Assistant Professor (Education) (Dubai) – Department of Biomedical Sciences – 105739 – Grade 8

Position Details

Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Infection, Inflammation and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health

Discipline: Biomedical Science

University of Birmingham, Dubai campus

Salary: Competitive

Grade: 8

No. of positions: 1

Full time

Location: Dubai, UAE

Closing date: 21st May 2025

UK and International travel may be required for this role

University of Birmingham Dubai

Having established ourselves in Dubai International Academic City in 2018 we have now moved to our new state-of-the-art campus which opened in Sept 2021. These posts represent an excellent opportunity to join an ambitious World Top 100 University as we continue to grow our long-term strategic mission in Dubai, the UAE and the wider region. Our campus reflects the very best of Birmingham through our presence in Dubai.

Academic Development Programme – new Assistant Professors will undertake a 5-year development programme, at the end of which they are expected to be promoted to Associate Professor. The programme consists of a variety of development opportunities and the time to reflect and develop.

Role Summary

As an Assistant Professor in Biomedical Science, you will join a vibrant team of academic staff and make a substantial contribution to the management, development and delivery of the highly successful BSc Biomedical Science and Foundation programme on our Dubai campus. Through excellent teaching you will inspire students, be informed by discipline-based research as well as contribute to the leadership, management and administration of the programme in Dubai. We are looking for candidates with extensive teaching experience at undergraduate level in the Biomedical Sciences that can teach and assess across a wide range of biomedical disciplines, although experience in teaching human physiology would be a particular advantage.

You will contribute to a range of education-related activities to include small group teaching, lectures and practical classes as well as adopting innovative methods of teaching. In addition, you will be expected to demonstrate academic citizenship, developing and maintaining mutually respectful and supportive working relationships with all staff (in both Dubai and our Edgbaston campus) and students, and ensuring the way you carry out your role impacts positively on how others carry out theirs.

Teaching is likely to include a substantial contribution to the management, development and delivery of teaching and assessment at all levels which will involve a close working relationship with Biomedical Science module leads on our Edgbaston campus and the Birmingham International Academy. You will play an important role in student academic and developmental support. You will also contribute to student recruitment activity through Open Days, and you will have the opportunity to fully engage in widening participation and outreach activity.

Furthermore, the successful candidates will work closely with the Head of CMH Subject Group, Head of the Department of Biomedical Sciences, the Head of Education for the School and the Programme Directors for the BSc and MSci in Biomedical Science (Dubai and Edgbaston).

Management and administration is likely to include developing and making substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement widening participation, schools outreach, or similar activities at Department/School level or further within the University.

Main Duties

Education

You will contribute across the range of teaching and learning activities:

• Lead on teaching delivery and assessment on a range of Biomedical Science modules at undergraduate level. This will be coordinated in close partnership with respective leads at our UoB Edgbaston campus.
• Lead on teaching delivery and assessment for the Foundation programme in Dubai (a one year programme which prepares students for entry onto the main BSc/MSci Biomedical Science programme). This will be coordinated in close partnership with respective leads on the Dubai campus and the Birmingham International Academy .
• Develop and apply innovative teaching approaches and materials to enable enhanced student learning.
• Contribute to the development and management of assessment strategies within the School.
• Contribute to ad hoc educational projects undertaken within the School, College, Institute and University, including dissemination of findings at conferences and in publications.
• Engage with Careers Connect and the Careers Network and external stakeholders to develop placement opportunities for the biomedical science programme.
• Advance the practice of teaching in their modules and within the school.
• Play an important role in student academic support.
• Inform your teaching practice by discipline-based research.
• Frequently update your subject expertise, and undertake personal professional development in teaching, including self-reflection on own teaching, using student and peer review feedback, to enhance own teaching and learning processes.
• Play an important role in the recruitment and admission of students.

Use a variety of methods in teaching and advising individuals and groups of undergraduates, including (as appropriate):

• Teaching and examining Biomedical Science modules at yr 1-3 undergraduate level and modules on the Foundation programme.
• Planning and reviewing your own teaching approaches and encouraging others to do the same.
• Designing contemporary, inclusive, engaging and academically challenging curriculum content.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues to design and deliver teaching, learning and assessment.
• Using digital resources/environments effectively to support learning and assessment; this is particularly pertinent since some teaching activity may involve live synchronous sessions between Dubai and Birmingham.
• Where appropriate, undertaking and developing the full range of responsibilities in relation to supervision, marking and examining.

Management/Administration

To contribute to School administration. This may include:

• Contributing to the administration/management of teaching across the School though most pertinently this will be predominantly focussed on managing the delivery of the Biomedical Science programme in Dubai.
• Working with a range of stakeholders (academics in both Dubai and Edgbaston and professional services) to manage the implementation and delivery of the Dubai Biomedical Science programme and or any new teaching activity.
• Making a contribution to administrative activities within the University (e.g., appeals panels, working groups).
• Making a sustained contribution to widening participation, schools outreach and/or public understanding of the discipline.
• Promoting equality, diversity and inclusion through monitoring and evaluation and actively challenging unacceptable behaviour.

Citizenship

Contributing to an inclusive working environment:

• Pursuing your activities in a way that helps others to pursue their activities effectively and efficiently.
• Demonstrating a willingness to be involved in a variety of activities supporting University life (e.g., participation in graduation, School committees).
• Demonstrating support for colleagues, such as sharing resources, providing advice.
• Willingness to volunteer for one-off duties (such as supporting School projects).
• Positively engaging in School strategic initiatives.
• Proactive support and involvement in activities specifically contributing to a positive and inclusive community spirit across the School/College/University.

Person Specification

• A PhD or equivalent in a biomedical discipline.
• Demonstrable excellence in delivering biomedical education, management and administration.
• Experience of module design and expertise in delivering teaching across a range of biomedical subjects. Expertise in Physiology is highly desirable.
• Evidence of excellent working relationships with an array of stakeholders.
• Skills in working with, motivating & mentoring others.
• Evidence of scholarship in education (for example Fellowship of HEA, PGCert or equivalent)

Teaching

• Ability to design, deliver, assess and revise teaching programmes.
• Experience and demonstrated success in developing appropriate approaches to learning and teaching.

Management Administration

• Ability to contribute to School/programme management processes.
• Ability to assess and organise resources effectively.
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes.
• Experience of championing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in own work area.
• Ability to monitor and evaluate the extent to which equality and diversity legislation, policies, procedures are applied.
• Ability to identify issues with the potential to impact on protected groups and take appropriate action.

In return, you will receive a competitive package and play a key role in our ambitious University’s expansion as we enhance our international reputation and global footprint

This is a full-time post, based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The University of Birmingham is an Athena Swan Bronze award holder and committed to providing a supportive work environment for our staff and providing equal opportunities in our recruitment process.

The University of Birmingham is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and will take flexible working option into consideration during the process.

Further details relating to this position as well as our developing Dubai Campus can be found at http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/dubai/work-with-us/index.aspx

Further particulars can be found here

For informal enquiries, please contact Dr Teresa Thomas, Head of Department of Biomedical Sciences (Birmingham campus) [email protected] (Birmingham) and Dr Rogelio Levardo Biomedical Science Programme Director and Head of CMH Subject Group (Dubai campus) – email [email protected] (Dubai)

We believe there is no such thing as a ‘typical’ member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.