Job Profile

Core job information
Job Title / Lecturer in Cell Biology on the Nanchang Joint Programme
Dept./School/Inst. / School of Biological & Chemical Sciences / Section/Centre/Unit / Nanchang Joint Programme
Career Family / Academic & Education / Grade / 5/6
Working hours per week / Full Time / Appointment period / Permanent
Reports to (job title) / Nanchang JP Director / Head of School / Current location / Mile Endcampus with travel to Nanchang
Job purpose
To contribute to the delivery of high-quality teachingin Nanchang, China, on the joint programme(JP),and to perform research and administration in clinically relevant biomedical sciences:
  • Making significant research contributions inthe field ofCell Biology
  • Teaching and the assessment of student achievement
  • Contributing to the administration of these and other College activities.
The post will carry out duties under the guidance of the Nanchang JP Director and Head of the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS)
The post holder must actively contribute to knowledge creation and dissemination that fits with the overall School and University strategy. This will include developing research proposals independently or in collaboration, seeking out research funding, and writing publications worthy of submission in the forthcoming Research Excellence Framework (REF) exercise. Effective teaching and supervision of post graduate and undergraduate students are also key requirements of the role.
The post holder will be actively involved in ongoing course developments and improvements to the Schools internal and external reputation on teaching, research and administration.
Knowledge, Skills & Experience
Requirements / Essential/Desirable
Qualifications /
  1. Undergraduate degree(in relevant area)
  2. Postgraduate degree
/
  1. Essential
  2. Essential

Experience /
  1. Experience of undergraduate teaching appropriate to the level of appointment in a medical or bioscience environment
  2. Demonstrable experience in research, with an appropriate publication record for the level of entry
/
  1. Desirable
  2. Essential

Knowledge, skills & abilities /
  1. Evidence of ongoing research activity in Cell Biology, at a high level
  2. Strong background through achievement in Cell Biology
  3. Appropriate level of skill in use of IT
  4. Ability to work independently and to show initiative
  5. Ability to prioritise and balance competing demands
  6. Responsive to feedback
  7. Ability to play a role, both singly and collaboratively, in applying for grant funding for research as appropriate to discipline
  8. Presentation of specialist material in a logical, coherent and interesting manner, both to students and to fellow specialists
  9. Ability to teach at any level within area of expertise, and across a range of subjects at a more introductory level, and demonstrate enthusiasm and commitment in the process of teaching
  10. Able to organise working time between research, teaching and administration
/
  1. Essential
  2. Essential
  3. Essential
  4. Essential
  5. Essential
  6. Essential
  7. Essential
  8. Essential
  9. Essential
  10. Essential

Attitude & disposition / 15.Ability to communicate effectively
16.Able and willing to assume appropriate load of teaching and administration
17.Flexible and co-operative approach to colleagues
18.Able to carry out duties in a professional manner
19.A demonstrable ability to cope with multiple demands on time from different stakeholders.
20.Able and willing to teach undergraduate and postgraduate courses at all levels
21.Understanding of Chinese culture and working practices / 15.Essential
16.Essential
17.Essential
18.Essential
19.Essential
20.Essential
21.Desirable
Other circumstances / 22.May involve working in a laboratory or in the field to carry out research and teaching duties, this may involve exposure to hazardous biological or chemical agents within health and safety regulations
23.In some roles there may be the requirement to work in labs and handle different equipment as an integral part of the job. Where these aspects are integral the post holder would need to have appropriate health and fitness to do this work.
The Nanchang Joint programme will be taught in English and delivered at Nanchang University. Staff must be willing and able to travel to Nanchang frequently, probably for two 2 week visits for teaching and a small number of shorter visits for advice on projects and examination boards in each academic year. / 22.Essential
23.Essential
Working Environment (knowledge of special working practices, breadth of management skill required, customer impact, responsibility, efficiency)
Research
  1. Obtain new knowledge by theoretical and/or practical methods. Engage actively in research in a relevant research area at a high level in a particular subject area.
  2. Ensure appropriate dissemination of research by scholarly publication or other outputs appropriate to the relevant academic discipline.
  3. Monitor research findings with a view to commercial exploitation, and to inform the Head of Department and Head of Innovation and Enterprise of any appropriate novel research outcomes.
Teaching
  1. Contribute to innovations in teaching and learning through the development of teaching materials, of forms of pedagogy, or of appropriate teaching collaborations
Administration & Management
  1. Carry out such Nanchang JP, SBCS and/or College administrative tasks as may be required by the Nanchang JP Director / Head of School for Biological & Chemical Sciences
  2. Comply with relevant College policies and regulations regarding financial matters, harassment, equal opportunities, public interest disclosure, health and safety, intellectual property, data protection or any other rules, regulations or codes binding on the member of staff.
  3. Participate in the College Appraisal Scheme and any other contribution discussions and initiatives andto demonstrate a commitment to continuing professional development.
  4. The post holder will be expected to undertake reasonable annual objectives as discussed with and set by their Head of School.
  5. Undertake such other reasonable duties as may be required by the Nanchang JP Director /Head of School from time to time.

