1801872 INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES

for appointment as

Assistant Research Fellow

FACULTY OF DENTISTRY Sir John Walsh Research Institute Faculty of Dentistry

THE FACULTY OF DENTISTRY

The Faculty of Dentistry was founded in 1907 and is the only national school for dentistry in . The Acting Dean is Professor Alison Rich. The Faculty comprises the Sir John Walsh Research Institute and three departments (Oral Rehabilitation, Oral Sciences, and Oral Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences).

A document describing the Faculty’s Strategic Directions for 2013-2018 can be accessed at http://dentistry.otago.ac.nz/about/strategic_plan.html.

The 2016 QS World University Subject Rankings identified the Dental School as the 12th best in the world. Dentistry was the highest-ranked subject from any New Zealand university, and the first subject taught at a New Zealand University to ever feature in the QS world’s top ten.

The Faculty offers the following programmes:

Undergraduate: Bachelor of Dental Surgery; Bachelor of Dental Technology; Bachelor of Oral Health.

Postgraduate: Doctor of Clinical Dentistry (endorsed in endodontics, oral medicine, oral pathology, orthodontics, paediatric dentistry, oral and maxillofacial surgery, special needs dentistry, periodontology and prosthodontics), PhD, Master of Dental Surgery in general dental practice or dental materials science, and Master of Community Dentistry. Postgraduate Diplomas are also offered in some disciplines. Dental graduates may proceed to the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy or Doctor of Dental Science. The Division also offers programmes leading to the Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences, Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences, and the degree of Master of Health Sciences.

The School of Dentistry (Walsh Building) is situated close to the School of Medicine, several departments of the School of Medical Sciences, the Dunedin Public , the School of Pharmacy and the School of Physiotherapy. It is about five minutes’ walk from the main University campus hence most departments within the University are readily accessible.

Excellent library facilities, computer training and support are available. In addition to teaching clinics, laboratories, lecture theatres and seminar rooms, there is provision for research in shared laboratories.

The Faculty is currently undergoing major refurbishment of its facilities. In March 2015, the Council announced plans to build a state-of-the-art new Dental School. Work on the new Dental School has begun and is planned for completion in late 2019.

Page 1 of 7 MAIN OBJECTIVES

To provide research support to the Biorhythm of Childhood Growth project, a collaboration between the University of Otago (Dr Carolina Loch), University of Kent (Dr Patrick Mahoney), The Ohio State University (Prof. Debbie Guatelli-Steinberg), and the University of Bordeaux (Dr Priscilla Bayle). The project is funded by a Leverhulme trust research grant. The Assistant Research Fellow will be based at the University of Otago in Dunedin and travel within New Zealand is a requirement of the post.

The prime functions of the applicant will include collecting dental samples and height measurements from study participants, management of a project database and providing research and administrative assistance to the project. The successful candidate will have postgraduate qualifications in health or biological sciences, and research experience in dental studies, biological anthropology or human biology. Experience of working within the NZ primary and secondary education system is desirable. This is a two-year post that is part time (three days a week) with an expected start date in January 2019.

KEY TASKS

 Collect monthly height measurements from study participants within New Zealand;  Collect and manage samples of exfoliated teeth from study participants;  Liaise with study participants and other research stakeholders;  Create and manage a project database and enter data into the database;  Assist with laboratory work as required;  Contribute actively to project administration and logistics;  Adherence to the ethical and safety guidelines determined for the research study;  Professional relationship with all stakeholders in the research;  Travel outside of NZ if required;  Provision of written reports of the research/progress once a month; and  Other duties that may be required from time to time.

Refer also: https://www.otago.ac.nz/humanresources/training/academic-staff/academic- titles/index.html

RELATIONSHIPS

Overall responsibility to: Dr Carolina Loch (Lecturer in Oral Biology). Functional relationships with: External Members of the project team: Dr. Patrick Mahoney (University of Kent); Professor D. Guatelli-Steinberg (The Ohio State University); Dr P. Bayle (University of Bordeaux). Staff of the Faculty of Dentistry.

BUDGETARY RESPONSIBILITY

 N/A

Page 2 of 7 EXPECTED OUTCOMES

 To complete the key tasks successfully and on schedule.  To report regularly to the primary investigator.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

 A person with postgraduate qualifications in health or biological sciences, and research experience in dental research, biological anthropology or human biology.  Experience of working within the NZ primary and secondary education system and/or experience of direct work with children/young people is desirable.  Interest to develop research in dental histology, biological anthropology, human biology.  The Assistant Research Fellow will have cultural awareness of ethnic groups in NZ.  Ability to communicate effectively.  Excellent oral and written communication skills.  Excellent organisational and time management skills.  Initiative and commitment.  Ability to work independently on designated tasks.  Demonstrated ability to work effectively within a team environment.

