Sir William Dunn Professorship of Department of Biochemistry

30 September 2021 Job Reference: PH27625

University of Cambridge www.cam.ac.uk

Sir William Dunn Professorship of Biochemistry

Background to the role based on an equitable workload allocation The Sir William Dunn Chair of Biochemistry was established in 1921. The vacant ii) to undertake original work and the position is one of two established general supervision of research and Professorships in the Department, with the advanced work in their subject and other being the Herchel Smith Professor of Biochemistry (2006) (currently held by Department, and to assist students Professor Jussi Taipale). The previous and in their studies by supervision or current holders of the Sir William Dunn informal instruction.

Professorship are highly distinguished: Professor Sir Hans Kornberg FRS (1975- 2) Examining 1995), Professor Sir FRS The Professor will be required to undertake

(1995-2009) and Professor Gerard Evan such university examining as may be FRS (2009 to 2022). required by the relevant Faculty Board or comparable body. While the position does not require the incumbent to become Head of Department at the start of their appointment, it is both 3) Supervision expected and desired that the newly The Professor will be required to act as the appointed Professor will participate in the supervisor of graduate students as and senior leadership of the Department and when requested. that they may take on the role of Head of Department in the near future. 4) Administration Administrative duties are shared equitably

among the teaching members of the Standard Duties Department/Faculty of Biology. The Professors are expected to play significant 1) Teaching and research roles from time to time on the Faculty Board The Professor will be required to deliver and School Committees dealing with such lectures and give instruction in matters as academic and other Biochemistry and in particular to perform appointments, admission of graduate the following duties: students, research and teaching

assessments, the libraries and computing i) to lecture, or hold classes, and to arrangements. They are also encouraged give lectures or classes as to accept appointment(s) to University requested by the Head of Committees. Department or their Deputy, and

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Person Specification

Candidates will be considered for the Professorship on the basis of the following selection criteria, which you should address in your application.

Criteria Essential Desirable Education

An outstanding research record of international stature in  biochemistry

The vision, leadership experience and enthusiasm to build on current strengths in maintaining and developing a leading  research presence, and an established record in attracting research grant support to further this development.

The ability to further the academic planning and strategic development of biochemistry in the University and, where  appropriate, to facilitate its development within the UK.

The ability to manage and interact effectively with staff and  students at all levels.

An enthusiastic commitment to the recruitment, training and mentoring of the next generation of researchers, including  undergraduates, research students, and postdoctoral research fellows

Candidates will hold a PhD or equivalent postgraduate  qualification.

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The Department

The Department of Biochemistry is a world- themes: Chemical Biology & Drug Design, leading biochemical research and education Disease Biology, DNA & Chromatin Biology, facility, building on the University's tradition Molecular Microbiology, Plant Biochemistry & of scientific enquiry to enable and support Bioenergy, RNA Biology, Signalling & Trafficking, outstanding science. As part of the School of Stem Cell Biology, and Systems Biology. the Biological Sciences our excellent To support our world-leading research the undergraduate and postgraduate education Department houses state-of-the-art core facilities, programmes develop the next generation of including cryo-electron microscopy, NMR scientists, whilst over 40 research groups spectroscopy, crystallography, biophysics, mass led by investigators of international standing spectrometry, protein , metabolomics, collaborate with colleagues around the world and advanced services for protein and nucleic to answer fundamental questions on how acid sequencing. cells and their constituent molecules work in life and relate to disease. Our teaching embodies a fundamental approach to the chemistry of life and convey the strongly The Department is located in two main buildings unifying contribution of biochemistry and located on Tennis Court Road. The original molecular biology to other scientific disciplines. Hopkins Building on the Downing Site started life We teach students in four undergraduate years, in 1924 as the Sir William Dunn Institute of in both the Natural Sciences Tripos (NST) and the Biochemistry, under the inspirational leadership Medical Sciences Tripos and Veterinary Sciences of our founder, Frederick G. Hopkins. Our other Tripos. main building, located on the Old Addenbrooke’s The Department contributes to a highly Hospital Site, is named after the late, great Fred competitive postgraduate programme that Sanger, an alumnus of the Department and support 160 postgraduate students in all fields of winner of two Nobel Prizes in Chemistry – one Biochemistry. for the sequencing of proteins and the second for developing the technology to sequence DNA For more information about the Department that precipitated the genomics revolution. https://www.bioc.cam.ac.uk The focus of our scientific investigation can broadly be broken down into nine research

