Job Description
Position Details
School of Chemical Engineering
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £53,353 to £61,823, with potential progression once in post to £80,613
Grade 9
Full Time, Permanent
Closing date: 8th March 2023
Role Summary
We are seeking to recruit an outstanding Associate Professor in Hydrogen/Hydrogen-Based Energy Technology to enhance the university’s energy research and teaching capacity. The Birmingham Centre for Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Research is driving both the technology and thinking required to solve some of the challenges facing the UK as it seeks to develop sustainable solutions to the designing of future cities, energy and transportation. It is the ability to combine the practical with the radical which has placed Birmingham at the forefront of this endeavour.
We have an internationally recognised programme of research into hydrogen as a future energy vector and the development of key technologies, from sustainable production and hydrogen storage to commercial utilisation, as well as the efficient provision of electricity and heat from fuel cells. In all of these areas, we are working towards making a full hydrogen economy a reality.
This is an exciting time to join the university as it continues to invest heavily in energy research through academic appointments and facilities, including a new £40m+ net zero building being designed for the Birmingham Energy Institute (BEI) on the Edgbaston campus, and development of the world’s smartest campus as part of a pathway to net zero. This follows investment in the Birmingham Energy and Innovation Centre at Tyseley Energy Park where we are working with local industry and policy makers in East Birmingham. The park houses the largest green hydrogen refuelling station in the UK. The university is currently developing a world-leading ammonia to hydrogen conversion unit at Tyseley supporting the delivery of the £6.7 million BEIS funded Tyseley Ammonia to Green Hydrogen Project.
The position will be based in the School of Chemical Engineering, where the university’s energy research is centred, including energy storage, thermal energy technologies, energy systems and policy, sustainable cooling, fuel cells, hydrogen, synthetic fuels, ammonia and other energy vectors. Research across the university covers a wide range of areas including nuclear engineering, carbon capture and storage, strategic element and critical materials, environmental economics, power systems, and fuel poverty.
We are seeking a candidate with an established national and international reputation having significant research work and a clear record of impact in aspects of hydrogen, hydrogen-based synthetic fuels (including/ ammonia), and hydrogen energy technology research. We are particularly interested in candidates with experience of production, transportation and handling, storage, and/or safety. You will be expected to lead and further grow our capabilities in these areas, collaborating with colleagues to provide the critical interdisciplinary capability that is needed to address energy challenges. This will involve initiating, conducting and publishing international-quality research, as well as developing a portfolio of proposals for external funding from UKRI, industry, government and other sources
The post holder will also contribute to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in line with the School’s teaching strategy and to participate in the School’s overall contribution to the University, including for example the Global Energy Technologies and Systems MSc programme and in the development and leadership of new modules. You will contribute at a senior level to teaching, research, and administration.
Teaching will include: (a) development and leadership in teaching module development, (b) contributions to major teaching programmes; and (c) enhancement of the student experience or employability in your area of teaching.
Management and administration will include Departmental/School leadership and management activity with university wide involvement – including active contribution to work in the Birmingham Energy Institute, sustained high value research, knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, and public engagement or similar activities.
In addition, you will be expected to contribute to academic citizenship, likely to be demonstrated through generous, mutually respectful and supportive working relationships with all staff and students.
Main Duties
Education
You will contribute across the range of teaching and learning activities:
- contributing to the development of hydrogen-themed modules for the MSc in Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Technology, in funded projects with partner universities, and for CPD courses, sharing into leadership of modules within the team of the Centre for Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Research;
- leading on the management and the development of approaches to teaching and learning, including designing innovative approaches to digital resources/environments and supporting colleagues to use them that are innovative to the subject area or institution;
- undertaking own teaching, which will include teaching and examining courses at a range of levels, planning and reviewing own teaching approaches, developing programme proposals, supervision, marking and examining. You will ensure that your teaching practice is informed by discipline based research, through participating in the research culture of the School.;
- leading on curriculum design at module and programme level to ensure it is contemporary, inclusive, engaging and academically challenging;
- actively engaging students in curriculum design and sharing evidence of “what works”;
- developing an external profile evidenced through engaging in external quality assurance activities related to teaching, eg. external examining and engaging with/supporting education in other institutions;
- playing an important and sustained role in the recruitment and admission of students;
- co-supervising doctoral students to completion;
- supervising MEng and MSc students from across Chemical Engineering;
- leading sustained high value impact in knowledge transfer and enterprise (including business engagement, public engagement) that enhances the student experience and/or or employability, and is of manifest benefit to learning and teaching in the College and the University.