TREATY OF WAITANGI AND THE MĀORI STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK

 The Division of Health Sciences and the Faculty of Dentistry are committed to its obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi and the University’s Māori Strategic Framework.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

 The Division is strongly committed to diversity in staffing and encourages applications from women and other under-represented groups who are suitably qualified.

APPLICATION

The University seeks written documents from candidates wishing to apply for the role. Candidates are therefore required to provide:  A CV, including employment history.  A letter of application addressing the Person Specification / Personal Attributes.  3-4 Referee contact details, including telephone number and email address.

REFEREES

The University may contact all three or four referees listed in the application. The candidate should also state their relationship with each referee. Referees will only be contacted after prior consultation with the candidate. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that their referees are willing to provide reports when contacted.

Page 3 of 7 The University reserves the right to seek reports on the suitability of candidates from experts in the field, other than those nominated by the candidate. Should an applicant not wish a specific person or persons to be contacted, please advise the recruitment team at the time of application.

DATE OF APPOINTMENT

Applicants are asked to indicate the date they would expect to be available to take up the appointment. The appointment is available from January 2019 or at a mutually agreed date.

THE UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO TE WHARE WĀNANGA O OTAGO

The University of Otago is New Zealand’s first university and one of its finest.

Students can choose from more than 190 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and are taught by in their fields. The high calibre of teaching at Otago is reflected by an unparalleled record of success in the country’s Tertiary Teaching Excellence Awards.

Research excellence underpins all academic activity: more than 4,500 of the University’s 20,000 students study at the postgraduate level. The University has leadership roles in national Centres of Research Excellence and partnership roles in the country’s National Science Challenges. It also hosts 13 multidisciplinary research themes and 14 research centres, including two of the world’s most highly regarded health and development longitudinal studies. It is the home of New Zealand's first medical school and only schools of dentistry and surveying.

The teaching year generally runs from February to November, broken into two 13-week semesters. A number of programmes are offered via Distance Learning and a Summer School is held for six weeks during January and February.

In addition to research and teaching excellence, the University is committed through its Strategic Direction to 2020 to local, national and international betterment; strong external engagement; sustainable capability; providing outstanding student experiences and campus environments. The main campus is located in Dunedin – internationally recognised as one of the most beautiful campuses in the world – with significant health sciences campuses in and Wellington, as well as a presence in and .

The University of Otago is also strategically committed to furthering the aspirations of Māori, and our Pacific neighbours, and has memoranda of understanding with a number of iwi, in particular Ngāi Tahu, the mana whenua of the University’s main area of operation.

With more than 80 per cent of students coming from outside Dunedin, the University offers a unique campus-based lifestyle, a special feature of which are the 15 residential colleges located close to the heart of all University activities.

Providing a world-class environment for students and staff is a priority and the University has embarked on a significant capital development programme in recent years. Otago was the first New Zealand university to achieve Fair Trade status and the recently established University Volunteer Centre is fostering a growing culture of volunteerism among staff and students.

Page 4 of 7 Other sources of information about the University and Dunedin include:

The University of Otago website www.otago.ac.nz and the Dunedin website www.cityofdunedin.com

DIVISION OF HEALTH SCIENCES Te Wāhanga Matua Mātau Hauroa

Achieving Excellence – advancing health at home and around the world Whaia te Iti Kahurangi – hāpaitia te hauora kit e kāinga, ki te ao

Mission Statement

The Division of Health Sciences will provide New Zealand society and other communities with a highly-qualified workforce in the health professions, and will lead research and academic advancement in the areas of health and biomedical science. The Division will promote health, health care and equitable health outcomes through outstanding basic and applied research, and world-class academic and professional leadership. This will be achieved through research-based undergraduate, postgraduate, and professional academic programmes of international standard in the health and biomedical sciences, and the translation of research into products and services to benefit society.

The Division provides programmes in:  Biomedical and Biological Sciences.  Dentistry.  Oral Health.  Dental Hygiene.  Dental Therapy.  Dental Technology.  Medical Laboratory Science.  Medicine.  Nursing.  Pharmacy.  Physiotherapy.  Radiation Therapy.

