Massey University

School: School of Science Department: Biosciences and Bioinformatics Position: Faculty position in Public Health Location: Suzhou, China Contract Type: Fixed-term, renewable. 3rd contract is open-ended ABOUT THE POSITION We are looking to recruit and hire highly experienced, motivated, productive and accomplished scholars/researchers at the forefront and intersection of Public Health and Biosciences to help support our academic programme/research growth and development in this area. Ideal candidates will demonstrate a track record of impactful research contributions in one or more of the following key areas: epidemiology, biostatistics, global health, infectious disease control and prevention, AI and big data, biomedicine, precision medicine, cancer genomics, etc. ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY In 2006 Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) was created by the University of Liverpool and Xi’an Jiaotong University – a top ten university in China. Offering a unique international education experience, XJTLU brings together excellent research practice and expertise from both institutions and gives students the skills and knowledge they need to secure careers in a global marketplace. XJTLU now has over 25,000 enrolled students in both Suzhou and Liverpool in the UK, with plans to grow to about 28,000 students by 2025. There are currently about 2,000 staff, among which about 1,000 academic staff, with an almost even split between citizens of the People’s Republic of China and international passport holders. XJTLU offers our undergraduates and postgraduates over 100 programmes with an interesting and diverse spectrum of courses. XJTLU is entering a new and exciting phase of its development as part of its strategic priorities for the next ten years. Adopting a new higher education model based on the concept of Syntegrative Education (SE), XJTLU is currently opening a new Entrepreneurial Education site in Taicang, part of wider Suzhou, where the Entrepreneur College (Taicang) is located. The Taicang site will be a pioneer of, and educational model for, the future campus in addressing challenges arising from the 4th Industrial Revolution. Other new initiatives include new working partnerships with Xi’an Jiaotong University, the continued development of the four new Academies, and exploration of further potential locations to develop the SE model. With a focus on innovative learning and teaching, and research, XJTLU draws on the strengths of its parent universities, and plays a pivotal role in facilitating access to China for UK and other institutional partners. At same time, XJTLU is exploring future education by blending the educational theory, best practice and culture from West and East. For detailed information about the university, please visit www.xjtlu.edu.cn ABOUT THE SCHOOL AND DEPARTMENT Established in September 2020, the School of Science (SCI) at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) embodies a vibrant commitment to the advancement of knowledge, research excellence, and transformative education within the realm of scientific inquiry, exploration and innovation. SCI consists for three outstanding and collaborative academic units: Department of Biosciences and Bioinformatics, Department of Chemistry and Materials Science and Department of Health and Environmental Sciences. Our School is composed of a tight-knit professional family of international and world renowned scholars and serves as a beacon for interdisciplinary collaboration and high-quality research outputs. Recently, we have experienced significant growth and success in our student numbers, academic programming, faculty recruitment, scientific publications, and research funding, which now rank us among the top tier SCIs on a global scale. Embracing our global identity, our SCI proudly champions international exchange, cooperation and partnership. We welcome and encourage scholars and students from around the world to join our growing academic community, infusing our School environment with a rich diversity of perspectives, ideas and experiences. Our commitment to intercultural dialogue enhances our own learning community and contributes to the global discourse on science and its transformative power to reshape our world. For more information, please visit https://www.xjtlu.edu.cn/en/study/departments/school-of-science The Department of Biosciences and Bioinformatics (BIO) is our best established unit and focuses on molecular biosciences, biomedical sciences and bioinformatics (AI). It has recruited highly accomplished faculty (four colleagues among the Top 2% most highly cited researchers according to Stanford University and three among Elsevier’s most highly cited researchers in China) from globally distinguished institutions working in these key disciplines. Although relatively young, the Department has already established a solid reputation, as indicated by the growing number of high-quality publications, increased citations, success in securing external grant awards by its staff (e.g. from the National Natural Science Foundation of China and others) and numerous national and international research collaborations (e.g. with Novartis and Unilever plc). It has state-of-the-art instrumentation housed in custom-built labs and receives excellent technical support. The Department currently offers Bachelors, Masters and PhD degree programmes in Biological Sciences and Bioinformatics and most recently, Biomedical Sciences. Our research is brought directly into the classroom, providing a learning and teaching experience that combines theory with the most current knowledge in Biosciences and Bioinformatics. Our degrees are awarded