Lecturer in Cancer Immunology

15023BR

School of Medicine

Teaching & Research

Advert

This post is currently open to employees of Cardiff University only.  Please do not apply if you do not have a current contract of employment with the University.

Internal Only – Lecturer in Cancer Immunology
Division of Cancer and Genetics
School of Medicine
College of Biomedical and Life Sciences

The School of Medicine at Cardiff University seeks to appoint a Lecturer in Cancer Immunology to join the Division of Cancer and Genetics, working at the interface of immunology and advanced therapeutics. The successful candidate will be a dynamic individual seeking to develop an independent research theme developing novel advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) and approaches for the treatment of cancer, which may encompass immunotherapies, cancer vaccines, oncolytic viruses, vector development or cellular therapies. The post holder will be expected to develop cross cutting collaborative links across the Cardiff University cancer research theme, developing competitive research proposals and building research capacity to support immuno-oncology research – a key area of strength highlighted for support through the recent Cancer Research Strategy for Wales document. The post holder will actively contribute towards the delivery of the aims and objectives highlighted in this document.

The successful applicant will be expected to contribute to the full range of research and teaching activities of the division. It is anticipated that the recruited individual will actively contribute to the divisional teaching load primarily through research led teaching – for example, leading student projects for undergraduates, MSc students and professional training year (PTY) students. The recruited individual will contribute to small group tutorial classes, act as a personal tutor and provide other teaching support as required for the role.

The successful applicant will have a growing national/international academic reputation, an excellent record of high-quality publications, and the enthusiasm and drive to play a key role in enhancing the School’s reputation for impactful research and community engagement. The recruited individual will have evidence of their ability to successfully compete for competitive research funding, and of their ability to build a research team that aligns with the expectations of the post.

In the 2021 Research Excellence Framework, clinical medicine at Cardiff – which includes the Division of Cancer and Genetics – was ranked as 92% of its research activity being world-leading or internationally excellent.

The post holder will engage with external academic, professional and Industrial partners to enhance the School’s reach and reputation, and will enhance the School’s creative and inclusive community, which is recognised for its impact on policy, practice and public life.

For informal enquiries, please contact Professor Alan Parker – [email protected].

This post is full-time (35 hours per week), open-ended, and available from 1st November 2022.

Salary £44,737 – £51,805 per annum (Grade 7).  

Closing date: Wednesday, 5 October 2022
External applications are currently not being considered for this post.  If the decision is made to open the post to external candidates, the strapline at the top will be removed and you will be given ample time to apply – please check back periodically for details.

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age.  In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

“Cardiff University is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions we will evaluate applicants on the quality of their research, not publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which the research is published. More information is available at: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/research/our-research-environment/integrity-and-ethics/responsible-research-assessment”  

Job Description

Job Purpose

To deliver high-quality research and research-led teaching in Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapies and Advanced Therapeutic Medicinal Products (ATMPs) at both undergraduate and postgraduate level and contribute to the research record of the School through commitment to carrying out research leading to the publishing of high-quality research. To pursue excellence in research, teaching and enterprise and to inspire others to do the same. 

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Research
•    To conduct research within Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapies and Advanced Therapeutic Medicinal Products (ATMPs) and contribute to the overall internationally recognised research performance of the School and University by the production of measurable outputs including bidding for funding, publishing in peer-reviewed academic journals, international conferences and/or other research outputs, and the recruitment and supervision of research staff and postgraduate/MSc research students.
•    To independently develop research objectives, projects or proposals for own or joint research including research funding acting as a PI as required. To develop research networks through regular national/international conference/seminar presentations.
•    To participate in School research activities. 

Teaching 
•    To contribute to research informed teaching within the medical school at undergraduate and postgraduate level, which may include specialist lectures, tutorials, facilitating small group learning, supervision of SSC projects, quality assurance and evaluation of teaching activities.
•    To contribute to module development for new UG and PGT courses relevant to their expertise.
•    To contribute to work associated with assessments (setting and marking questions, setting standards and providing constructive feedback to students), administration, participation in committee work, and the pastoral care of students of Cardiff University.
•    To supervise the work of students including the supervision of Undergraduate and Masters students, the co-supervision of PGR’s and acting as a PGR progress review panel member as required.
•    To act as a Personal Tutor and provide pastoral support to medical students.
•    To obtain fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (now Advance HE).

Other
•    To participate in activities associated with the Wales Cancer Research Centre, including engagement with Welsh Government, promoting research under the immune-oncology theme and contributing to the establishment of the NHS/Academic Cardiff Cancer Research Hub.
•    To engage effectively with industrial, commercial and public sector organisations, professional institutions, other academic institutions etc., regionally and nationally to raise awareness of the School’s profile, to cultivate strategically valuable alliances, and to pursue opportunities for collaboration across a range of activities. These activities are expected to contribute to the School and the enhancement of its regional and national profile.
•    To participate in School administration and activities to promote the School and its work to the wider University and the outside world.
•    Any other duties not included above, but consistent with the role.

Scope of Job

For research activities, the postholder will initially work within an established research group, then develop funding applications to support the growth of a small team in the field of immuno-oncology. This will involve management of appropriate budget lines and laboratory research leading to publications. For teaching activities, the postholder will contribute to UG and PGT teaching in teams managed by module or year leads.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Qualifications and Education
1.    Postgraduate degree at PhD level in a related subject area or relevant industrial experience

Knowledge, Skills and Experience
2.    An established expertise and proven portfolio of research and/or relevant industrial experience within the following research fields:
i.    Immunology, especially cancer immunology
ii.    Advanced Therapies, in particular immunotherapies such as CAR-T cells, oncolytic viruses, and cancer vaccines

3.    Teaching experience at undergraduate/postgraduate level

4.    Growing national reputation within in the field of immunology, development of ATMPs and/or Cancer Immunotherapies

5.    Proven substantial record of publications in national journals and/or other research outputs

6.    Proven ability attain competitive research funding along with a strong portfolio of research grants

7.    Ability to contribute to the delivery and continued development of modules across the School teaching programmes

Pastoral, Communication and Team Working
8.    Proven ability in effective and persuasive communication

9.    The ability to provide appropriate pastoral support to students, appreciate the needs of individual students and their circumstances and to act as a personal tutor

Desirable Criteria 

1.    Relevant professional qualification(s)

2.    Evidence of collaborations with industry

3.    Proven ability to work without close supervision

4.     Proven ability to adapt to the changing requirements of the Higher Education community
5.    Evidence of ability to participate in and develop both internal and external networks and utilise them to enhance the teaching and research activities of the School

6.    A willingness to take responsibility for academically related administration

7.    A willingness to work towards teaching qualifications such as Fellowship of Advance HE

Additional Information

IMPORTANT: Evidencing Criteria

It is School of Medicine’s policy to use the person specification as a key tool for short-listing. Candidates should evidence that they meet ALL of the essential criteria as well as, where relevant, the desirable. As part of the application process you will be asked to provide this evidence via a supporting statement.

Please ensure when submitting this document / attaching it to your application profile you name it with the vacancy reference number, in this instance for this post, 15023BR.

If candidates do not provide written evidence of meeting all of the essential criteria then their application will not be progressed. The School of Medicine welcome the submission of CVs to accompany evidence of the job-based criteria.

Job Category

Academic – Teaching & Research