Freedom to Act & Decision Making (depth of control, supervision received, use of judgement & initiative, analytical ability)
Research
  1. Play a part in developing national and international research links
  2. Use expertise, experience and judgement to decide how to design and executeresearch work.
Teaching
  1. Organise and undertake teaching on the NanchangJoint Programme as agreed with the Nanchang JP Director / Head of School; this includes providing lectures, classes, and seminars, in a variety of combinations.
  2. Set and mark examinations and coursework as appropriate, including attending examiners’ meetings.
  3. Use experience and knowledge (and an understanding of students’ backgroundsand abilities) to design , deliver and assess teaching and learning

Communication & Networking (liaison with others, type and level of communications)
Research
  1. Collaborate with colleagues in research activities, where appropriate, both internally within Queen Mary and externally with other Higher Education Institutes and/or non-academic organisations.
  2. Prepare and present papers and other research outputs in national and international seminars, conferences, workshops and other events.
Admin & Mgt
  1. Attend School meetings as required as well other relevant College meetings and boards, as agreed with the Nanchang JP Director / Head of School.
With staff at Queen Mary within the School:
  • Interact with research collaborators, in order to achieve research objectives and generate outputs (e.g. publications, presentations).
  • Liaise with academic colleagues over collaborative teaching, orally and in writing, in order to ensure efficient and successful course delivery as appropriate.
  • Liaise with, instruct and support part-time staff who contribute to the NanchangJoint Programmeteaching through written communication, formal and informal oral discussions and appraisal.
  • Contribute to groups such as Staff Student Liaison Committee,.
With staff at Queen Mary outside the School:
  • Liaise with other administrative unitsin the College in order to support effective research, (eg Research Grants Administration and the Joint Research Office), teaching (eg. Information Services, Learning Disabilities Support Group or the Registry), and knowledge transfer (e.g. Innovation and Enterprise regarding Intellectual Property protection, exploitation and other Knowledge Transfer).
With students:
  • Support, teach, advise and facilitate the learning of students in formal teaching sessions (e.g. lectures, seminars, tutorials, and one-to-one supervision) to help them achieve their best potential. Oral instruction, discussion, advice and response, written notes, questions, comments and feedback in a variety of media.
With external contacts:
  • Establish links with academic-related organisations, such as publishers, journals, research councils, charities and other HEIs, in order to:
  • Edit and review scholarly journals
  • Act as member of peer review panels and colleges
  • Collaborate with external colleagues on research projects, in the UK and abroad
  • Administer research networks
  • Organise collaborative conferences
  • Develop relationships with external organisations to maximise opportunities for Knowledge Transfer, for example:
  • Industrial research
  • External teaching collaborations
  • Student placements with external organisations
  • Consultancy or policy advice given to business, professional bodies, government or regulatory bodies, not-for-profit organisations, or other users of research

Finance/Resource Management(budgeting, forecasting)
Research
  1. Submit, singly or jointly with colleagues, proposals to funding bodies (including research councils, government departments, private sector and public sector collaborators)for the financial support of research and manage those grants as appropriate.
  • The post holder is expected to be successful in obtaining external research funding to support both postdoctoral researchers and PhD studentships to ensure research success at a level commensurate with the College's research strategy.

People Management(supervisory responsibility, human relations skills)
Research
  1. Support and supervise the work of research students as appropriate.
Teaching
  1. Supervise teaching assistants and other teaching support staff as may be required.
  2. Take pastoral responsibility for studentson the Joint Programme, as assigned and to support students in key aspects of personal development planning and the acquisition of relevant skills.