Teaching Fellow in Physical Chemistry

Imperial College London aims to offer all its students a world-leading, rigorous, evidence-based, inclusive educational experience embedded in a vibrant research environment. The College’s new Learning and Teaching Strategy, launched in June 2017, sets out an ambitious programme of work aimed at establishing Imperial as a global leader in innovative, evidence-based education. Implementation of the Strategy is ongoing and is underpinned by…

Job description
Job summary

Imperial College London aims to offer all its students a world-leading, rigorous, evidence-based, inclusive educational experience embedded in a vibrant research environment. The College’s new Learning and Teaching Strategy, launched in June 2017, sets out an ambitious programme of work aimed at establishing Imperial as a global leader in innovative, evidence-based education. Implementation of the Strategy is ongoing and is underpinned by significant new investment in education which supports new, innovative, evidence-based teaching and learning methods across the College.

Imperial’s Department of Chemistry has recently introduced an exciting new undergraduate curriculum, aligned with the College’s Learning and Teaching Strategy, and has been a hotbed of chemical education innovation throughout the COVID pandemic as recognised within the college’s award of University of the Year 2022. The department offers a range of BSc and MSci degrees, some taught jointly with Imperial College Business School and the Centre for Languages, Culture and Communication, including programmes with an industry placement, research abroad and/or full-time study in the Business School, and specialist ‘with Medicinal Chemistry’ and ‘with Molecular Physics’ programmes. All programmes share a core first two years of synoptic modules, which teach topics across the traditional inorganic / organic / physical chemistry sub-disciplines, and the practical chemistry modules provide lab experiences teaching chemical techniques, instrumentation and scientific method. A broad range of teaching activities and assessment modes across the curriculum, as well as structured opportunities to reflect, allow students to develop and recognise a portfolio of transferrable skills. The culmination of the degree is the individual research project, undertaken by all students in their final year, contributing to chemistry or chemical education research in the department.

The main purpose of the post is to undertake Physical Chemistry teaching in order to support the work of the Department. This includes delivering workshops, tutorials and lab teaching as appropriate. You will also carry out personal tutorials within the Department of Chemistry and there may be opportunities to support undergraduate research project supervision. The post will be located at the South Kensington campus, where the large majority of undergraduate teaching takes place, and you will join an active community of South Kensington-based Teaching Fellows and other teaching- and student-focussed staff.

Duties and responsibilities

• Work under direction from Director of Studies / Course Organiser in contributing to the delivery of a teaching programme or programmes.
• Undertake teaching, including workshops and academic tutorials, using appropriate teaching, learning support and assessment methods.
• Assess the work (including examinations and coursework) and progress of students using appropriate methods and criteria. Provide constructive feedback.
• Evaluate and develop teaching materials and approaches.
• Undertake course administration duties, such as organisation of teaching activities, coordination of internal/visiting lecturers, Health & Safety matters, etc.
• Act as a personal tutor, supporting students with their academic, personal and professional development and with pastoral matters.
• Contribute to the Department’s Admissions and Outreach activities.

Essential requirements

• Educated to PhD level or nearing completion of PhD degree in physical chemistry or equivalent professional experience in physical chemistry
• You will have some previous experience of or involvement in physical chemistry teaching activities, along with the associated administrative work
• You will have a good command of the core UG syllabus in physical chemistry
• You will possess excellent written and oral communication skills
• You will have the ability to engage with students and work flexibly as part of a team

Further information

This is a full time, fixed term position for 12 months. You will be based at South Kensington Campus and some travel to White City Campus will be required.

Should you require any further details about the role please contact: Prof Don Craig, Director of UG Studies, Department of Chemistry, [email protected]

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