Principal Lecturer/Reader in Biomedical Science

Job description

Job responsibilities

The School of Psychology and Life Sciences (PLS) is a vibrant and diverse community of academics, postgraduate and undergraduate students with approximately 150 academic staff and 30 professional service and technical support staff, providing innovative multidisciplinary science and social science education across a range of both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes to approximately 2000 students.

The School is organised into three Sections and you will work within the Section of Natural and Applied Sciences (NAS), joining an energetic and multidisciplinary team of about 20 academic staff. The Section delivers a number of single honours degree programmes that integrate the core sciences (chemistry, physics and biology) including both BSc Biomedical Science and BSc Human Biology pathways.

These pathways are currently being updated to include a follow-on taught MSc in Biomedical Science and IBMS accreditation at undergraduate and postgraduate level. In the two most recent National Student Surveys, the Biomedical Science course has achieved results well above benchmark, leading all Universities nationally in most metrics in 2023. The science programmes within the Section are all offered with a foundation (Level 0) entry and the Section also offers an MPhil/PhD in Biological Sciences and an MSc by Research in Biosciences.

Our laboratory facilities are based within the University's new £65 million STEM building that houses CCCUs specialist laboratory facilities. Within this STEM building, NAS is located alongside the new Kent and Medway Medical School (KMMS), other lab-based disciplines in PLS, and the new School of Engineering, Technology and Design. We also have a specialist Life Sciences Industry Liaison Lab based at Discovery Park, Sandwich, one of Europe's leading science and technology parks. This Liaison Lab provides industry relevant experience of commercial standard laboratories to students studying courses across the life sciences and facilitates research collaboration with industries based at Discovery Park. The School has an extensive research and knowledge exchange (RKE) portfolio that focuses on the impact of our work on stakeholders. In the last Research Excellence Framework (REF) assessment (REF 2021), the majority of the Schools submitted impact case studies were assessed to be world leading or internationally excellent.

This RKE activity contributes to a research-enhanced offer to students that embeds research involvement in the curriculum and allows students to experience first-hand how the subjects and disciplines they are studying make a difference to society, the environment and to peoples lives. The University is growing its capacity in Biomedical Science over the coming years and wishes to appoint an enthusiastic and experienced candidate at Principal Lecturer (teaching and leadership emphasis) or Reader (research and knowledge exchange emphasis) grade in Biomedical Science.

To support the delivery of clinical specialism modules for the new IBMS accredited course, we are seeking candidates with extensive practice experience in a clinical setting (e.g. NHS, private healthcare), especially in the areas of haematology, transfusion science, cellular pathology or other clinically relevant areas. The ideal candidate will have had some experience in leadership in a clinical laboratory setting and be on the HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council) register.

A PhD is not a required qualification, we will consider applicants with relevant and significant experience in clinical or medical/biomedical practice. If a successful candidate has interest in completing a part-time PhD while in post, this would be supported as far as possible. Some experience of teaching or training practitioners, colleagues or students is essential, but this does not have to be in a higher education context. The successful candidate will have an active involvement in the design, organisation and delivery of the Biomedical Science courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level. They will also support the application of the School for IBMS accreditation of its Biomedical Science course where possible and ideally will be able to support liaising with the NHS and other healthcare providers to provide clinical laboratory placements for students on the new Biomedical Science undergraduate course. In addition to teaching specialist modules, the successful candidate may also on occasion deliver modules or sessions across the wider Natural and Applied Sciences (NAS) curriculum and provide supervision of research project students. The post holder will be a member of the NAS academic team and will work closely with the other members of the team in the planning, delivery, assessment and evaluation of programmes in general.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• PhD in Biomedical Science or related discipline or equivalent extensive practice experience in clinical laboratory setting and/or medical/biomedical practice

Desirable

• Registered with HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council)
• Member of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences (IBMS)

Experience

Essential

• Experience in a clinical laboratory setting and/or medical/biomedical practice.
• Expertise in a specialised biomedical subject, especially haematology, transfusion science, cellular pathology, clinical microbiology or clinical genetics.
• Experience teaching/training in a practice setting and/or higher education setting

Desirable

• Leadership experience in a clinical laboratory setting and/or medical/biomedical practice or in a higher education role.
• Understanding of the professional standards, regulation and accreditation of Biomedical Science programmes (IBMS).
• Research interests that complement those within the Section of Natural and Applied Sciences
• Record of research income generation (appropriate to career stage)
• Record of research publication (appropriate to career stage)

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Canterbury Christ Church University

Address

Canterbury Christ Church University

North Holmes Road

Canterbury

Kent

CT1 1QU

Employer's website

https://www.canterbury.ac.uk (Opens in a new tab)