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The School

The School of Biological Sciences The School of the Biological Sciences encompasses the Faculty Board of Biology and the Faculty Board of Veterinary Medicine and is represented on the Faculty Board of Clinical Medicine. It has responsibilities across three Triposes (the Natural Sciences Tripos, Medical and Veterinary Sciences Tripos and Psychological and Behavioural Sciences Tripos). It shares the Graduate School of Life Sciences, Graduate Committee and Medical Education Committee with the Clinical School. It has its own Degree Committee. It includes nine Departments and the Centre Most of the detailed information about for Family Studies, plus five major research research and teaching in the School is to be Institutes and an animal hospital. The School found on the departments' web sites. The is a key player in the Cambridge members of the Gurdon Institute, the Conservation Initiative as well as the majority Sainsbury Laboratory and the Systems of Cambridge Strategic Initiatives. The Biology Centre have affiliations with School is associated with the Museum of departments in the School. The Stem Cell Zoology and the Botanic Garden. Key Institute and Milner Institute have affiliations officers of the School plus details of relevant also within the School of Clinical Medicine. Research Ethics Committees (Human The MRC Toxicology Unit moved to Biology, Psychology) can be found on the Cambridge in 2020. School's website. Various subcommittees report to the Council, as required. Formal representation on the Council of the School (its most senior decision-making body) is outlined in Chapter 8 of the University's Statutes and Ordinances. Heads of School Institutes, as well as Heads of Departments, are currently co-opted on to the Council, together with representatives of the three Faculty Boards. In addition, the Head of the Botanic Garden and a representative from the School of Technology attend as observers.

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Terms of Appointment

All appointments to University Offices are subject to the Statutes and Ordinances of Working Pattern the University. The appointment is full-time.

Salary Annual leave Salary on appointment will be determined Subject to compliance with the Statutes and by the Vice-Chancellor at an appropriate Ordinances relating to leave, full time officers point on the University’s salary spine for are entitled in any holiday year to take a grade 12, taking into account the criteria for minimum of 28 days annual paid holiday. the respective contribution band. These periods are inclusive of public holidays Professorial salaries are reviewed that fall outside Full Term. periodically, on the basis of research, teaching and general contribution, by the Sabbatical leave Vice-Chancellor with the assistance of a Cambridge has a generous statutory provision small Advisory Committee. for leave of absence of one term for every six terms of service. Academic staff use this Headship of the Department opportunity for study and research. Should a Professor be appointed to the Headship of a Department, a pensionable Pension payment is made in addition to salary. You will automatically be enrolled to become a member of USS (Universities Superannuation Recruitment Incentive Scheme), a defined benefits pension scheme. The University has a scheme whereby a If you are already a member of the NHS single recruitment incentive payment may Pension scheme, you may be eligible to be made on appointment at the Vice- continue in the scheme and should contact the Chancellor’s discretion. Pensions section of the University: www.pensions.admin.cam.ac.uk/ Tenure Appointments are to the retiring age for College membership established academic positions. Membership of a College adds an important social and intellectual dimension which many of the University's academic community find attractive. Further details about a Professorial Fellowship are set out below and more details about college membership are provided in a separate section of this document.

