Core job information
Job Title / Clinical Teaching & Research Fellow
Dept./School/Inst. / William Harvey Research Institute / Section/Centre/Unit / Endocrinology/WHRI
Career Family / Teaching and Research / Grade / Clinical Lecturer
Working hours per week / 35 / Appointment period / 1 year
Reports to (job title) / Programme Director PgDip/
MSc in Endocrinology/Diabetes / Current location / Charterhouse Square/Barts Hospital

Job Profile

Job purpose
Introduction
The Centre for Endocrinology has a strong background in clinical care, basic and clinic research and undergraduate and postgraduate education. A recent educational innovation has been the initiation and development of the Postgraduate Diploma and MSc programmes in Endocrinology and Diabetes Mellitus. One is a popular part-time, distance learning programme which has surpassed expectations in terms of student enrolment and this has resulted in the need for a full-time clinical fellow (or clinical lecturer if applicable) in endocrinology with a specific interest in learning and teaching and a wish to pursue clinical research. In addition a newer programme which is a campus-based programme in clinical endocrinology is now completing its first cycle and teaching support is also required for this.
Background to the Distance Learning Programme
The Postgraduate Diploma / MSc in Endocrinology and Diabetes is a part-time, distance learning programme designed for higher clinical trainees in endocrinology and diabetes. The programme is taught entirely using e-learning methods. The programme is divided into 8 modules (7a and 7b are now new alternate options) which closely mirror both a systems-based approach to learning and also the Joint Royal Colleges higher medical training curriculum; or a curriculum suitable for clinical chemistry trainees. The final (optional) module comprises an independent research project again with two alternate dissertation options (research or case reports options). The structure of the course is that all students register for and complete the Postgraduate Diploma. This lasts for 4 semesters (2 modules per semester, including coursework assignments comprising 50% of the module mark in each case.) This part of the Programme commences in September, with students completing the taught activities the following December. Summative assessment by end of course exam takes place in January followed by a subject exam board (SEB), the outcomes of which in part determine eligibility to progress to an independent research module, supervised in the home institution with joint oversight from QMUL and examined by QMUL. The duration of the programme means results in 2 intakes of diploma students in progress plus students completing dissertations at any given time.
Background to the Campus-based Programme
The MSc in Clinical Endocrinology is a more traditional campus-based, full-time, programme designed for higher clinical trainees in endocrinology and diabetes. The programme comprises ‘flipped classroom’ learning with a combination of online teaching and a regular weekly face-to-face session, as well as clinical observership aspects and research project leading to dissertation.
Background to the Department
A unique feature of Endocrinology is a focus on life course consequences of disease through an integrated clinical and research collaboration between adult and paediatric endocrinologists producing pioneering research discoveries with an international referral base allowing us to study unique patients and families. The laboratory research base enjoys close links with the clinical unit, which has a high throughput of conditions that are rarely seen elsewhere, such as complex pituitary tumours, adrenal disease, hyperparathyroidism, differentiated thyroid tumours, endocrine malignancies and genetically-determined tumour-prone syndromes. In addition to the primary goal of the clinical department of meticulous assessment and optimal clinical care, there is a strong tradition of research into the optimal diagnosis and treatment as well as outcomes of therapy for these patients.
Job purpose
·  To participate in the teaching of the distance learning and campus-based postgraduate programmes in Endocrinology and Diabetes including the development of novel learning materials, preparation and updating of course materials, delivery of teaching including lectures, tutorials and moderation of discussion boards.
·  To participate in assessment including strategic planning and the setting and marking of coursework and examinations.
·  To communicate regularly with students and provide a point of contact for postgraduate students for educational queries and learning support
·  To communicate regularly with teaching faculty and arrange and ensure that their contributions are delivered to the students in an appropriate and timely way
·  To generate endocrine research data for publication and consider working toward a substantive fellowship application and/or a higher degree.
·  To contribute to the overall scientific and clinical endeavours of the teaching and research groups and to take responsibility for areas of other current projects, if feasible and as demand requires.
Knowledge, Skills & Experience
Requirements / Essential/Desirable
Qualifications / ·  Medical degree
·  Indicators of likely success such as Intercalated BSc/ BMedSci or publications
·  MRCP or equivalent
·  Clinical experience in Endocrinology and Diabetes / E
D
D
E
Experience / ·  Clinical experience in Endocrinology and Diabetes
·  Teaching experience / E
E
Knowledge, skills & abilities / ·  Appropriate clinical knowledge
·  Interest in e-learning / online learning / use of technologies in learning
·  Good communication skills
·  Ability to work effectively and flexibly in a team with different areas of expertise and seniority
·  Desire to participate in research
·  Understanding of the research process
·  Experience of research and publication
·  Ability to organise and prioritise own work and organise research within the project timetable
·  Computer literacy, including word processing, Excel and literature searches
·  Willingness to learn new computer packages and programmes
·  Good presentation skills / E
E
E
E
E E E E
E
E
E
E
E
Attitude & disposition / ·  Flexible and co-operative
·  Self-motivated and hardworking
·  Willingness to learn new skills
