UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM School of and Lectureship in Stellar

Astrophysics and Space Research GroupJob references: 52928 Closing date: 8th January 2016

Post Title and Post Number Lectureship in Stellar Astrophysics

Organisation Advertising School of Physics and Astronomy Description

Post Number 52928

Full Time/Part Time Full Time

Duration of post Open

Post is open to: Internal and External Candidates

Grade Grade 8

Salary Starting salary is normally in the range £38,511 to £45,954. With potential progression once in post to £51,702 a year

Terms and Conditions Academic Teaching Staff

Closing Date Friday 8th January 2016

Job Summary

The School of Physics and Astronomy at the invites applications for a tenured faculty position in the Solar and Stellar Astrophysics Group at the Lectureship level, or exceptionally at a higher level. The research activities of the group are centered on studies of stars, including the Sun, the characterization of exoplanet systems, and stellar population studies, using in particular the techniques of helio- and asteroseismology. Expertise in the group spans the domains of observation and instrumentation through to theory and modelling. Members of the group have leading positions in major international projects, such as Kepler, K2, PLATO and TESS. The group runs its own global network of helioseismic observatories, the Birmingham Solar-Oscillations Network (BiSON). It is also one of the nodes of the Stellar Astrophysics Centre (SAC), an international centre of excellence in stellar and exoplanet studies.

The appointment is expected to contribute to and expand existing research activities. Applications are invited in the areas of stellar and solar studies, with an emphasis on expertise in the domain of data- analysis. Experience with instrumentation may also be beneficial. The successful applicant will also contribute to the School’s undergraduate and postgraduate teaching.

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Solar and Stellar Astrophysics at Birmingham

The Solar and Stellar Physics Group is part of the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Birmingham. The Group is one of the world-leading research groups in asteroseismology and , with expertise that spans the breadth of observation and data collection, data analysis, and modelling and interpretation. The group currently has three permanent academics, Professor William Chaplin (Head of Group), Professor Yvonne Elsworth, and Dr Andrea Miglio, as well as five postdoctoral researchers, one senior technical member of staff, seven graduate students, a technician, and a secretary.

The research focus is on the study of the Sun, cool main-sequence, sub-giant and red-giant stars. This includes an interest in the characterisation of newly discovered exoplanet systems and in using asteroseismology as a tool for Galactic stellar population studies. Members of the Group have leading positions in Kepler, K2, CoRoT, TESS and PLATO. On the solar side, the group runs its own global network of helioseismic observatories, the Birmingham Solar-Oscillations Network (BiSON), and has a particular interest in studies of the and the current unusual (by modern standards) low levels of activity.

The group has a diverse funding stream, and holds grants from the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council, and the EU. The group is also part of the Stellar Astrophysics Centre (SAC), an international Centre of Excellence funded by the Danish National Research Foundation, the focus being the study of stars and exoplanetary systems using cutting-edge data from space missions, such as Kepler and CoRoT, and ground-based telescopes. The Birmingham group is one of seven international nodes. In addition to those forged through SAC, the group has extensive and wide-ranging international collaborations, through its leading involvement in major international projects.

Role Purpose  To enhance the strength of one of the research areas referred to above by conducting world-class research in the area.  To create and disseminate knowledge through initiating and conducting original research, through publication and through developing and delivering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.  To contribute to the research group and School through management and leadership.

Main Responsibilities

Research To plan and carry out research, using appropriate methodology and techniques:  Pursue personal research including developing research ideas and winning support, including financial support.  Plan, publish and/or execute high quality research  Project manage research activities, and supervise other research staff  Present findings in high quality publications and conference proceedings  Develop novel methodologies and techniques appropriate to the type of research being pursued  Supervise and examine PhD students, both within the institution and externally  Provide expert advice to staff and students within the discipline  Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding

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Learning and Teaching To use a variety of methods in teaching and advising individuals and groups of undergraduates and postgraduates:  Teach and examine courses at a range of levels  Plan and review own teaching approaches and act as a mentor to encourage others to do the same  Develop programme proposals and make substantial contributions to the design of teaching programmes more widely in the School  Undertake and develop the full range of responsibilities in relation to supervision, marking and examining  Use appropriate approaches to learning and teaching  Disseminate appropriate practices through suitable media  Develop and advise others on learning and teaching tasks and methods  Devise and supervise projects, student dissertations and practical work

Management/Administration To contribute to the research group and School administration or have a high level of responsibility for others:  Contribute to the administration and management of research and teaching across the research group and School  Advise on personal development of colleagues and students  Contribute to widening participation, schools outreach, and public understanding of the discipline.