The Scheme for newly-appointed University Officers seeking a College Fellowship is set out at: https://www.ois.cam.ac.uk/uto-scheme

Residence It is a requirement of the role that you are resident in the University during term-time. Further information can be found here, p. 679: https://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/so/pdfs/202 0/ordinance11.pdf

University of Cambridge www.cam.ac.uk

Removal Expenses attention of Heads of House to the names of If the person appointed is not resident in those Professors eligible for election. The Cambridge, a contribution from University Scheme for newly-appointed University Officers funds will be made towards expenditure seeking a College Fellowship is set out at: incurred in removal to Cambridge to take up https://www.ois.cam.ac.uk/system/files/docume a University office. nts/guidance-for-applicants.pdf

Consultancy Work General information The University’s policy on consultancy work is that consultancy arrangements must be Pre-employment checks entered into privately between the employee Right to work in the UK - We have a legal and the organisation concerned. The responsibility to ensure that you have the right consultancy work must not interfere with the to work in the UK before you can start working duties required of the officer under the for us. Accordingly, shortlisted candidates, officer’s contract of employment with the whatever their nationality, will be asked to provide such evidence at an appropriate stage University. Consultancy work is not covered by the University’s insurances, even when in the recruitment procedure. If you do not have the University has knowledge that such work the right to work in the UK already, any offer of is being done. The University must not be employment we make will be conditional upon you gaining it. regarded as being directly or indirectly involved in any consultancy arrangement Screening Checks through the use of University letterheads, This role requires a basic disclosure/ standard advice given or work done in the individual’s Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) capacity as an employee of the University. Check/an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Individuals undertaking private or Service (DBS) check/a security check. Any consultanc y work are advised to take out offer of employment we make to you will be personal insurance. conditional upon the satisfactory completion of this/these check(s); whether an outcome is Alternatively, professional indemnity cover satisfactory will be determined by the may be obtained by channelling private work University. through the University company Cambridge Enterprise Ltd. Anyone wishing to do so Health Declaration - Offers of appointment should, in the first instance, contact them at made to prospective University officers whose www.enterprise.cam.ac.uk. work will fall within certain categories are

Professorial Fellowships The great majority of Professors at Cambridge hold a professorial fellowship of a college. Although election to a fellowship is a matter for an individual college, the

University takes active steps to draw the

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conditional on the completion of a medical questionnaire and, if necessary, on a satisfactory health check by the Occupational Health Service. Only the person elected will be asked to complete the questionnaire, at the time of election.

References – References will be requested prior to the final meeting of the Board of Electors. Please note: references are not required from your current employer. We encourage you to declare any disability that Equal Opportunities you may have, and any reasonable The University of Cambridge appoints adjustments that you may require, in the solely on merit. No applicant for an section provided for this purpose in the appointment in the University, or member of application form. This will enable us to staff once appointed, will be treated less accommodate your needs throughout the favourably than another on the grounds of process as required. However, applicants and sex (including gender reassignment), employees may declare a disability at any time. marital or parental status, race, ethnic or national origin, colour, disability (including Applicants wishing to discuss with or inform the HIV status), sexual orientation, religion, age University of any special arrangements or socio-economic factors. connected with their disability can, at any point Equality and Diversity in the recruitment process, contact Dr Gosia Wloszycka, who is responsible for the We particularly encourage women and /or administration of the recruitment process for candidates from a Black, Asian and this position, by email on: Minority Ethnic background to apply for this [email protected] vacancy as they are currently under- represented at this level within our University. Information if you have a disability The University welcomes applications from individuals with disabilities. We are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to enable applicants to compete to the best of their ability wherever it is reasonable to do so and, if successful, to assist them during their employment. Information for disabled applicants is available at: https://www.hr.admin.cam.ac.uk/policies- procedures/disabled-applicants-and- members-staff University of Cambridge www.cam.ac.uk

The University

The University of Cambridge is one of the Our capital investment projects include the world’s oldest and most successful West Cambridge site, the North West universities. We are a renowned centre Cambridge development and the growth of for research, education, and scholarship the Biomedical Campus in the south of the that makes a significant contribution to city. The North West Cambridge society. The University is consistently development includes the opening of a ranked amongst the top universities in primary school – the first in the UK to be the world. Our affiliates have won more managed by a University. So we are deeply Nobel Prizes than any other University. embedded in, and committed to serving, Our sustained pursuit of academic our local community. These are all excellence is built on a long history of first- conspicuous signs of a University that is not class teaching and research within a only adapting to new needs, but also distinctive collegiate system. For eight anticipating the future. centuries our ideas and innovations have shaped the world. Our principal goal is to remain one of the world’s leading universities in an increasingly competitive global higher education sector. Today the University of Cambridge is at the centre of a Our mission is to contribute to society cluster of over 4,300 businesses employing through the pursuit of education, learning, 58,000 people. and research at the highest international levels of excellence. Our core values are:

 freedom of thought and expression; and  freedom from discrimination. University of Cambridge www.cam.ac.uk