·  Ability to be responsive to feedback / E E E
E
Other circumstances / Willingness to work flexible and sometimes variable hours (including occasionally during evenings or weekends) as project demands
Freedom to Act & Decision Making (depth of control, supervision received, use of judgement & initiative, analytical ability)
Main Duties and Responsibilities of the Role
1) Teaching and Learning
The main role of the post-holder would be to carry out the duties necessary to maintain and develop the successful postgraduate programmes in Endocrinology and Diabetes. This would involve (with suitable training and supervision):
·  Development of novel learning materials
·  Preparation and updating of course materials
·  Delivery of teaching including lectures, tutorials and moderation of discussion boards
·  Participation in assessment including setting and marking coursework / examinations
·  Faculty liaison and planning
·  Student communication
In addition the post-holder may be expected to contribute additionally to the delivery of undergraduate and postgraduate curricula in accordance with the Institute’s Teaching and Learning Service Level Agreement and as agreed by the line manager, the Centre Lead, the Institute Teaching Lead and the Institute Director. This may include contributing to course and examination organisation, and, when required, serving on strategic or tactical committees related to teaching.
If the post-holder wished undertake a higher qualification in education it would be feasible to enrol onto an educational programme such as the QMUL Certificate in Learning and Teaching programme which can be completed in a part time and flexible way over a minimum of 10 months depending on the entry point. It results in an accredited qualification worth 30 Master’s level credits and leading to Associate membership of the Higher Education Academy. The course has entry points in January and September. [http://www.learninginstitute.qmul.ac.uk/lta/cilt/].
2) Research
In addition to the teaching role, the post-holder will be expected to engage in clinical research within the department. Activities may include applications for ethical approval and funding for clinical studies, applications for appropriate grants to support such activities, publishing papers and preparing data for possible fellowship applications. The post-holder may also become involved in running industry-sponsored clinical trials. If suitable data is gathered than it would be hoped that that he/she could then work towards a higher research qualification such as an MD. The post-holder must undertake to ensure that all research is undertaken according to College and NHS protocols.
3) Clinical
The post-holder will hold an Honorary clinical research fellow contract with the Barts and The London NHS Trust. It would be desirable for the post-holder to carry out clinical duties in order to retain credibility, maintain their skills and to incorporate authentic clinical cases and data into their teaching activities. This work will be under the supervision Dr Maralyn Druce as well as the clinical lead Professor William Drake. This would involve:
·  Undertaking one endocrine clinic per week assessing patients.
·  Assisting with the clinical management of patients under the care of the department under the supervision of consultants if on call.
·  Attending and participating in the weekly clinical academic meeting
·  The post-holder must have an awareness and understanding of clinical governance issues, and will be expected to participate in Clinical Governance activities related to their clinical work.
4) Other
The post-holder will also be involved in the following:
·  Participation in any additional administrative or management duties as appropriate to the role such as taking part in or arranging educational meetings, journal clubs, participating in clinical case presentations and academic meetings etc.
·  Ensuring that they are fully aware of and comply with the College’s policies and procedures in relation to confidentiality, health and safety at work, COSHH regulations, infection control, safe handling of drugs, and all local safety rules regarding fire, chemical, radioisotope and gene manipulation hazards.
·  The postholder must at all times carry out their responsibilities with due regard to the College's Equal Opportunities policy.
·  The duties of the post outlined above are not exhaustive, and the post-holder will be expected to be co-operative and flexible, undertaking such administrative and other duties as may from time to time be reasonably expected of a member of research grade staff in a university.
·  These duties will be subject to review in line with the changing requirements of the Centre, Institute, School or College, and with the development needs of the post-holder as identified through regular review/appraisal processes.
·  To undertake any other duties which may be required from time to time as are consistent with the responsibilities of the grade and needs of the Centre.
Working Environment
As specified in Knowledge, Skills and Experience section
Freedom to Act & Decision Making
·  Judgements involving complex facts or situations, some of which require analysis, interpretation and comparison of data from laboratory and bioinformatics experiments.
·  To adopt flexible working practices where required.
Communication & Networking
·  To work as part of a clinical, teaching and research team, developing good working relationships within the team, and making use of discussions with the the lead and other team members as appropriate, to establish and maintain excellent communication links.
·  Providing, receiving and presenting information to staff/students/peers within the programme, Research Centre, Institute, SMD and wider scientific community.
Finance/Resource Management
Not applicable to this role
People Management
·  No direct line management of staff.
·  Supervision and training of new members of staff and existing teaching faculty in e-learning techniques and presentation

This job description sets out the duties of the post at the time it was drawn up. Such duties may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the duties or level of responsibility entailed. Such variations are a common occurrence and cannot of themselves justify a reconsideration of the grading of the post.