Scope of the Role

 Contribute to the whole range of research, teaching and administration  Initiate, conduct and disseminate world-class research in the subject area  Contribute to the development of research strategies  Publish results of own research  Supervise PhD students  Teach and assess at undergraduate and postgraduate level through lectures, seminars and personal supervision  Plan and review own teaching and development programmes  Develop and advise others  Contribute to the administration and management of research and teaching across the Department/School  Contribute to widening participation, schools outreach, and public understanding of the discipline.

Skills and Experience  PhD plus significant postdoctoral experience in the relevant areas of physics/astronomy  Strong and growing research profile in one of the areas: solar, stellar and exoplanet studies  High level analytical capability  Ability to communicate complex information clearly  Interest in, and experience of, teaching  Proven ability to devise, advise on and manage learning/ research  Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively  Skills in managing, motivating and mentoring others successfully at all levels

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Research  Experience and achievement reflected in an international reputation  Extensive experience and demonstrated success in planning, undertaking and project managing research to deliver high quality results  Extensive experience of applying and/or developing and devising successful models, techniques and methods

Teaching  Ability to design, deliver, assess and revise teaching programmes  Some experience in developing appropriate approaches to learning and teaching, and advising colleagues

Management Administration  Ability to contribute to School and research group management processes  Ability to assess and organise resources effectively  Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes

Planning and Organising

 Plan for and set teaching programme objectives over a number of years  Plan and manage own teaching courses at a range of levels (including design, delivery, assessment) as agreed with the Head of School  Plan high quality research  Manage research activities and supervise other research staff  Organise meetings, conferences, symposia  Contribute to the administration and management of research and teaching across the School

Decision Making  Develop learning and teaching approaches, including approach to mentoring  Develop programme proposals and decide what contributions to make to the design of teaching programmes  Develop research ideas  Decide how to develop and undertake the research  Decide where and when to present research findings and what publications and conferences to target for this purpose (with guidance, if required)  Contribute to deciding what information to include in a bid for research funding and how to present the bid to maximise the likelihood of securing the funding  Advise, supervise and examine PhD students  Contribute to management of research group

Internal/External Relationships

 Participate in and develop external networks  Provide expert advice to staff and students within the discipline  Contribute to recruitment of students  Liaise with research staff and support staff on research-related matters 4

 Liaise with external collaborators on the research, where appropriate  Give presentations and/or contribute to presentations at national and/or international conferences  Referee articles for peer-reviewed academic journals  Liaise with the relevant external research community via seminars and conferences  Engage in communication of science to the wider public, e.g. through outreach activities

The School of Physics and Astronomy

The School of Physics and Astronomy has around 40 permanent academic staff, with the main research activities spanning the areas of astrophysics, cold atoms physics, condensed matter physics, metamaterials, nanoscale physics, , and theoretical physics.

Recent developments include the Cold Atoms group and the Metamaterials Centre. The Head of the School of Physics and Astronomy is currently Professor Martin Freer.

The School has an undergraduate entry of approximately 180, 50% of whom typically continue to the 4-year MSci degree. The School is top of the Physics rankings in the National Student Survey, with rapidly rising quality of undergraduate entry.

The annual PhD intake in the School is around 25 and a further 60 students are registered for vocational MSc courses. Postgraduate Teaching Assistants, who are PhD students, are used to help support undergraduate teaching, as well as contributing significantly to the School's research activities.

The HEFCE-funded Midlands Physics Alliance Graduate School provides an environment of a North American style in terms of quantity and quality of taught provision.

The School has both central and specialised mechanical and electronic workshops and the Campus Network enables fast access from individual offices and laboratories to JANET and to other computing facilities. Physics has a rich history in the University. The first holder of a chair in physics was J H Poynting. R E Peierls established a school of theoretical physics in the thirties, which has had many distinguished members such as Lieb, Dyson, Edwards, Skyrme and Thouless. The invention of the cavity magnetron by J T Randall and H A H Boot at Birmingham revolutionised radar in the early forties. M L E Oliphant invented the synchrotron for particle acceleration in the early forties. W F Vinen, who established the quantum of circulation in vortices in superfluid Helium, introduced low temperature physics into Birmingham. G R Isaak pioneered solar seismology, the only technique to allow study of the centre of the Sun and more recently other stars.

