/strategy/
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Candidates will be expected to demonstrate appropriate levels of experience and skill to enable them
to achieve the requirements of the job description. The following skills and abilities are essential in
this context:
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Have a PhD or other doctorate in a relevant discipline or equivalent research experience.
Demonstrate ability to provide academic leadership in research both by own work and through
the encouragement and stimulation of colleagues.
Demonstrate a track record of sustained delivery of ambitious and imaginative academic
leadership.
Evidence of a track record of research and publication meeting international standards of
academic excellence, including a significant quantity of 3* and 4* REF equivalent published
research.
Show international links and evidence of effective engagement with and influencing national
and international research agendas.
Demonstrate ability to work across subject areas, linking appropriately with other disciplines
and research groups.
Demonstrate a track record of effective team working and collaborative development.
Demonstrate a track record in the generation of significant research income from Research
Councils and/or industry, and the development of sustainable research infrastructure. If the
candidate has been substantially based in industry, he/she will need to demonstrate a track
record in raising significant project funding and sustainable research infrastructure
development, and have a knowledge of, and ideally personal experience with, research
funding routes available to universities.
Demonstrate ability to provide academic leadership in research and teaching both by own
work and through the encouragement and stimulation of colleagues within the School, Faculty,
University and specialism.
Evidence understanding of the principles of research-led teaching and an ability to integrating
research with learning and teaching to deliver an excellent student experience, and an ability
to lead the development a portfolio of modules.
Demonstrate a track record in developing impact from his/her research, including ideally going
beyond academic impact into aspects of social, economic, policy, or other impact areas.
Demonstrate a track record in translating junior academic staff successfully through the
academic pipeline from PhD students, to post-doctoral researchers and beyond.
Willingness and capacity to take on a significant role in Faculty/School development.
Demonstrate excellent organisational and communication skills.
Demonstrate ability to think laterally, to be imaginative and to anticipate trends and
opportunities.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Faculty Information
With more than 6,000 students, 1,600 staff and annual research income of £50m, the Faculty of
Medicine and Health at Leeds is bigger than some universities. Leeds has one of the largest medical
and bioscience research bases in the UK, and is an acknowledged world leader in cancer,
cardiovascular, psychiatric, genetic, musculo-skeletal and health services research. Treatments
developed in Leeds are transforming the lives of people around the world living with conditions such
as HIV, TB, diabetes and malaria.
The School of Psychology
The Department of Psychology was founded in 1949. It became a School in 1997, and is within the
Faculty of Medicine and Health. The School took the title of School of Psychology in 2004 in order to
demonstrate the scope of its academic activities and the strength of its interactions with a broad
range of stakeholders.
The School is centrally located in the University, very close to libraries and other facilities. It is
housed in a building combining two complementary architectural styles: a renovated Edwardian
Terrace, where most teaching, research, clerical and administrative staff have their offices, and
modern (1989 and 1991) purpose-built extensions where research and computing laboratories and
teaching rooms are located. The School are currently engaged with extensive building and
renovation work to improve the space and ensure that the buildings provide the infrastructure
necessary for our world class teaching and research aspirations.
The School has a long history of research into human appetite, physical activity and obesity, and
incorporates a Human Appetite Research Unit (known as HARU) established by Professor John
Blundell in 1990. This research unit is probably the leading unit in the UK and has an outstanding
international reputation. The chair is specifically related to this unit and to the sub-group of research
known as the ‘Appetite Control and Energy Balance Research Group (ACEB). See website
(http://aceb-research.leeds.ac.uk). This research group was recently ranked number #1 in the world
in its area of research (Elsevier SciVal system) and identified as an area of emerging competencies.
Further particulars describing the Institute’s research activities can be found on the School’s Internet
website (http://www.psyc.leeds.ac.uk/overview/).
Additional Information
Terms and Conditions
Details of the terms and conditions of employment for all staff at the university, including information
on pensions and benefits, are available on the Human Resources web pages accessible via the links
on the right hand side, or at http://hr.leeds.ac.uk/policies
Disclosure and Barring Service checks
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check is not required for this position. However, applicants
who have unspent convictions must indicate this in the ‘other personal details’ section of the
application form and send details to the Recruitment Officer
Disabled Applicants
The post is located in the School of Psychology. Disabled applicants wishing to review access to the
building are invited to contact the department direct. Additional information may be sought from the
Recruitment Officer, email disclosure@leeds.ac.uk or tel + 44 (0)113 343 1723.
Disabled applicants are not obliged to inform employers of their disability but will still be covered by
the Equality Act once their disability becomes known.
Further information for applicants with disabilities, impairments or health conditions is
available in the applicant guidance