by the University of Liverpool and accredited by the Royal Society of Biology in the United Kingdom. The Department provides a truly supportive international environment for both teaching and research, with more than half of our academic staff born outside of mainland China. The Department is under strong leadership and entering an exciting new phase of development focused on the “Biomedical Sciences”, which is a key priority area for the School of Science, XJTLU and the Suzhou provincial government. This is a strategic response to both the growing market demand for Biomedical professionals and the existing strengths of the Department. The newly launched BSc in Biomedical Sciences is quite innovative in scope and aims to train young professionals for distinguished careers in the field. For more information, please visit https://www.xjtlu.edu.cn/en/study/departments/school-of-science/biosciences-and-bioinformatics ABOUT THE CITY Staff also benefit from the fact that Suzhou is a ‘hot-spot’ for biotechnology and biomedical science. Cold Spring Harbor Asia is located within walking distance from campus and there are over 1,000 biotechnology companies in BioBay providing ample industry collaboration and entrepreneurship opportunities. As a state-level economic and technical development zone (ETDZ), Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) boasted a No.1 ranking among 218 zones of its kind in China for five consecutive years (2016-2020) as determined by the Ministry of Commerce based on the zone’s comprehensive development level. The broader Suzhou area encompasses the spirit of both old and new in China, with the historic old town’s canals, UNESCO World Heritage Site gardens, and the I.M Pei-designed Suzhou Museum attracting millions of tourists annually. SIP offers an excellent quality of life. The nearby Jinji Lake provides attractive views, by day and night, and there are a variety of high-quality shopping facilities, international and local restaurants, entertainment hubs and a great nightlife. Suzhou became the world's largest industrial city in 2021, with the gross industrial output value reaching the milestone of 4 trillion RMB. RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES To teach undergraduate and graduate students To maintain active and highly productive research agenda and obtain research funding  To carry out various administrative duties related to university teaching and research (e.g. Research Officer, Lab Safety Officer, and Examination Officer) To supervise graduate students and support teaching and research staff To establish an innovative, productive and well-funded research group that is open to interdisciplinary collaboration.  PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES Effective communication skills; fluent in written and spoken English Problem-solving/creativity  Adaptability and flexibility Professionalism and high level work ethic Interpersonal abilities to manage a research team Team player and strong collaborator Positive attitude and energy Diversity / Sensitivity ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE PhD or equivalent degree in public health, epidemiology, biostatistics, AI and big data, biological sciences, or a related discipline and ability to demonstrate appropriate teaching experience/potential in the core areas of Public Health and strong evidence of the ability to produce high quality research publications and external funding. Fluency in English, as English is the official working language of the university. Teaching ability in Public Health, Biomedical Sciences or Biological Sciences DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE A PhD degree completed in an English and highly international academic environment Postdoctoral experience from highly reputable academic institution University-level teaching experience in English at a highly international environment Research interest in China and Southeast Asia Teaching expertise in Public Health and Biomedical Sciences CITIZENSHIP AND VISA REGULATION Employment at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University is regulated by Chinese Labor Laws and must comply with the regulations of the provincial government. These regulations stipulate who is eligible for legal employment to obtain work permits and visas. Please be advised candidates over 65 may be not eligible for a work visa in the P.R. China. CAREER DEVELOPMENT Clear career development path with annual review. Professional development training is provided. COMPENSATION & BENEFITS SALARY Competitive salary package in the market BENEFITS Allowance: XJTLU provide various month/annual/one-off allowances such as: Housing allowance Travel allowance Kids’ education allowance Relocation allowance Etc. Commercial insurance: international insurance plans customized for XJTLU staff and family members. (details refer to the University Policy) Paid holidays:  Statutory Holidays (11 days) Annual Leave (36 days) Family Matters Leave Paid Sick Leave Marriage Leave Paternity Leave Parental Leave Etc. Working visa and residence permit in China:  XJTLU sponsors working visa and residence permit in China for the staff. HOW TO APPLY Please send the following materials to Dr. Jia Meng (Email: jia.meng@xjtlu.edu.cn). Cover letter Curriculum vitae (ideally with key information highlighted) A brief research statement A brief teaching statement Up to two most representative publications Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until positions are filled. For specific enquiries relating to the position, please email Dr. Jia Meng (Email: jia.meng@xjtlu.edu.cn. Informal enquiries may be addressed to HR representative Ms Lidan Yang, lidan.yang@xjtlu.edu.cn.