About Us

The University is one of the world's The University awards degrees and its leading academic centres. It comprises faculties and departments provide lectures 150 faculties and departments, together and seminars for students and determine with a central administration and other the syllabi for teaching and conducting institutions. Our institutions, museums research. and collections are a world-class resource Our instinct for seeking out excellence and for researchers, students and members of setting up enduring and mutually beneficial the public representing one of the collaborations has led us to establish country’s highest concentrations of strategic partnerships across the globe. internationally important collections. Whether it is the successful Cambridge- The University has an annual income of £2 Africa Programme involving universities in billion. Research income, won competitively Ghana, Uganda and elsewhere on the from the UK Research Councils, the African continent; or the close association European Union (EU), major charities and with the government of India to pursue new industry, exceeds £500 million per annum research in crop science; or the creation, and continues to grow. with ’s Max Planck Institutes, of a Cambridge-based centre for the study of The Colleges and the University remain ethics, human economy and social change committed to admitting the best students – international partnerships are now an regardless of their background and to inextricable part of the University’s make-up. investing considerable resources both in widening access and financial support. The 31 Colleges are self-governing, separate

legal entities which appoint their own staff. “Cambridge graduates and researchers Many academic staff are invited to join a have made – and continue to make – a College as a Teaching Fellow, which colossal contribution to human knowledge provides a further social and intellectual and the understanding of the world around dimension. The Colleges admit students, us. Their work touches on the lives and provide student accommodation and deliver livelihoods of everyone from patients small group teaching. diagnosed with life-threatening diseases, to residents of areas critically affected by climate change, to children growing up in conflict zones. It has a lasting impact on our society, our economy and our culture: the world is truly a better place thanks to their efforts.” Stephen Toope, Vice Chancellor 2019 University of Cambridge www.cam.ac.uk

Working at the University

Working at Cambridge you will join a diverse, talented and innovative community, with more than 18,000 students and over 16,000 staff from all walks of life and corners of the world.

The University continually explores strategies to attract and retain the best people. It is committed to supporting its staff to achieve

their best. We are a fair, diverse and inclusive society and we believe our staff are our greatest asset. There is strong commitment

to developing institutional leadership and supporting and encouraging staff development at all levels.

We offer a variety of roles including academic, research, professional, managerial

and support roles. We also offer extensive benefits and excellent learning opportunities Equality & diversity within a stimulating working environment. The University has built its excellence on the diversity of its staff and student community.

The University’s estate is undergoing the We aim to be a leader in fostering equality most significant transformation in its history. and inclusion, and in promoting respect and Cambridge has been able to create a new a sense of belonging for all. We encourage science and technology campus to the west applications from all sections of society. All of the city centre, and is now expanding appointments are made on the basis of further to the north west of Cambridge merit. We have an Equal Opportunities including investing in affordable homes for Policy, along with a range of diversity University key workers and community networks for women, black and minority facilities. Even with our continued ethnic and lesbian, gay, bisexual and development, the University remains within transgender staff. More details are available walking or cycling distance across the here: http://www.equality.admin.cam.ac.uk/ campus. The University is a major partner on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and we The University has a bronze Race Equality continue to redevelop our historic city centre Charter aware, with framework for improving sites demonstrating our determination to the representation, progression and success ensure that we can offer the best facilities of minority ethnic staff and students within and opportunities for our staff and students. higher education. Furthermore, the University’s Athena SWAN award recognises and celebrates good practice in recruiting, retaining and promoting women.

