Lecturer / Associate Professor / Professor in Plant-Organism Interactions

Plants and Food security

Location:  Highfield Campus
Salary:   £40,931 to £70,119
Full Time Permanent
Closing Date:  Monday 13 February 2023
Interview Date:   See advert
Reference:  2107322BJ

Five Faculty positions (Lecturer/Associate Professor/Professor) in Molecular Biosciences encompassing Microbial Systems, Advanced Cell Biology and Plant Organism Interactions

Interview Date: March 20^th– April 25^th, 2023

Join our exciting new expansion of biosciences! 

We are appointing five Faculty positions. These are the second phase of 11 new appointments and you will have an exciting opportunity to influence the life sciences agenda at the University of Southampton, ranked in the top 100 in the QS World Rankings.  

Our interests span microbiology, virology, glycobiology, structural biology, neuroscience, developmental biology, ecology, evolution, plants and food security with a growing portfolio in complex data analytics. We drive interdisciplinarity through the Institute for Life Sciences, host the National Biofilms Innovation Centre and the BBSRC SoCoBio DTP.  We are consistently in the top two Russell Group Universities for student satisfaction (2019, 2020, 2021).

Appointments will be either as Lecturer (equivalent to Assistant Professor, salary range £40,931 to £51,805) Associate Professor (salary range £53,353 to £67,060)  or Professor (maximum 2, starting salary £70,119) in the following areas: 

• Microbial Systems You will add synergy and/or a new dimension to our thriving research in microbial systems from the role of the microbiome in agriculture to the role of our own microbiome in immunology and mental health. We are especially interested in research questions related to biofilms and complex data analytics.
• Advanced Cell Biology You will have skills in advanced imaging and experimental biology to address research questions in animals, plants or microbes. 
• Plant Organism Interactions You will be researching a topic that addresses food security. We are well-equipped for this work with a dedicated Plant Growth Facility and licenced Invertebrate Facility, both with environmentally controlled rooms.  

These post descriptors are not comprehensive- if you are unsure if you fit, you are welcome to enquire through the contact below.

You will demonstrate a passion for education and an ability to enhance our undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum in the life sciences.

You will have a doctorate in a relevant discipline, an ability to enhance our education and to obtain peer-reviewed funding (within the BBSRC remit) and evidence of distinction in research through publications.

Interviews will take place in person in Southampton as indicated. Find out about the University and region here. 

We are proud to be a Stonewall Diversity Champion, to hold an institutional and departmental Athena SWAN silver award and the Race Equality Charter Bronze Award 2022. Due consideration will be given to applicants who have had career breaks.  To find out more about our practical support for inclusion contact our Chair Equality Diversity and Inclusion Group, Dr Judith Lock, would be pleased to help you jel2u09@soton.ac.uk. 

Enquiries to Head of School, Professor Lindy Holden-Dye are warmly encouraged, lmhd@soton.ac.uk 44(0)2380599006. 

Application Procedure 

You should submit your completed online application form at https://jobs.soton.ac.uk. The application deadline will be midnight on the closing date stated above. If you need any assistance, please call Sam Stubbs (Recruitment Team) on +44 (0) 2380 592750 or email recruitment@soton.ac.uk  Please quote reference 2107322BJ on all correspondence. Please include details of three referees, your full CV and publication list and a 500 word research plan.