Reader in the Physical Sciences of Life

Job id: 086313. Salary: £64,421 to £71,857 including London Weighting Allowance.

Posted: 14 March 2024. Closing date: 14 April 2024.

Business unit: Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sci. Department: NMES Faculty Office.

Contact details:Professor Mike Malim and Professor Abigail Tucker. [email protected] and [email protected]

Location: Strand Campus. Category: Academic & Teaching.

Job description

We are recruiting for up to two Reader positions as part of a major expansion in research and education in the physical sciences of life at King’s College London.

These positions form part of a major £45m investment into interdisciplinary science at King’s, focused on boundary-breaking science research, education and innovation that benefits society. This investment is accelerating growth across science disciplines and stimulating new initiatives at the interfaces between traditional areas.

We are looking for talented academics with strong track records in research and education. Specific areas of interest include, but are not restricted to:

• Applying interdisciplinary empirical, analytical and modelling approaches to understand the complexity of living systems in health and disease
• Integrating biological, biophysical, biochemical, mathematical and computational methods across scales: spanning molecules, cells, organs, organisms and populations
• Leveraging complex and diverse datasets to understand biological processes and pathways
• Developing and using physical and life science methodologies to study biological and physiological processes in real-time
• Using chemical biology and synthetic chemistry to investigate or disrupt biological systems; for example, drug discovery, imaging, designer switches for regulatory cascades

Successful candidates will play a key role in developing and executing internationally leading research, working collaboratively across King’s. You will have a strong research track record, demonstrating interdisciplinary engagement, and be ready to establish and grow a research programme that attracts external funding. You will also be committed to educating scientists of the future through a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes, including innovative new programmes in Natural Sciences.

This is an opportunity to contribute to the strategic growth of world-class research, working synergistically across disciplines, and identifying and growing promising early career researchers. We also wish to maximise the relevance of our work to society through engaged research that engages diverse audiences, especially in our local communities in London and beyond.

It is important that King’s reflects the diversity of the population we serve, and we strongly encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds.

Shortlisted candidates will be consulted on appropriate discipline areas and host departments as part of the selection and interview process.

This post will be offered on an indefinite contract.

This is a full-time post.

Key responsibilities

• Provide academic leadership in an appropriate area of research
• Establish, develop and sustain an internationally competitive, externally-funded research programme consistent with, or complementary to departmental / faculty / university research strategies at King’s.
• Maintain a consistent, outstanding track record of publication (typically 2-4 research publications (depending on appointment level) over a rolling five-year period that includes world leading or internationally excellent work, as first, last and/or corresponding author).
• Contribute to teaching of undergraduate and postgraduate students and curriculum development.
• Plan, organise and deliver a range of teaching and assessment activities (e.g. lecturing, project supervision and tutorials) and leading on at least one substantive module/programme.
• Supervise and train postgraduate and undergraduate students to ensure their effective development.
• Supervise and train research and technical staff employed on the post holder’s research projects to ensure their effective development.
• Engage in the dissemination of research through knowledge transfer, outreach, continuing professional development, public engagement etc.
• Contribute fully to academic life and strategic planning within a Department/School and, where required/appropriate to the wider strategic planning processes in Faculty and University at an appropriate level.
• Identify strategic development opportunities in teaching and research and contribute to the development of these ideas.
• Contribute to driving and ensuring a positive and inclusive research culture.
• The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Skills, knowledge, and experience 

Essential criteria

PhD/DPhil degree

Scientific synergy with current research at King’s

Significant, established expertise in an area of fundamental science research related area to physical life sciences

Experience in leading high impact interdisciplinary research

Outstanding independent track record of publication in peer reviewed journals

Strong and consistent record of attracting peer reviewed research grant funding or fellowships

Ability to define and lead a research area, taking responsibility for planning and undertaking own work

Ability to work well as an effective member of a wider multi-disciplinary team and to share and encourage good practice

Significant experience in contribution to academic administration

Experience in supervising and developing research students and/or research staff

Experience of serving on professional scientific boards and committees

Desirable criteria

Significant experience of delivery of undergraduate teaching

Experience of working in collaborative projects across disciplines

Experience of serving on professional scientific boards and committees

Active membership of peer-reviewing bodes, for UK and overseas research councils

Experience of industrial/commercial funding opportunities to underpin applied research

Applications should include: 

• a 1 page cover letter highlighting your key scientific contributions, a brief summary of future plans and fit with King’s. Please also indicate which departments/faculties you feel that you best align with.
• a CV with a full publication list
• a research statement (up to 2 pages)
• a teaching statement (up to 1 page)
• details of three academic referees, including one from your current or most recent employer. Should you be shortlisted, letters of recommendation will be sought ahead of the interview from two of your references. The third reference, from your current employer, will only be requested with your consent.

Candidates should detail how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

The shortlisting / interview process will take place in two stages: a panel interview and, if shortlisted, an invitation to present a seminar and meet colleagues. Initial interviews are due to take place in early May.

We particularly welcome applications from female and minority ethnic candidates. We understand that flexible working arrangements or career breaks may be necessary in certain circumstances and welcome the opportunity to discuss this possibility.

We also welcome and support proleptic appointments for candidates with existing personal fellowships.