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Midlands Physics Alliance

The Midlands Physics Alliance (MPA) involving the Physics departments in the Universities of Birmingham, Nottingham and Warwick was formed at the beginning of 2007. One significant success has been the award of the £5M EPSRC Science and Innovation award to help establish the £10M Midlands Ultracold Atom Research Centre initially in collaboration with Nottingham and more recently also involving Warwick. There have already been six new permanent experimental staff as well as three new theoretical appointments across the Alliance in the EPSRC area.

The MPA has also been awarded £4M, and subsequently a further £3.3M, by HEFCE and STFC to set up an £11M Graduate School along the lines of a North American model, providing a thorough taught element to postgraduate education as well as PhD research projects.

This project also includes funding for Access Grid facilities which will also aid research collaborations within and outside the MPA. A new element in the Graduate School is the funding for 30 three-month industrial placements per year. This scheme has been greeted with considerable enthusiasm by employers.

The University of Birmingham

The University of Birmingham has a distinguished academic reputation. It is a member of the Russell Group and belongs to the international network Universitas 21. It is a major international centre of academic excellence, and is established as being amongst the world's top one hundred universities in the world.

The Main University Library is conveniently located near the School. It is very well stocked with research books and journals in Physics and Astronomy in addition to the texts for undergraduate and postgraduate teaching. It is one of the two best research Libraries in Physics in the UK. The University also provides comprehensive access to journals in electronic form.

The University, while being only two miles from the city centre, is located in the pleasant suburb of Edgbaston on a well-landscaped parkland site. It is genuinely a campus University with most students living on, or very near, the site. International students are welcomed and well catered for.

Detailed information about the University can be found on the web at http://www.birmingham.ac.uk

The City of Birmingham

Birmingham is a major European centre and the second largest city of the United Kingdom. It is a city of business and ballet, canals and world class concerts, jewellery and jazz, historical interest and cosmopolitan atmosphere.

The new heart of Birmingham is symbolised by Symphony Hall, within the International Convention Centre, which overlooks attractive canals at the hub of the UK’s canal network. This setting is a very suitable venue for CBSO, one of the world’s finest symphony orchestras. The internationally renowned Birmingham Royal Ballet, based at the magnificent Hippodrome Theatre, adds further cultural depth to the city. In addition to regular tours by the major opera companies, Birmingham boasts the highest concentration of live theatre excepting London’s West End. The City Museum and Art Gallery houses the world’s finest 6

collection of Pre-Raphaelite paintings, alongside a major collection of Old Masters, Modern and Contemporary pictures. The Barber Institute of Fine Arts, on the University campus, houses one of the UK’s best collections of Impressionist and Renaissance art. The restored Gas Hall Gallery has international touring exhibitions, while the Halcyon and Ikon galleries feature innovative contemporary works.

National landmark sites abound, including the National Indoor Arena, the National Exhibition Centre (home to the Motor Show, Ideal Home Exhibition, etc), National Motorcycle Museum, National Car Heritage Museum and the National Sealife Centre. The high quality Bullring Centre is the largest dedicated shopping facility in Europe. Sports and recreation are well served, complemented by International Test cricket, Premier League football with Aston Villa and Birmingham City, International Championship golf and top class rugby. The International Convention Centre and National Indoor Arena have spawned a whole new Downtown area at the centre of the City. The National Exhibition Centre, on the outskirts of the City, remains one of the largest exhibition facilities in Europe.

Birmingham is at the crossroads of the UK’s motorways. It is the centre of the national coach network, connected direct to 500 destinations. From Birmingham International Airport, more than a dozen different airlines operate scheduled services to 60 destinations worldwide. Fifty million passengers a year use Birmingham New Street Station, which is at the centre of the high speed rail network. London is 90 minutes away by shuttle service, with trains every 30 minutes. There is a high standard of all types of private accommodation, with high quality, affordable, family housing in several attractive residential suburbs. Public parks and large domestic gardens are a special feature of this greenest of European cities. Quality public and private schools are widely available, with several consistently rated in the top 10 on examination performance in annual league tables of England and Wales.

Procedure for Application

Potential applicants can obtain further information about the post from:

Professor Bill Chaplin Tel: (+44) 0121 414 4599 Email: [email protected]

To download the details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click the Apply Online button. Please quote Job Ref 52928 in all enquiries. Alternatively information can be obtained from 0121 415 9000.

For full consideration, candidates must also submit a research statement and arrange for three letters of reference to be sent by the closing date to:

Ms Joanne Cox School of Physics and Astronomy University of Birmingham Edgbaston B15 2TT United Kingdom Email: [email protected]

The closing date for applications is Friday 8th January 2016. Interviews will be held in early 2016. It is expected that the successful candidate will join the staff of the School of Physics and Astronomy from September 2016. 7