Assistant Professor in Anatomy (Education) - Department of Biomedical Sciences - 105522 - Grade 8

Position Details

Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Infection, Inflammation and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £46,735 to £55,755 with potential progression once in post to £62,728

Grade: 8

Full Time, Permanent

Closing date: 14th April 2025

Interviews scheduled: 15th/16th May 2025

Academic Development Programme - 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.

Background

These three posts provide an exciting opportunity to contribute to both academic scholarship and anatomy provision for a wide variety of undergraduate and postgraduate students in a top university with a QS World University Subject ranking for Anatomy and Physiology of 36th. The university is situated in the vibrant, multicultural, well‑connected city of Birmingham, which has one of the youngest and most cosmopolitan population profiles in Europe. We are an inclusive city that respects and celebrates our many different cultures, providing a diverse and exhilarating experience for visitors and citizens alike.

The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the city and wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university. We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success. We believe that there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate. We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work.

The three posts have differing specific expectations (see below and job description for details), but for all three, applications are invited from medical, dental or anatomy graduates with good clinical or higher education teaching experience and a PhD or equivalent degree, who can contribute strongly to the establishment of our new Birmingham Centre for Anatomy, Surgical and Clinical Skills (BCASCS). All three successful candidates will be involved in teaching topographical, functional and clinical anatomy, neuroanatomy, embryology and histology in a variety of learning environments, providing both teaching expertise and leadership. They will also have responsibilities in varied assessments across our programmes, which include medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, physician associate, physiotherapy and biomedical sciences. Additionally, they will be expected to develop scholarship and citizenship activities which contribute to the success of the University.

Role Summary

You will contribute to a range of teaching, scholarship and administration as we move into our new facility, the Birmingham Centre for Anatomy, Surgical and Clinical Skills (BCASCS). 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 (including programme/module review) 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 anatomy, specifically in terms of developing sustainable pedagogical scholarship activities, 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.

Main Duties

Education

Specifically, you will be involved in the establishment of a robust, sustainable pedagogical scholarship portfolio and a regular programme of attractive external public engagement and outreach activities:

• developing longitudinal educational research projects to provide empirical evidence in learning and assessment methods;
• introducing interdisciplinary scholarship projects, with opportunities to liaise with other schools across the university;
• publishing scholarly output;
• assisting with developing and supervising a sustainable PGR programme, attracting funded students;
• establishing and driving a regular programme of appealing external public engagement and outreach events;
• liaising with local schools, science museums and higher education institutions, in collaboration with our public outreach representative.

You will be involved across the range of teaching and learning activities in anatomy:

• contributing to curriculum development and/or renewal;
• developing and managing approaches to teaching and learning that are best practice in the subject area or institution;
• advising others on aspects of scholarship, learning, teaching and assessment;
• contributing to and publishing scholarly output;
• delivering specific professional programmes;
• advancing the practice of teaching in modules within the School, playing an important role in student academic support;
• informing your teaching practice by anatomical or pedagogical research or scholarship;
• co-supervising doctoral students to completion.

Management/Administration

To contribute to Departmental /School administration. This may include:

• contributing to the administration/management of research and/or teaching across the Department/School;
• where appropriate, leading and managing a team to devise and implement a new and/or revised process;
• supporting and leading on management of anatomical collections and human material audit activities;
• advising on personal development of colleagues and students;
• contributing to administrative activities within the University;
• promoting equality, diversity and inclusion through monitoring and evaluation and actively challenging unacceptable behaviour.

Person Specification

Note: Applications that do not address each of these requirements specifically will not be considered.

General, qualifications and education

• Normally, a higher degree relevant to the discipline area (usually PhD) or equivalent qualifications.
• Medical or dental degree and/or degree in anatomy or related subject.
• Educational qualification e.g. postgraduate certificate/diploma in higher education.
• Substantial experience of providing or leading pedagogical scholarly activities, including published outputs.
• Demonstrated experience and achievements in public engagement and outreach.
• Extensive teaching experience and scholarship within anatomy.
• Proven ability to devise, advise on and manage learning.
• Skills in managing, motivating and mentoring others successfully at all levels.
• Membership of Anatomical Society, British Association of Clinical Anatomists, or equivalent learned society.

Learning and teaching requirements

• Excellent knowledge of anatomy, histology, embryology and neuroanatomy.
• Good understanding of HTA regulations and codes of practice.
• Ability to design, deliver, assess and revise teaching programmes.
• Experience of learning and teaching competence using human donor material.
• Evidence of innovative teaching methods.
• Extensive experience and demonstrated success in developing appropriate approaches to learning and teaching and advising colleagues, including in scholarly outputs.

Management and administration requirements

• Ability to contribute to School/Departmental management processes.
• Ability to assess and organise resources effectively.
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes.
• Experience of championing equality, diversity and inclusion in own work area.

Other requirements

• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work collegially and collaboratively in a team.

Further particulars can be found here

Informal enquiries to Lisa Powell, email: l.h.powell@bham.ac.uk

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy.