Skip to main content

This job has expired

Assistant Professor in Literary Medical Humanities (ENGL21-1)

Employer
Durham University
Location
United Kingdom
Salary
$33,797.00 - $49,553.00
Date posted
Jan 19, 2021
Assistant Professor in Literary Medical Humanities (ENGL21-1) ( Job Number:  21000052) Department of English Studies Grade 7/8: - £33,797 - £49,553 per annum Open-Ended/Permanent - Full Time Contracted Hours per Week: 35 Closing Date : 10-Feb-2021, 6:59:00 PM 

The role is full time but we will consider requests for flexible working arrangements including potential job shares

Successful candidates will ideally be in post by 1st September 2021

  Durham University  

A globally outstanding centre of teaching and research excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other.  We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things in the world.

 

As part of Durham University, you’ll be working with exceptional minds, all with the desire to ask, and answer, the big questions. Access to leading edge facilities and an active contributor to the global research and university community means you’ll be part of an international and diverse network of partners spanning the world’s best research institutions, organisations and businesses. And all this within the evocative and historic surroundings of the city, county and community that is Durham.

 

We find it easy to be proud of the extraordinary people we have at Durham. We offer the inspiration, they achieve the outstanding. We invite you to join them.

 

Applications are particularly welcome from women and black and minority ethnic candidates, who are under-represented in academic posts in the University.  We are committed to equality: if for any reason you have taken a career break or periods of leave that may have impacted on your career path, such as maternity, adoption or parental leave, you may wish to disclose this in your application.  The selection committee will recognise that this may have reduced the quantity of your research accordingly.

 

Durham University’s Athena Swan institutional award recognises and celebrates good practice in recruiting and supporting the development of women. We have also signed up to the Race Equality Charter, a national framework for improving the representation, progression and success of minority ethnic staff and students within higher education.

  The Department  

The Department of English Studies at Durham University seeks to appoint an Assistant Professor in Literary Medical Humanities with a research specialism in any period(s) from 1700 to the present.

 

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, please visit our Department pages at https://www.dur.ac.uk/english.studies/

 

Assistant Professors at Durham  

The University is committed to enabling all of our colleagues to achieve their full potential. We promote and maintain an inclusive and supportive environment to ensure that all colleagues can thrive.  Academic colleagues are supported to publish world-class research in their area of interest with a focus on quality in high impact journals, rather than quantity. We will fully support your research needs including practical help such as resources to attend conferences and to fund research and impact activity, as well as a generous research leave policy and a designated mentor. Sitting alongside world class research, teaching quality and innovation is critical to ensure a first class learning environment and curricula for all of our students. You will be supported to develop your teaching expertise and to engage in teaching innovation to embed our student experience.

 

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

 

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

 

Assistant Professor in Literary Medical Humanities

 

Applicants must demonstrate research excellence in the field of Literary Medical Humanities, with the ability to teach our students to an exceptional standard and to engage fully in the services, citizenship and values of the University.  The University provides a working and teaching environment which 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.

 

The successful candidate will have appropriate teaching experience and research interests in any aspects of critical medical humanities and literary studies, post-1700. Applicants with interests in one or more of the following are particularly welcome: ‘hidden’ experience (experience that is marginalised, difficult, unspeakable, unacknowledged or invisible); race, science and health; embodiment, gender and sexuality; cognition and the senses; interdisciplinary research. We value an ability to contribute to the research environment of the Department and the Institute for Medical Humanities (IMH), and to the societal impact of research. We also value the capacity to teach beyond your specialism.

  Key responsibilities: 
  • To undertake original research leading to publications of high quality and international influence.
  • To contribute to the quality of the research environment, both in the Department and in the Institute for Medical Humanities, and enhance and promote the Department’s profile in the wider scholarly community.
  • To contribute to undergraduate teaching at all levels and to the MA programme in English Studies, contributing to curriculum development.
  • To undertake assessment and examination of student work.
  • To participate in the meetings of the Department and wider University, as appropriate, and undertake Departmental administrative tasks as required.
  • To contribute to the scholarly life of the Institute for Medical Humanities and assist in its future development.
  • To assist, as appropriate, in the Department’s and Institute’s work of engagement and impact beyond the academy.
  • To fully engage in and enhance the values of the Department.
  • To contribute to attracting and supervising research students, and to enhance the Department’s commitment to its vibrant and international postgraduate culture.
  • To pursue opportunities for professional development.
  • Carry out such other duties as specified by the Head of Department. 
Person Specification  

Candidates applying for a grade 7 post will have recently completed their PhD and, while they may have limited direct experience of the requirements for the post, they must outline their experience, skills and achievements to date which demonstrate that they meet or that they have the potential to achieve the essential criteria. 

 

Candidates applying for a grade 8 post must meet all of the essential criteria. 

  Research  

Candidates must have capacity for and be progressing towards the independent development of internationally excellent research that produces high quality outcomes, including some work that is recognised as world class. 

  Essential Research Criteria – Grade 7 
  1. Qualifications - a good first degree and a PhD already awarded in English Studies or a related subject.
  2. Outputs - publication of high quality research, some of which is recognised as world-class, in the field of literary medical humanities post-1700. Candidates are asked to submit two research papers with their application (as outlined in the How to Apply section below).  Candidates may additionally choose to submit evidence such as external peer review of their outputs.
  3. Personal Research Plan (max. 4 sides of A4).  A personal research plan which sets out cogent plans for world-class research (including publications, grant applications and impact as appropriate) to be undertaken over the next 3-5 years. 
Essential Research Criteria – Grade 8 
  1. Qualifications - a good first degree and a PhD already awarded in English Studies or a related subject.
  2. Outputs – publication of a body of high quality published research, some of which is recognised as world-class, in the field of literary medical humanities post-1700.  Candidates are asked to submit two research papers with their application (as outlined in the How to Apply section below).  Candidates may additionally choose to submit evidence such as external peer review of their outputs.    
  3. Personal Research Plan (max. 4 sides of A4).  A personal research plan which sets out cogent plans for world-class research (including publications, grant applications and impact as appropriate) to be undertaken over the next 3-5 years.
  4. Research Leadership – e.g. contribution to the leadership of research groups or the mentoring of early career researchers.  (Candidates may choose to include information about research group leadership, mentoring of research colleagues, invitations to external events, engagement with international networks or projects). 
Teaching  

Candidates must demonstrate the development and delivery of high quality teaching that contributes to providing a world class learning environment and curricula which enables students to achieve their potential. 

  Essential Teaching Criteria – Grade 7 
  1. Qualification - candidates must be or have the ability to attain the rank of Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/individuals/fellowship/fellow), which is the national body that champions teaching excellence.
  2. Quality - experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate the ability to deliver teaching of the highest quality in topics directly relevant to the appointment.
  3. Innovation – experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate innovation in the design and delivery of high quality research-led teaching or assessment, including lectures, small group learning and/or using technology or other techniques to enhance learning and/or assessment. 
  4. Strategic - experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate experience of or the potential to engage in the design of excellent teaching programmes which are research informed and led. 
Essential Teaching Criteria – Grade 8 
  1. Qualification - candidates must be or have the ability to attain the rank of Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/individuals/fellowship/fellow), which is the national body that champions teaching excellence.
  2. Quality - evidence of the development and delivery of teaching of the highest quality in topics directly relevant to the appointment.
  3. Innovation – evidence of innovation in the design and delivery of high quality research-led teaching or assessment, including lectures, small group learning and/or using technology or other techniques to enhance learning and/or assessment. 
  4. Strategic - evidence of strategic teaching development, such as leadership in the design of excellent teaching programmes which are research informed and led.

 

Services, Citizenship and Values

 

Candidates must actively engage in the administrative requirements of the Department and positively contribute to fostering a collegial environment; as well as demonstrating their commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

 

Essential Services, Citizenship and Values criteria – Grade 7 

  1. Collegial contribution – experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate evidence of or the potential to participate in the collegial/administrative activities or an academic Department, Faculty or University.  (Candidates may choose to evidence departmental or University roles, mentoring activity, engagement with widening participation, involvement in equality and diversity initiatives and membership or engagement with external bodies).
  2. Leadership - experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate evidence of or the potential to engage in activities that contribute to the administrative functioning of an academic Department, Faculty, University and/or discipline including leadership or responsibilities in an academic context.  (Candidates may choose to detail any leadership roles which they have undertaken, preferably in an academic context).
  3. Communication - candidates must have excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to engage with a range of students and colleagues across a variety of forums. 

Essential Services, Citizenship and Values criteria – Grade 8 

  1. Collegial contribution – evidence of participation in the collegial/administrative activities of an academic Department, Faculty or University.  (Candidates may choose to evidence departmental or University roles, mentoring activity, engagement with widening participation, involvement in equality and diversity initiatives and membership or engagement with external bodies).
  2. Leadership - engagement in activities that contribute to the administrative functioning of an academic Department, Faculty, University and/or discipline including leadership or responsibilities in an academic context.  (Candidates may choose to detail any leadership roles which they have undertaken, preferably in an academic context).
  3. Communication - candidates must have excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to engage with a range of students and colleagues across a variety of forums. 
Desirable Criteria – Grade 7  

The desirable criteria for this post (for which candidates should provide evidence of some if not all criteria) are: 

  1. Research Leadership - experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate evidence of or the potential to contribute to the leadership of research groups and the mentoring of early career researchers.  (Candidates may choose to include information about research group leadership, mentoring of research colleagues, invitations to external events, engagement with international networks or projects).
  2. PhD Supervision – experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate evidence of or the potential to provide excellent supervision for PhD students. 
  3. Research Impact - experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate evidence of or the potential to achieve impact beyond the university sector.  
  4. Income Generation - experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate evidence of or the potential to develop successful research project proposals.  
Desirable Criteria – Grade 8  

The desirable criteria for this post (for which candidates should provide evidence of some if not all criteria) are: 

  1. PhD Supervision – involvement in the provision of excellent supervision for PhD students. 
  2. Research Impact - demonstrable evidence of the impact of the candidate’s research beyond the university sector.  
  3. Income Generation - evidence of engagement in the development of successful research project proposals.  
Contact Information  

Department contact for academic-related enquiries

Professor Corinne Saunders, corinne.saunders@durham.ac.uk

Professor John Nash, john.nash@durham.ac.uk (Head of Department)

 

Contact information for technical difficulties when submitting your application

If you encounter technical difficulties when using the online application form, we prefer you send enquiries by email.  Please send your name along with a brief description of the problem you’re experiencing to e.recruitment@durham.ac.uk

 

Alternatively, you may call 0191 334 6801 from the UK, or +44 191 334 6801 from outside the UK. This number operates during the hours of 09.00 and 17.00 Monday to Friday, UK time.  We will normally respond within one working day (Monday to Friday, excluding UK public holidays).

 

University contact for general queries about the recruitment process

Michele Groark, HR Administrator (Recruitment)

Faculty of Arts & Humanities michele.groark@durham.ac.uk   How to Apply   We prefer to receive applications online.     

As a University we foster a collegiate community of extraordinary people aligned to the University’s values.  Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) are a key part of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do.  At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive, and in doing so, recruit the world’s best candidates from all backgrounds and identities. It’s important to us that all of our colleagues are aligned to both our values and commitment to EDI. We therefore ask that as part of your application you provide a statement (of no more than 1 side of A4) which outlines work which you have been involved in which demonstrates your commitment to EDI and our values.

 

Please note that in submitting your application, we will be processing your data.  We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement https://www.dur.ac.uk/ig/dp/privacy/pnjobapplicants/ which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data. 

 

Information if you have a disability

 

The University welcomes applications from disabled people. We are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

 

If you are unable to complete your application via our recruitment system, please get in touch with us on e.recruitment@durham.ac.uk.

 

What to Submit

  All applicants are asked to submit:
  1. A CV
  2. A covering letter which details your experience, strengths and potential in the requirements set out above;
  3. A personal research plan (max. 4 sides of A4, covering approx. the next 3-5 years)
  4. An EDI & values statement
  5. Two of your most significant pieces of written work in the field of literary medical humanities (chapters or articles, not a whole book).  

Your work should be uploaded as PDFs as part of your application in our recruitment system. Please ensure that your PDFs are not larger than 1mb. Please note that your work may be read by colleagues from across the Department and evaluated against the current REF criteria.

 

Please save all application documents with your name and document type as PDF files.

 

We will notify you on the status of your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system.  Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to ensure you receive all emails.

  Referees  

You should provide details of 3 academic referees and the details of your current line manager so that we may seek an employment reference (if they are not listed as an academic referee).  Please note:

  • We shall seek the academic references during the application process.  Academic referees should not (if possible) include your PhD supervisor(s) and a majority should be from a University other than your own (save for early career applicants applying for their first post).  We would ask that you alert your academic referees to this application as soon as possible, and provide them with a copy of the CV you submit with your application, so that we can quickly obtain references should you be progressed to the interview stage. As part of your application you will be asked whether you give your consent to your academic references being sought should you be invited to attend interview.
  • Academic references sought for short-listed candidates may be made available to the panel during the interview process.
  • We will seek a reference from your current line-manager if we make you an offer of employment (albeit you may have also nominated your line manager as an academic referee).  Please clearly indicate which referee is your current line-manager and please let us know if we should only approach them once an offer has been made. 
  • Next Steps

     

    All applications will be considered; our usual practice is for colleagues across the Department to read the submitted work of long-listed candidates. 

