New blood required

Leicester University is seeking to recruit an additional 12 academics - who will have specially reduced teaching loads - in the second wave of its "new blood" campaign to find research talent.

The first phase of the recruitment drive last year attracted more than 1,000 applicants for 21 new-blood lectureships, and the university this week confirmed a new campaign as part of its £300 million development plan.

In an advertisement in this week's Times Higher , Robert Burgess, the vice-chancellor of Leicester, has written an open letter guaranteeing "reduced teaching loads, study leave and start-up funding as part of an appointment package".

The posts, with salaries of up to £45,000 on offer, are available in the fields of economics, sociology, historical studies, engineering, geography, management, mathematics and biological sciences.