Overview
Permanent Whole Time Post
UCC wishes to appoint an academic to the role of Professor/Chair of Pharmaceutics and Director of Future Medicines. The post holder will provide academic leadership in Pharmaceutics and provide strategic leadership for UCC Futures - Future medicines (as Director). The successful candidate will report to the Heads of School & College of Medicine and Health. The successful candidate will have an outstanding record of scholarly achievement and research leadership and will lead the continued growth and development of collaborative, translational research programmes within UCC Futures - Future medicines.
The School of Pharmacy UCC has established a reputation for world-class impactful research and is ranked in the top 100 globally, by the QS World Rankings in the subject of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. With staff that are ranked among the leading researchers globally in Pharmacy related research, together with state-of-the-art research facilities, UCC provides an excellent environment for ambitious academics to engage in collaborative, interdisciplinary and high-impact research. This post is aligned to UCC Futures - Future Medicines – a multidisciplinary team of renowned world leading scientists, engineers and clinician investigators at UCC, working across disciplines to deliver next generation medicines and precision therapies. Applications are particularly welcome from candidates with impactful, internationally recognised research expertise in Pharmaceutics/drug delivery/nanomedicines/precision medicine in disease areas of high unmet clinical need.
Staff in the School of Pharmacy have an excellent track record in securing competitive research funding and UCC is a well-established partner in several strategic national and international research initiatives, including Strategic Research Clusters funded by Research Ireland and multiple EU Horizon 2020 consortia. The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate a proven ability to conduct high-quality, impactful, and internationally competitive research aligned with UCC Futures – Future Medicines, with the ambition and potential to secure prestigious competitive funding such as ERC or similar high-profile grants.
Please note that Garda vetting and/or an international police clearance check may form part of the selection process.
For an information package including full details of the post, selection criteria and application process see https://ore.ucc.ie/. The University, at its discretion, may undertake to make an additional appointment(s) from this competition following the conclusion of the process.
Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Head of the Head of School, Professor Brendan Griffin, Email: Brendan.Griffin@ucc.ie
This position is being filled as part of UCC Futures - Future Medicines.
What is UCC Futures – Future Medicines
UCC Futures - Future Medicines combines a multidisciplinary team of renowned world leading scientists, engineers and clinician investigators at University College Cork and affiliated hospitals to deliver high-impact, transformational, next generation medicines and medical technologies.
It leverages the expertise and infrastructure across multiple Schools in UCC’s College of Medicine & Health, in addition to UCC Research Centres and Institutes including APC Microbiome Ireland and our flagship Tyndall National Institute. This unique translational environment will become a magnet for small & medium enterprise and multi-national corporation investment in the region particularly across the biopharma, healthcare and medtech sectors.
UCC Futures - Future Medicines is creating step-change advancements in earlier detection, faster prognosis and targeted treatments to reduce the global health burden and improve quality-of-life for patients with chronic conditions, such as cancer, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, neurological, and inflammatory diseases.
Duties and Responsibilities
UCC wishes to appoint a Professor/Chair in Pharmaceutics in the School of Pharmacy. The post holder will provide academic leadership in Pharmaceutics and provide strategic leadership for UCC Futures - Future Medicines. The successful candidate will have an outstanding record of scholarly achievement and research leadership and will lead the continued growth and development of collaborative, translational research programmes.
UCC Futures - Future Medicines combines a multidisciplinary team of renowned world leading scientists, engineers and clinician investigators at UCC, working across disciplines to deliver next generation medicines and precision therapies. Applications are particularly welcome from candidates with impactful, internationally recognised research expertise in pharmaceutics/drug delivery/nanomedicines/precision medicine in disease areas of high unmet clinical need.
In accordance with the University’s strategic objective as a research-led institution, the duties of all academic staff will include research, research-led teaching and contributions to the University, the discipline and the community. The academic staff member shall teach and examine, undertake administrative duties and carry out other duties appropriate to the post under the general direction of the Head of the School of Pharmacy.
Through excellent leadership, the postholder will continuously develop a world-class collaborative and high-impact postgraduate research programme, training future leaders, positioning UCC as an international leader in advancing the translation of next generation medicines within UCC Futures.
The roles and responsibilities outlined below are to be interpreted in the context of the relevant statutes and where there is any difference arising from interpretation, statutory provisions will take precedent. For the sake of clarity, the relevant elements of the statutes not already incorporated in the numbered sections are appended in italics under each subheading.
