Position Details

School of Mathematics

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £45,585 to £54,395 with potential progression once in post to £61,198

Grade: 8

Full Time, Permanent

Closing date: 30th June 2024

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.

Role Summary

The School seeks to appoint an Assistant Professor in Combinatorics to assist with the delivery of our strategic goals in this area. The successful candidate will be expected to make significant contribution to these programmes, by conducting high-quality research in related areas and developing and delivering undergraduate and postgraduate education in Combinatorics. In addition, the successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to the school through management/leadership, and enterprise activities, as appropriate.

The School consists of over 70 research active academic staff, around 20 postdoctoral researchers and around 50 postgraduates, with research groups in Algebra, Analysis, Combinatorics, Probability and Algorithms, Continuum Mechanics and Nonlinear Systems, Data Science and Computational Statistics, Financial Mathematics, Geometry and Mathematical Physics, Mathematical Biology and Healthcare, Mathematics Education, Optimization and Numerical Analysis, Topology and Dynamical Systems. Information about the School is available at: http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/mathematics/index.aspx 

The minimum qualification is a PhD (or equivalent) in Mathematics or a related area. Candidates are expected to have or clearly be developing an internationally recognized research record, and a solid commitment to teaching, mentoring and service. Full consideration will be given to applicants whose research interests are in the emerging areas of or the mathematical underpinning of Combinatorics. We also welcome strong teaching-focused applicants, but your teaching interests must be in Combinatorics or a related area.

In addition to completing the application form, you should make sure to upload the following: a cover letter, a CV (including full publication list), a research statement (including your future plans, 4 pages maximum), a teaching statement (2 pages maximum) and names and emails of three contactable referees.

The School is a supportive and people-focused friendly environment, committed to equality, diversity and inclusivity, which aims to allow colleagues to develop as researchers and educators. We encourage applications from the widest community and provide equal opportunities in our recruitment processes. 

The School of Mathematics holds an Athena SWAN Bronze award. Athena SWAN is a national initiative that recognises the advancement of gender equality, representation, progression and success for all in academia.

The School also supports the London Mathematical Society Good Practice Scheme, whose aim is to support mathematics departments to embed equal opportunities for women within their working practices, and is a member of the Piscopia which forms a UK-community of women and non-binary students and mathematics researchers. 

The University of Birmingham holds the Advance HE's Race Equality Charter Bronze award, a framework through which we are working to self-reflect, identify and remove barriers standing in the way of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and students. The University of Birmingham is an equal opportunity and a Disability Confident employer.

Main Duties

Education 

Using a variety of methods in teaching and advising individuals and groups of undergraduates, postgraduates, or CPD students, including (as appropriate):

• Teaching and examining courses at a range of levels;
• Planning and reviewing your own teaching approaches and encouraging others to do the same;
• Designing contemporary, inclusive, engaging and academically challenging curriculum content;
• Working collaboratively with colleagues to design and deliver teaching, learning and assessment;
• Using digital resources/environments effectively to support learning and assessment;
• Developing programme proposals and making substantial contributions to the design of teaching programmes more widely;
• Where appropriate, undertaking and developing the full range of responsibilities in relation to supervision, marking and examining;
• Developing and advising others on learning and teaching tasks and methods;
• Developing and making substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement activities or similar on own specialism that enhances the student experience or employability and which benefits the College and University;
• Devising and supervising projects, student dissertations and practical work. 

Research

Planning and carrying out research, including (as appropriate):

• Planning and publishing high quality research, including winning financial support;
• Project managing research activities, and/or supervising other research staff;
• Presenting findings in publications and conference proceedings;
• Effectively supervising and mentoring PhD students or early Career Researchers;
• Providing expert advice to staff and students within the discipline;
• Participating in research-related enabling activities such as adding value to a cross disciplinary network;
• Applying knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding;
• developing and making substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, and enterprise (including business engagement, public engagement) and similar activity that is of benefit to the College and the University, including ensuring that the impact of your activities is realised fully and the impact is documented.

Management/Administration

Contributing to Departmental/School administration, including:

• Contributing to the administration/management of research and/or teaching across the Department/School;
• Leading and managing a team to devise and implement a new and/or revised process (e.g. new programme or a recruitment drive);
• Advising on personal development of colleagues and students;
• Making a major contribution to some administrative activities within the University (e.g. appeals panels, working groups);
• Managing enterprise, business development, and public engagement activities;
• Developing and making substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement, widening participation, schools outreach;
• Actively manages equality, diversity and inclusion through monitoring and evaluation and actively challenging unacceptable behaviour.

Citizenship 

Contributing to an inclusive working environment:

• Demonstrating a willingness to be involved in a variety of activities supporting University life (e.g., participation in graduation, Departmental/School committees);
• Demonstrating support for colleagues, such as sharing resources, providing advice; 
• Willingness to volunteer for one-off duties (such as supporting School, Institute, and Departmental projects);
• Positively engaging in School strategic initiatives;
• Proactive support and involvement in activities specifically contributing to a positive and inclusive community spirit across the School/College/University.

Person Specification

• Normally, a higher degree relevant to the research/teaching area (usually PhD) or equivalent qualifications;
• Extensive research/teaching experience and scholarship within subject specialism;
• Proven ability to devise, advise on and manage learning/research;
• Skills in managing, motivating and mentoring others successfully at all levels.

Teaching

• Ability to design, deliver, assess and revise teaching programmes;
• Extensive experience and demonstrated success in developing appropriate approaches to learning and teaching, and advising colleagues;
• Experience and success in knowledge transfer, enterprise and similar activity that enhances the student experience or employability.

Research

• Experience and achievement reflected in a growing reputation;
• Extensive experience and demonstrated success in planning, undertaking and project managing research to deliver high quality results;
• Extensive experience of applying and/or developing and devising successful models, techniques and methods;
• Experience and achievement in knowledge transfer, enterprise and similar activity.

Management Administration

• 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;
• Ability to monitor and evaluate the extent to which equality and diversity legislation, policies, procedures are applied;
• Ability to identify issues with the potential to impact on protected groups and take appropriate action.

Informal enquiries to Allan Lo, email: s.a.lo@bham.ac.uk or Chris Good, email: C.Good@bham.ac.uk or Olga Maleva, email: O.Maleva@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. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.