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 New Zealand. 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 Dunedin School of Medicine, several departments of the Otago School of Medical Sciences, the Dunedin Public Hospital, 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 University of Otago 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 Christchurch and Wellington, as well as a presence in Invercargill and Auckland. 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