Lecturer in Behavioural Neuroscience

Vacancy Reference Number
AC2281NB
Closing Date
23 Apr 2021
Salary
£41,526 - £51,034
Address
University of St Andrews
Duration
This is a full-time post, an indefinite contract.
We are seeking to appoint two lecturers to complement our core research interests in the School of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of St Andrews. This position is in Behavioural Neuroscience (the other in Neuroeconomics/Decision making, see ref: AC2282NB). This is a continuing appointment with a start date of 2nd August 2021, or as soon as possible thereafter. Candidates should hold a PhD in a cognate discipline and have a clear track record of excellence in research and teaching. The successful candidate will be expected to establish a world-leading research group with links to other researchers across our School’s four major research themes (see: www.st-andrews.ac.uk/psychology/research/). They will also contribute to the development and delivery of teaching at all levels and fulfill administrative roles within and beyond the School of Psychology and Neuroscience. Applications are particularly welcome from women, people from the Black, Asian, Minority or Ethnic (BAME) community and other protected characteristics who are under-represented in Academic posts at the University. The University is committed to equality for all, demonstrated through accreditation (Athena SWAN; Carer Positive; Stonewall, LGBT and Race Charters), as listed on: http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/hr/edi/diversityawards/. The School is happy to discuss flexible working options.

Further Information

We are seeking to make a permanent, Lectureship appointment in the area of Behavioural Neuroscience, to consolidate, complement and extend our current research and teaching. This is a full-time position broadly equivalent to the rank of Assistant Professor.

The School of Psychology and Neuroscience comprises of approximately 40 academic staff (both ‘research and teaching’ and ‘education-focused’ staff), with wide ranging research interests. The School ensures that academic staff have both the time and the facilities to develop their research and impact-related activities. As a result of this support, the School is successful in gaining external research grants from diverse sources, including research councils, charities, and industry. The quality of our research has been recognised in each of the national research assessment exercises conducted by the UK University funding bodies. We have been consistently ranked as the top psychology department in Scotland and amongst the best in the UK. The strategy of the School has been to build up strong research groupings whose members support and collaborate with each other. Our research covers a broad remit, from cellular neuroscience to crowd behavior. We have 4 broad groupings: Cellular and Behavioural Neuroscience, Perception Cognition and Action, Origins of Mind, and Social and Group Processes (see: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/psychology/research/). We contribute to a number of inter-disciplinary institutes and centres, including the Institute of Behavioural and Neural Sciences (IBANS), the Centre for Social Learning and Cognitive Evolution (SoLaCE), the Centre for Higher Education Research (CHER) and the Centre for Research in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (CREDI). There is considerable overlap between our 4 research groupings, with some colleagues belonging naturally to more than one grouping and with many cross-group collaborative research projects. We also have a wide range of international links.

The successful candidate will contribute to our undergraduate and Masters degree programmes in Psychology and Neuroscience. Our teaching strategy aims to ensure that our students obtain the best possible instruction from staff who are rightly regarded as research leaders in their field. This is achieved, firstly, by ensuring there is excellent teaching support (e.g., for administration of courses, implementation of practical classes). Secondly, teaching effort is shared fairly amongst staff irrespective of seniority. Our undergraduate staff-student ratio is amongst the best in the UK at ~1:14. Full details of our courses can be found under the teaching pages of the School website at https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/psychology/current/. We have over 50 PhD students, funded from a variety of sources, including ERC, ESRC, BBSRC, Scottish Universities Life Sciences Association (SULSA), Charities including the Wellcome Trust, the China Scholarship Council and industrial sponsors.

The School holds an Athena SWAN silver award (May 2018) and is fully committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. The University also holds an Athena SWAN award and a European Commission HR Excellence in Research award. While the post is being offered as a full-time position, the School is happy to discuss flexible and part-time working options.

Contact Details

Further information and informal enquiries may be directed to Professor Gareth Miles, Head of School, (psyhos@st-andrews.ac.uk) or Professor Julie Harris, Director of Research (jh81@st-andrews.ac.uk) or Dr. Jamie Ainge (jaa7@st-andrews.ac.uk)