University of Cambridge www.cam.ac.uk

Living in Cambridge

Cambridge is rich in cultural diversity. Relocation Support From beautiful University and College The University recognises the importance of buildings, museums and art galleries, helping individuals to move and settle into a quaint gardens and punts on the River new area. We provide support and guidance Cam, to a vibrant restaurant and café to those relocating internationally or scene, our employees are surrounded by domestically to take up a post at the the wonderful features of this unique city. University of Cambridge, liaising with other You can find a wide-range of high street University offices and selected shops and 3 shopping centres, with partners to ensure comprehensive relocation independent alternatives at the historic support is available. This includes: market and nestled within the passageways accommodation, childcare, schools, banking, in the city centre. You will find a cinema, immigration and transport. If you would like bowling alley, a nightclub and various live further information, please visit performances At the Cambridge Leisure https://www.accommodation.cam.ac.uk/reloc Park, with further entertainment options at the ation. The Shared Equity Scheme and the Corn Exchange, Arts Theatre and the ADC Reimbursement of Relocation Expenses Theatre. Further information can be found on Scheme provide financial assistance to the Visit Cambridge website. qualifying new members of staff with the costs of relocating to Cambridge. If you prefer the faster pace of life, London is a 45-minute train journey away. For those travelling from overseas, Stansted Airport is just 45 minutes away and Heathrow Airport Accommodation Service under 2 hours away. The University is a short distance from a host of other attractions such The University Accommodation Service as Ely Cathedral, Newmarket Races and helps staff, students and visiting scholars various wildlife parks and stately homes. who are affiliated to the University in their Cambridge is also within easy reach of the search for suitable accommodation in beautiful Broads and coastlines of Norfolk Cambridge. The dedicated and Suffolk. accommodation team can provide access to a wide range of University-owned furnished and unfurnished properties, and has a database of private sector accommodation available for short and long-term lets. For further information and to register with this free service please visit https://www.accommodation.cam. ac.uk/ University of Cambridge www.cam.ac.uk

What Cambridge can offer

We offer a comprehensive reward package to attract, motivate and retain high performing staff at all levels and in all areas of work. The University offers a wide range of competitive benefits, from family leave entitlement, to shopping and travel discount schemes. Our generous annual leave package contributes to the positive wellbeing of our University employees. Sabbatical leave enables academics to focus on research and scholarship, whilst still maintaining their full salary. The University also has a career break scheme for academic and academic-related staff, with additional flexible working policies for all other staff.

Pay and benefits CAMbens employee benefits The University salary structure includes We offer a CAMbens scheme for University automatic service-related pay progression employees, providing access to online and in- in many of its grades and an annual cost of store shopping discounts and cashback. With living increase. In addition to this, more than 2,000 participating retailers, employees are rewarded for outstanding employees can save money on a wide range of contribution through a number of regular household expenses, from groceries pay progression schemes. The University and clothes, to holidays and insurance and offers attractive pensions schemes for much more. A range of local discounts are also employees, with an additional benefit of a available, helping employees to save money salary exchange arrangement providing tax whilst also supporting local Cambridge and national insurance savings. Payroll businesses and a CAMbens Cycle to Work giving is also a simple, tax-efficient way for salary sacrifice scheme is also available, which employees to make monthly donations to enables employees to save money on transport charity. costs. A 10% discount rate on the purchase of train season tickets, bulk buy tickets and an interest free travel to work loan are also available for staff of the University.

