Assistant Professor in the Soil Microbiome

Working at Durham University

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The Department

The Department of Biosciences is composed of 68 academic staff and research fellows; around 50 research and technical support staff; over 90 Research Postgraduate students and over 500 Single Honours undergraduate students. We offer a 3-year BSc degree programme in Biological Sciences and a 4-year MBiol, while also contributing to Natural Sciences. We also run a PGT in Plant Biotechnology with further PGT programmes scheduled for future delivery. Our research and teaching is supported by outstanding research infrastructure in advanced bioimaging (including super-resolution, confocal and electron microscopy), genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, high-performance computing and field research. We promote research at the interface with other disciplines.

The Department of Biosciences is currently ranked in the top 5 UK Biology Departments in University league tables (4th in the Guardian University Guide, 5th in The Complete University Guide) and has a 100% internationally recognised research environment (REF2021). Our basic science underpins applications across each-and-every sector of the bioeconomy, including Biotechnology, Ecology and Agritechnology. Research programmes are grouped in the following areas: Molecular Plant Sciences; Biomolecular Interactions; Ecology, Evolution and Environment; and Animal Cells and Systems. These groups organise focused seminar series, Research Away Days, manage joint research facilities, oversee mentoring, internal peer review and serve to nucleate larger research projects. Along with our excellent research facilities such as bioimaging, proteomics, metabolomics and genomics we offer a high quality and supportive environment for our research staff.

The Dept. of Biosciences partners with other areas of research strength in Durham University including Computational Sciences and Chemistry and encourages multidisciplinary research for Health and Wellbeing.

The Department holds an Athena SWAN Silver award. Athena SWAN is a national initiative that recognises the advancement of gender equality, representation and progression. The Department embraces excellence in all of its forms and invites all qualified applicants to apply. We particularly welcome applications from women and black and minority ethnic candidates who are under-represented in the academic sector.

This role is for an Assistant Professor with expertise in Plant-Soil microbiome interactions to join the SMART Soils team in the Department of Biosciences. The SMART Soils team in the Department of Biosciences is led by Dr Stephen Chivasa.The role will concentrate on research for the first four years, with a minimal amount of teaching on postgraduate courses. Thereafter, the role will include teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.

SMART (Soil Microbiome Augmentation and Restoration Technologies) Soils research at Durham is a cross-faculty initiative , led by Professor Karen Johnson in the Engineering Department,that aims to reverse decades of soil degradation. Durham University is investing in SMART Soils in recognition of the need for a revolution in the way we work with soils in order to address the global challenges we now know our soils can help us deliver in a just transition to a more sustainable future.

SMART Soils will develop the new understanding that soil is living, with its microbiome key to its life-giving properties. Working with the soil microbiome, in both rural and urban environments instead of against it enables multiple co-benefits including carbon and water storage and better human and planetary health. Our vision requires not only a societal shift in our attitudes, behaviour and comprehension of soils but technological advances underpinned by digital innovation that will allow us to put soil at the heart of a circular economy.

Successful candidates must demonstrate a commitment to working in the transdisciplinary environment of the SMART Soils programme whilst meeting the person specifications required for Assistant Professor shown below.

This post offers an exciting opportunity to make a major contribution to the development of internationally excellent research and teaching while allowing you unrivalled opportunities to progress and embed your career in an exciting and progressive institution. For more information, visit our Department pages at https://www.durham.ac.uk/departments/academic/biosciences/ and the SMART Soils webpages here: www.durham.ac.uk/smart-soils

Assistant Professors at Durham

Assistant Professors on the Education and Research track are encouraged to focus on research and teaching, but are also expected to engage in wider citizenship to enhance their own development, support their department and discipline, and contribute to the wider student experience.

Academic colleagues are supported to publish excellent research in their area of interest with a focus on high quality outputs (including monographs and journal articles), rather than quantity. We aim to support your research needs, including practical help such as resources to attend conferences and to fund research activities, as well as a generous research leave policy and a designated mentor.

Durham University is also committed to ensuring outstanding teaching quality, stimulating learning environments, and innovative curricula for all our students. You will be supported to develop your teaching expertise and skills.

We are confident that our recruitment process allows us to attract and select the best talent to Durham. We, therefore, offer a probation period of 1 year for our Assistant Professors and thereafter, subject to satisfactory performance, your position will be confirmed as permanent.

Assistant Professor in Plant-soil microbiome interactions

Applicants must demonstrate research excellence in the field of plant - soil microbiome interactions with the ability to teach our students to an exceptional standard and to fully engage in the services, citizenship and values of the University. The University aims to provide a working and teaching environment that is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate these key principles as part of the assessment process.

Key responsibilities:

• Pursue research that is high quality in terms of originality, significance and rigour.
• Develop clear plans for the pursuit of national and international funding opportunities to support research and end-user engagement.
• Play a role in relevant teaching and research supervision and contribute to ongoing curriculum development.
• Contribute to enhancing plant and soil microbiome education within both new and existing programmes.
• Contribute to enhancing the quality of the research environment in the Department, the wider University and beyond through collaborative research activity.
• Demonstrate a willingness to contribute to the administrative work, citizenship and values of the Department.
• Deliver lectures, seminars and tutorials at undergraduate and taught postgraduate levels, as well as engaging in related activity such as assessment.
• Engage fully in and enhance the values of the Department.
• Contribute to attracting and supervising research students, and to enhancing the Department's commitment to its vibrant and inclusive postgraduate culture.
• Carry out such other duties as specified by the Head ...