Research
To pursue sustained research activity through original research and scholarship, including other research-related contributions through conference papers and presentations and/or consultancy projects and advice, including:
- developing novel methodologies and techniques appropriate to research in the areas of hydrogen/ammonia production, hydrogen/ammonia transportation and handling, hydrogen/ammonia storage, and/or safety; this may also include elements of hydrogen-based fuels and their synthesis;
- contributing to the management of research activities and supervising other research staff;
- leading successful funding bids;
- consistently publishing internationally excellent research, with some research regarded as world leading, that results in a sustained, highly respected reputation of international quality;
- supervising and examining PhD students, both within the institution and externally;
- providing expert advice internally and externally;
- peer reviewing articles for peer reviewed academic journals and grant applications by research councils and/or other major funding bodies;
- leading sustained impact activity including public engagement and make a significant contribution to policy development at a national and international level;.
Management/administration
Lead activities in the School and represent the School on College/ University committees or working groups. This is likely to include some but not all of the responsibilities listed below:
- making an important contribution to the development and running of the School, for example, leading activity on research and teaching assessment;
- leading a successful international engagement at School or College level;
- developing and managing staff and resources in support of major research and teaching activities;
- making important contributions to the development of the School’s research and learning and teaching strategy
- contributing significantly to the development and delivery of knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement and public engagement activities with sustained high value impact of manifest benefit to the College and the University;
- promoting a culture (including policies and procedures) that embeds equality and values diversity and inclusion;
- leading, serving on and assisting the work of committees and task and finish groups beyond School/ Research Institute, e.g., Senate, Council, University Education or Research Committee etc.;
- leading external committees, e.g., those associated with public/professional bodies or delivery of activities for an external body at an appropriate level, e.g., chairing sub committees associated with large elements of work;
- leading/project managing a team to devise and implement a new and/or revised process (e.g. a new research initiative, or a recruitment drive);
- making a sustained contribution to widening participation, schools outreach and/or public understanding of the discipline;.
- contributing to administrative activities within the University (e.g. appeals panels, working groups).
Citizenship
- identifying wellbeing issues within the School/College/University and developing appropriate solutions to address these;
- taking collective ownership of challenges faced by the School or College and working with colleagues to develop solutions;
- positively engaging in School strategic initiatives
- mentoring and coaching of colleagues, particularly those in the early stages of their career.
- demonstrating a willingness to be involved in a variety of activities supporting University life (e.g., participation in graduation, Departmental/School committees)
Person Specification
- A higher degree relevant to the research/teaching area (usually PhD) or equivalent qualifications.
- Demonstrated excellence in at least Research, with competence in Learning and Teaching, and Management and Administration.
Learning And Teaching Requirements
An excellent teaching profile and performance in terms of both impact and quality. The teaching quality demonstrated to be informed by an appropriate level of scholarship.
Evidence of success under the following headings:
- Successful and sustained use of a range of appropriate teaching methods, and assessment strategies that promote high quality learning, including learning that is flexible, distinctive and current and stimulates learners’ natural curiosity
- Significant and sustained contribution to one or more of the following: strategic development of new programmes; approaches to learning; the development of learning resources
- High quality and sustained contributions to fostering excellence in teaching activities more widely, i.e. in the Department/School or College and/or externally
- Track record of substantial and sustained high value impact on the enhancement of the student experience, and/or employability
- Mentoring and expert advice which develops the skills of colleagues in teaching and in fostering learning.
Research Requirements
An excellent national reputation and a developing international profile through significant original research work and a clear record of impact. Evidence of success under the following headings:
- High level peer esteem in some aspect of hydrogen/ammonia research, such as production, transportation and handling, storage, and/or safety as evidenced by:
- Excellent reputation in the UK and often internationally, reflected in sustained high quality output, level of innovation, impact on subject and recognition;
- An excellent and sustained record of peer reviewed research publications;
- Successful and sustained supervision of doctoral students to completion;
- Substantial and sustained research income generation, e.g. through research grants, contracts, research consultancy or other external funding;
- Sustained high value impact knowledge transfer and enterprise that is of manifest benefit to the College and University.
Management And Administration-related Requirements
Demonstrated significant achievement in management and administration-related activities, which may include leadership of activities/initiatives. Evidence of success under the following headings:
- Successful and sustained performance in significant administrative/managerial role (s) (e.g. exams officer);
- Significant and sustained high quality innovative contributions to the management/administration of the Department/School/College or University;
- Successful and sustained contribution to the corporate life of the School/College/University, displaying willingness to contribute actively to committees, collaborative teaching and administrative tasks;
- Actively promotes equality and diversity to internal and external stakeholders.
Informal enquires to Sarah Fleming, email: s.fleming@bham.ac.uk
Valuing excellence, sustaining investment
We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working .