The Division of Health Sciences comprises schools of Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Dentistry, and Medicine. The Otago Medical School comprises four separate entities: Dunedin School of Medicine (DSM), University of Otago Wellington, University of Otago Christchurch, and the School of Biomedical Sciences. With these campuses in Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington and multiple teaching hubs throughout the country, the Division of Health Sciences has a nationwide presence.

Within the Division’s schools there are 37 academic departments providing 16 undergraduate qualifications and more than 50 postgraduate qualifications. Otago is New Zealand’s only provider of Dentistry, Radiation Therapy and an undergraduate qualification in neuroscience, and one of two universities to offer Medicine, Pharmacy, and Physiotherapy.

The head of the Division is the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (PVC), and the Deans (Heads of Schools) report to the PVC. There are nearly 5,000 (EFTS) undergraduate students and nearly 1,300 (EFTS) postgraduate taught and research students. Students are supported by over 559 (FTE) academic staff

Page 5 of 7 providing a student-academic staff ratio of close to 12 to one. More than 500 (FTE) general staff work for the Division supporting its teaching and research activities.

The Division of Health Sciences’ strength is seen in its diverse and successful research capabilities. Much of its research results in tangible benefits for New Zealand.

There are numerous areas of research expertise including:  Hosting of two National Science Challenges.  Ageing Well and Healthier Lives.  Partners in the Better Start National Science Challenge.  Co-host of a national CoRE; Brain Research New Zealand – Rangahau Roro Aotearoa.  Leading and hosting Genomics Aotearoa.  Healthy housing.  Mental health.  Oral health.  Monitoring of medication use.  Cardiovascular disease.  Screening programme for stomach cancer.  Prevention and treatment measures for diabetes and obesity.  Biomedical and biological sciences.

Each campus has a large number of prestigious research groups. These include:  Brain Health Research Centre.  Christchurch Heart Institute.  Centre for Neuroendocrinology.  Centre for Translational Cancer Research.  Edgar Diabetes and Obesity Research.  Genetics Otago.  New Zealand Centre for Sustainable Cities.  Otago Global Health Institute for Oral Health.  One Health Aotearoa for Infectious Diseases.

LIVING IN DUNEDIN

The University of Otago’s southern roots are anchored in its formal relationship with mana whenua Ngāi Tahu and the legacy of the city’s Scottish settlers who established a university here within just 21 years of founding the province from which the University takes its name.

Dunedin grew rich on the back of the 1860s Otago rush, a wealth that is reflected today in streetscapes of outstanding Victorian and Edwardian architecture. With a population of around 120,000, this is a small but sophisticated city, boasting many of the amenities and cultural richness usually only found in much larger urban centres, while still retaining its traditional friendliness and ease of getting around.

In Dunedin there are professional theatres, outstanding art galleries, museums and libraries. Dunedin is also recognised as a UNESCO City of Literature. For those who enjoy sports, Dunedin offers world- class sporting facilities – including New Zealand’s only covered stadium. For those who enjoy the outdoors, Dunedin has beautiful beaches and internationally acclaimed wildlife sanctuaries. The

Page 6 of 7 world’s only mainland Royal Albatross Colony is located on the headland at the entrance to Otago Harbour.

The heart of the city is lined with cafés and restaurants, and modern shopping complexes trade alongside interesting boutiques and a weekly farmers’ market that provides an outlet for much of the area’s first-rate produce. Housing is affordable, both to buy and rent. Thanks to the foresight of the early planners, there are many parks and green spaces, and outstanding views are commonplace from the city’s hillside suburbs.

Dunedin is also the gateway to : the resort towns of Wanaka and Queenstown – New Zealand’s adventure capital – are just over three hours’ drive away. Skiing, snowboarding, boating, mountain-biking and wine tasting are just a few of the many activities to be enjoyed.

However, it is education that is one of Dunedin’s most defining features and its major industry. This is a true student city. In addition to the University of Otago, the city hosts a thriving polytechnic and excellent pre-school, primary and secondary education facilities. University students, staff and their families comprise more than one quarter of the population of urban Dunedin, enriching the intellectual, cultural and sporting life of the city.

And, while Dunedin is located in the south of New Zealand, it is very well connected. The region has two international airports with direct flights to Australia, and is New Zealand’s first GigCity with one gigabit per second broadband services. Sister city relationships are fostered with Edinburgh (Scotland), Otaru (Japan) and Shanghai (China).

More information about living in Dunedin is available at: https://www.dunedinnz.com/

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