     

    Short-listed candidates will be invited to meet key members of the Department.  The assessment for the post will normally include a presentation to staff in the Department followed by an interview and we anticipate that the assessments and interviews will take place over two days in or around late April 2021.

     

    In the event that you are unable to attend on the date offered, it may not be possible to offer you an interview on an alternative date.

      About the Department  

    The Department comprises over 600 undergraduates and around 150 postgraduates (MA and PhD), plus around 60 academic staff including research fellows and around 10 administrative staff.

     

    It is one of the leading English departments in the UK, with an outstanding research culture and excellent students. It is consistently ranked in the top five English departments in a range of university guides; in the 2018 NSS 91% of Durham English students were satisfied with their studies. The Department made a substantial return to REF 2014, in which 90% of the Department’s research was judged to be of ‘internationally excellent quality’ or ‘world-leading’. It is part of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities which was ranked 19th in the world in the 2020 THE university subject rankings.

     

    Durham University’s Institute for Medical Humanities has been at the forefront of the critical medical humanities nationally and internationally and is currently supported by substantial awards from the Wellcome Trust. The IMH seeks to improve human health by understanding hidden experience - experience that is marginalised, difficult, unspeakable, unacknowledged or invisible. Research is organised into six overlapping, interdisciplinary strands: Embodied Symptoms; Thinking, Feeling, Imagining; Fringe Cognition; Everyday Environments; The Science of Human Experience; and Critical Concepts. It has long-standing expertise in interdisciplinary research and methods. Members of the Department of English Studies from different periods and areas of literary specialisation play a leading role in IMH, including as Co- and Deputy Directors, and in major interdisciplinary research projects such as Hearing the Voice (winner of the AHRC / Wellcome award for best research, 2020) and Life of Breath. IMH hosts several interdisciplinary seminars and discussion groups and collaborates with an extensive range of non-academic organisations, services, practitioners, patients and carers.

     

    Members of staff in English Studies pursue a notably wide range of research interests across the historical, geographical and conceptual spectrum of the discipline, including creative writing. It is one of few departments that teaches and researches across the historical range from early medieval to the present and across anglophone writing from around the globe. The Department has significant clusters of research excellence in the following areas: medical humanities; medieval and early modern studies; eighteenth and nineteenth century literature; modernism, post-war and contemporary literature; world literatures; literary theory; creative writing.

     

    The Department is also home to the Centre for Modern Conflicts and Cultures and the Centre for Poetry and Poetics and has a prominent role in the Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies. In addition, members of the Department contribute to a number of the University’s interdisciplinary research groups, including the Centre for Visual Arts and Culture, the Centre for Culture and Ecology, the Centre for Nineteenth-Century Studies, the Centre for Sex, Gender and Sexualities, and the University’s pan-Faculty Institute of Advanced Study. The Department is a partner in the AHRC Northern Bridge partnership for doctoral training.

      About Durham University  

    As one of the UK’s leading universities, Durham is an incredible place to define your career while enjoying a high quality work/life balance. We are home to some of the most talented scholars and researchers from around the world who are tackling global issues and making a difference to people's lives.

     

    The University sits in a beautiful historic city where it shares ownership of a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Durham Cathedral.  A collegiate University, Durham recruits outstanding students from across the world and offers an unmatched wider student experience.

     

    Less than 3 hours north of London, and an hour and a half south of Edinburgh, County Durham is a region steeped in history and natural beauty. The Durham Dales, including the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, are home to breathtaking scenery and attractions. Durham offers an excellent choice of city, suburban and rural residential locations. The University provides a range of benefits including pension and childcare provision and the University’s Relocation Manager can assist with potential schooling requirements.

    If you’d like to find out more about the University or relocating you and your family to Durham, please visit https://www.dur.ac.uk/jobs/recruitment/

    DBS Requirement: Not Applicable.

    Get job alerts

    Create a job alert and receive personalized job recommendations straight to your inbox.

    Create alert