Leadership | Teaching and Examining | Research | Contributions
Leadership
- Demonstrate clear vision and strategy to support the development of Pharmaceutics through teaching, research and scholarship;
- Demonstrate clear vision to lead the implementation of strategic initiatives within the UCC Futures – Future Medicines, including securing and managing research funding to strengthen UCC’s reputation as a world-class centre of impactful research & innovation;
- Mentor, support and advise staff as appropriate and assist in their academic career development in teaching and research and foster the research and scholarship of other individuals and groups within UCC Future Medicines.
Teaching and Examining
- Promote excellence in teaching and learning and encourage the application of innovative teaching and learning methodologies within the School of Pharmacy, within other academic units at UCC and abroad with our international partners;
- Teach and examine on courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level and where appropriate, adult and continuing education courses and make a significant contribution to teaching at all levels;
- Supervise undergraduate and postgraduate students;
- Contribute to, and take a leadership role where appropriate in the regular evaluation of curricula, and the development of new curricular initiatives;
- Perform a significant role in the development of postgraduate studies at UCC;
- Play a significant role in the maintenance of academic standards and in the development of the curriculum within their subject areas
- to give the students attending his/her ordinary lectures assistance in their studies, by advice, by informal instruction, by occasional and periodic examination, and otherwise, as s/he may judge to be expedient; also, to make such arrangements as s/he sees fit to make to meet students who have individual queries;
- to give instruction to his/her students and assist them in the pursuit of knowledge;
- to hold, or assist at, all University examinations in the subjects with which s/he is an examiner;
Research
- Engage in high quality and productive research and scholarship of international standing and contribute to the advancement of knowledge within Pharmaceutics and Future Medicines and publish their research in appropriate peer-reviewed publications or other forms of scholarship appropriate to the discipline;
- Carry out and lead as appropriate, initiatives in generating research income and assist in the co-ordination of research funding activities within the Pharmaceutics/School of Pharmacy/Future medicines as appropriate to the discipline;
- Actively nurture research collaborations within School/UCC Future Medicines and with other research institutions and with external stakeholders e.g. pharmaceutical industry;
- Supervise students undertaking research projects (especially at PhD level);
- Engage in other scholarly activities relevant both to the discipline and the senior level of the post.
Contributions
- Enhance the promotion of the discipline both inside and outside the University and contribute to the overall intellectual life of the University and society;
- Serve, if required to do so, as the Head of the School of Pharmacy or other academic unit subject to relevant University regulations, statutes and management requirements;
- Actively seek to develop links with professional bodies and external agencies, where appropriate;
- Play a significant role in the administrative duties of Pharmaceutics/School fo Pharmacy/Future Medicines and act as a member of such committees as may be required within the University;
- Fulfil other duties appropriate to the post as may be assigned by the Head of School and/or Head of College;
- Carry out other duties which may arise as identified in the University statutes
- to carry out administrative and other appropriate duties lawfully allocated to them within their department or other academic unit;
- if a member of the Academic Council, to attend its meetings;
- to serve upon all the committees to which s/he may be appointed by the Governing Body or the Academic Council, and to assist and co-operate with the Governing Body in such other reasonable ways as the Governing Body may prescribe, for the maintenance of discipline and good conduct among the students, or for the general business of the University;
The above listing is not exclusive or exhaustive and the post holder may be required to undertake duties as can reasonably be expected. All staff are required to be flexible, co-operative and professional within the needs of the post and the Discipline/Department/School, College and University. The University is undertaking a major reform of its internal structures which may necessitate possible future changes in the organisation of its activities.
Selection Criteria
The successful candidate will be expected to have the following criteria:
Qualifications | Leadership | Teaching and Examining | Research | Contributions | Other
Qualifications
Essential Criteria
- A relevant PhD doctorate degree (or equivalent professional qualification) and a significant record of research publications in a relevant scientific discipline e.g. Pharmaceutics, Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Precision Medicine, Translational medicine.
Leadership
Essential Criteria
- Demonstrated ability of research leadership and commensurate skills to advance development of UCC Futures- Future Medicines within the strategic frameworks of the College of Medicine and Health and the University;
- Evidence of leadership potential in both teaching and research;
- Experience in the strategic planning and development of research programs/consortia/centres involving multiple partners;
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills commensurate with playing a significant role within a team of committed academic and administrative colleagues together with the demonstrated ability and willingness to work in a collaborative environment.
Teaching and Examining
Essential Criteria
- Evidence of high quality achievement in and commitment to excellence in research-led teaching and learning in Pharmaceutics/Pharmacy at undergraduate and postgraduate level and a willingness to both contribute to and lead in the development of the teaching programmes offered by the academic unit;
- Evidence of a contribution to innovation in teaching and in curriculum or programme development, review and evaluation;
- The ability to teach, inspire and supervise students, communicate ideas and concepts in a teaching and learning environment and where the opportunity has existed, to develop and lead postgraduate supervision to doctorate level;
- A familiarity with, and willingness to use modern teaching technologies.
