Notices by the General Board

Establishment of a Professorship (Grade 11) of Biotic Interactions

The General Board, on the recommendation of the Council of the School of the Biological Sciences, has approved the establishment of a Professorship (Grade 11) of Biotic Interactions for a single tenure from 1 May 2024, to be assigned to a Department of the School of the Biological Sciences on appointment by the School’s Appointments Approvals Committee on behalf of the School Council. The Chair of the Resource Management Committee approved the funding arrangements for the office under delegated authority on 10 April 2024.

The Professorship will be fully funded from within the School’s recurrent Chest allocation. The office aligns with the School’s research strategy to foster innovative research across disciplinary boundaries. In line with the School’s Academic Vision, Research Themes have been established across six areas of collective academic expertise, with the aim of enhancing the strategic agility, competitiveness and the multidisciplinary nature of research in the School and beyond. An important part of the strategic research vision is to use the Theme structures to facilitate Heads of Departments to work together to identify priority Theme-based scientific areas for development and investment, so that recruitment to teaching officer positions can be undertaken more strategically across the School. The focus of the Professor of Biotic Interactions will be to build a world-leading research programme, deliver excellent teaching, and to engage positively with academic leadership both in the home Department(s) and across the School of the Biological Sciences. The Professor (Grade 11) of Biotic Interactions will have an excellent track record working on biotic interactions, with a particular interest in animal–plant interactions to build strategic strength in the Organisms, Evolution and Ecology Research Theme.

Academic responsibilities associated with this role include delivering undergraduate and postgraduate lectures, practical classes and small group supervisions, engaging with the Research Theme initiatives, and positively contributing to the inclusive and collaborative ethos of the School. Mentoring and professional development of staff and students is expected as part of our inclusive and supportive community.