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What Cambridge can offer

Family-friendly policies Your wellbeing The University recognises the importance of The University’s Sport Centre, Counselling supporting its staff. We have a range of family- Services and Occupational Health are just friendly policies to aid employees’ work-life some of the support services available to balance including a generous maternity, University employees to promote their adoption and shared parental leave entitlement physical and mental wellbeing. There are of 18 weeks full pay, and paid emergency leave many societies in Cambridge catering for for parents and carers. almost every taste and interest. Whether you want to take part in a sport, participate in Other family-friendly support includes: music or drama, pursue a hobby, or join a Our highly regarded workplace nurseries, a political group, you will almost certainly find childcare salary exchange scheme and a high that a society exists for this purpose. The quality holiday Playscheme may be available to University also hosts the Cambridge Science help support University employees with caring Festival and Cambridge Festival of Ideas, as responsibilities (subject to demand and well as Open Cambridge weekend, which qualifying criteria). Further childcare information together attract over 50,000 visitors per year. can be found here: The festivals are a great opportunity to get https://www.childcare.admin.cam.ac.uk/ your first taste of public engagement, through volunteering, supporting hands-on activities or proposing a talk. The Newcomers and Visiting Scholars Group is an organisation within the University run by volunteers whose aim is to help newly arrived Development opportunities wives, husbands, partners and families of We support new employees to settle in Visiting Scholars and members of the University through various activities. The to settle in Cambridge and give them an encouragement of career development for all opportunity to meet local people. The Postdoc staff is one of the University's values and we Academy supports the postdoctoral community put this into practice through various services within Cambridge. Further details are available and initiatives. Our Personal and Professional here: https://www.postdocacademy.cam.ac.uk/ Development Department provides development opportunities and courses for all University employees. These include face-to- face sessions, online learning modules and webinars. Employees may also apply for financial support to undertake training that will lead to a qualification. We offer reduced staff fees for University of Cambridge graduate courses and the opportunity to attend lectures and seminars held by University departments and institutions. The CareerStart@Cam programme also supports employees in assistant staff roles who do not hold higher education qualifications to develop their skills, experience and qualifications.

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College Membership

The University, the Faculties and Membership of a College adds an important Departments, and the Colleges are linked in social and intellectual dimension which many a complicated historical relationship that is of the University's academic community find mutually beneficial but not simple. Students attractive. Most colleges expect their fellows (both graduate and undergraduate) are to take part in undergraduate supervision admitted by one of the 31 Colleges, although and College administration. Appointment to a College fellowship is a separate matter from in the case of graduate students the Faculties and Departments determine a University appointment, for which the admissions before the Colleges are involved. College provides modest remuneration additional to University salary. It is not Almost all undergraduates, and many graduate students, live in a College. compulsory for academic staff to be a member of a College. The teaching of undergraduate students is shared between the Colleges and the Further advice can be obtained from The Chair of the Faculty/Head of Department or Faculties and Departments, with the Colleges arranging small group teaching senior colleagues.

(“supervision”) and the Departments The Scheme for newly-appointed University providing lecturing, laboratory classes, and Officers seeking a College Fellowship is set advanced supervisions. Most academic staff out at: will also be invited to join a College as a https://www.ois.cam.ac.uk/utoscheme/guida teaching or professorial fellow. nce-for-applicants/view

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How to Apply

Applications, consisting of a letter of Appointment Procedure application together with a statement of The appointment will be made by a Board of current and future research plans, a Electors, chaired by the Vice-Chancellor or curriculum vitae and a publications list, Deputy, with a membership which includes should be made online no later than:30 members of the Department, members of September 2021. cognate Departments and external experts.

Applications should be submitted online via All applications will be acknowledged. The the University of Cambridge jobs page Board of Electors will decide how they wish to

www.jobs.cam.ac.uk by clicking “Apply proceed towards making an election, which online” in the job advert. You will need an may include interviews and/or presentations. email address to register for our online Short-listed candidates may be invited to visit system. the Department to give a seminar on their work Conversations about flexible working are and meet prospective colleagues in the course

encouraged at the University of Cambridge. of the process. Please feel free to discuss flexibility prior to applying (using the contact information Candidates will be informed of the progress of below) or at interview if your application is their applications as agreed by the Electors. successful. It is anticipated that the successful candidate will take up the appointment on 1 October 2022 If you have any queries regarding the or as soon as possible thereafter. application process please contact: Dr Gosia Wloszycka at: [email protected] and/or

[email protected] Informal Enquiries

Informal enquiries about this Professorship are

welcomed and should be directed to:

CONTACT NAME: Prof Mark Carrington, Convenor of Board of Electors Email: [email protected]

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