Research
Essential Criteria
- International standing as a leading researcher and scholar in Pharmaceutics/Pharmaceutical Sciences as evidenced through a substantial volume and consistent and continued output of high-quality refereed publications, creative works or other appropriate forms of scholarship;
- Evidence of securing competitive research funding as Lead Principal Investigator, with strong potential to attract independent funding from agencies such as the European Research Council or equivalent bodies, as appropriate to the discipline;
- Evidence of an international reputation and peer recognition in the applicant’s discipline through research and scholarly activity within the discipline, including research supervision (particularly PhD students), examining, editing and refereeing, as appropriate for the discipline;
- Evidence of successful collaboration with external partners on research projects, involving inter-sectoral (i.e. with industry/clinical partners) and/or inter-disciplinary (e.g. with Research Institutes) and/or with international academic partners as appropriate to the discipline;
- Proven leadership in managing a research programme, cluster, or centre within a relevant thematic area aligned with UCC Future Medicines;
- Evidence of establishing of research collaboration with the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, or medtech industries.
Contributions
Essential Criteria
- Proven senior administrative experience, experience including personnel and financial management;
- Evidence of holding significant positions of responsibility and a willingness to act as head of the School;
- Evidence of significant participation in relevant academic and professional associations/bodies as appropriate;
- Ability to participate in, and contribute to the overall intellectual life of the University, the academic discipline and society at large.
Other
Essential Criteria
- An understanding of, and empathy with, the concerns of students;
- Evidence of ability to work on own initiative as well as part of a team;
- Demonstrable experience of leadership in advancing gender equality;
- A commitment to the long term development of the discipline;
- Demonstrated track record in:
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- Creating a clear strategic vision and delivering against it effectively;
- Developing a strong team culture and provide drive and motivation to staff;
- Managing significant financial responsibility and accountability;
- Building productive relationships and powerful networks;
- Influencing colleagues and partners at all levels of seniority;
- Effective communication, negotiation, and problem solving skills;
- Delivering results across local, national and international networks;
- Appraisal and mentoring of supervised colleague.
Candidates are requested to make a personal assessment of these criteria against their own qualifications, skills and abilities to assess whether they should apply for the post.
Please note: Candidates who do not demonstrate that they meet the criteria as detailed above will not be short listed.
The University, at its discretion, may undertake to make an additional appointment(s) from this competition following the conclusion of the process.
Salary Information
Appointment may be made on the Professor Salary Scale: €144,295 - €182,426 (Scale B) / €137,083 - €176,166 (Scale A).
Applications for this post
How to apply
Applications for this post are received through UCC's online application portal. You'll be required to set up a profile (if you don't already have one).
You can find the posts associated with UCC Futures - Future Medicines by selecting 'Academic UCC Futures' in the search by vacancy type field.
Queries relating to the online application process should be referred to uccfuturesrecruitment@ucc.ie, quoting the job title.
What to include in your application
Applications should consist of your academic CV and a cover letter demonstrating your academic and research achievements. We would also like to hear about your research ambitions and how your academic and research profile aligns with the UCC Futures - Future Medicines initiative.
Details of the following should also be included, as appropriate:
- Publications,
- Research Interests,
- Grants and Funding,
- Teaching Interests and Abilities,
- Teaching Objectives and Methods.
Who to contact
We encourage all applicants to contact us prior to making an application for the position.
- Contact: Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Head of the Head of School, Professor Brendan Griffin, Email: Brendan.Griffin@ucc.ie
Deadline for applications
Candidates should apply, in confidence, before 12pm (Irish Standard Time) on Tuesday, 27 January 2026. No late applications will be accepted.
Equality statement
University College Cork is committed to being a fully inclusive global university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) are core values under our UCC Strategic Plan 2023-2028. UCC holds a Bronze Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advancing equality in higher education. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from everybody, regardless of age, care-giving status, disability, ethnicity, gender and/or gender identity or expression status, nationality, marital status/civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion/creed, and/or sexual orientation. We are committed to supporting all staff through flexible working schemes, family-friendly policies, training and development, and staff networks. We value the enrichment that comes from a diverse community and seek to promote equality, prevent discrimination and protect the human rights of each individual in line with equality legislation. We encourage applicants to consult our Dignity and Respect Policy and learn more about our EDI related initiatives.