Overview

Fixed Whole-Time Post (until 30th June 2026)

UCC wishes to appoint an experienced academic to the role of lecturer in Palaeontology. Reporting to the Head of School, the candidate will be highly motivated whose skills, ambition and vision complement those of existing staff and those in the wider School.

The School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences comprises the academic disciplines of Geology, Zoology, Ecology, Plant Science, Environmental Science and Agricultural Science and is one of the largest academic units in the College of Science and Food Science (SEFS). The School is a diverse and dynamic community with many transdisciplinary internal research linkages and important international research collaborations. The School offers seven undergraduate programmes including BSc Geoscience and two taught MSc programmes including MSc Applied Environmental Geology. The School has 33 academic staff including a Chair of Geology and Professor of Palaeontology. All academic staff members in geoscience are PIs or funded researchers in the SFI research centre iCRAG (Irish Centre for Research in Applied Geosciences). Research activities in Palaeontology are supported by excellent laboratory facilities that include a dedicated Palaeontology laboratory outfitted with fume hood, three constant temperature chambers, 3D printer, portable XRF analyser and high-pressure high-temperature rig; by a new microbeam laboratory with VP-SEM, micro-FTIR, micro-Raman, headspace-GC-MS and ultramicrotome; by a new optical microscopy laboratory with UV-microscopy and microspectrophotometry facilities; and by purpose-built palaeontological collections storage. Other relevant facilities in the School include a dedicated histology laboratory, an environmentally controlled tank facility and growth rooms and genetic sequencing facilities. The School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences holds an Athena SWAN Bronze Award and is proactively committed to equality and diversity in the workplace.

The successful candidate will be expected to have a doctorate in Palaeontology and should demonstrate a proven commitment to excellence in teaching and research as evidenced by a scholarly reputation of international standing. They should develop research compatible with the research agenda of the School and of national and EU funding strategies. They are expected to have a track record of sustained peer-reviewed publications and will have a record of fostering a culture of teaching and research excellence. Applicants should have relevant teaching and collaborative experience enabling them to develop and deliver undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. The successful appointee is expected to develop the research profile of Palaeontology and to build partnerships with colleagues both within the School and externally.

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 Professor Andy Wheeler, Tel +353 (0)21 4904577.

This position is being filled as part of UCC Futures – Sustainability.

What is UCC Futures – Sustainability

The greatest global challenge of our time is finding sustainable solutions for the world’s growing population, balancing the need for economic development with our limited natural resources. Achieving a balance between people, profit and planet requires us to find equitable and just solutions to the problems of climate change, hunger, poverty and social and health disparities among the world’s populations. The complexity of the global sustainability challenge requires experts from multiple disciplines and sectors to collaborate in new and reimagined ways.

UCC believes that to solve these sustainability challenges, we need creative, inter-disciplinary solutions, driven by an innovative and holistic approach. Through our existing programme of transdisciplinary research, we are generating new knowledge, developing technologies and tools and contributing to services and policies that facilitate a just transition that is economically prosperous and socially inclusive, while protecting our natural environment.

We invite you to join us on the next phase of this important and impactful journey of discovery with UCC Futures - Sustainability.

Duties and Responsibilities

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 Dean of Cork University Business School or nominee.

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, that statutory provisions 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.

Teaching and Examining | Research | Contributions

Teaching and Examining

1. Contribute to and assist in the delivery of research-led teaching, assessment and examining on palaeontology and geoscience courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level and where appropriate adult and continuing education courses;
2. Supervise research projects for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes;
3. Undertake the development and regular evaluation of modules with reference to content, delivery and assessment;
4. Participate in the development of new curricular initiatives;
5. Demonstrate excellence in teaching and learning and apply innovative teaching and learning methodologies within the School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences and within other academic units in the University, as appropriate;
6. Contribute towards the maintenance of academic standards within his/her discipline

• 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

7. Engage in productive research and scholarship and contribute to the advancement of knowledge, participate in research activities and publish the research in appropriate peer-reviewed publications, creative works or other forms of scholarship appropriate to the discipline;
8. Supervise postgraduate research students (particularly PhD students);
9. Undertake initiatives in generating research income as appropriate to the discipline;
10. Engage in other scholarly activities relevant to the research discipline.

Contributions

11. Participate in the administrative activities of the department/school and the academic life of the College and University;
12. Act as a member of such committees as may be required by the University;
13. Develop links with professional bodies and external agencies, where appropriate;
14. Promote the discipline both inside and outside the University and contribute to the overall intellectual life of the University and society;
15. Carry out other duties appropriate to the post as may be assigned by the head of discipline/department/school

• 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 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:

Qualifications | Teaching and Examining | Research | Contributions | Other

Qualifications

Essential Criteria

1. A doctorate, equivalent professional qualification or research experience leading to publication in the relevant discipline

Teaching and Examining

Essential Criteria

2. Relevant teaching experience or evidence of teaching potential;
3. An ability to contribute across a range of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programmes both in and outside the area of research specialisation;
4. Evidence of a commitment to excellence in research led teaching;
5. Evidence of an understanding of and willingness to use modern teaching technologies and potential for innovative teaching and curriculum development;
6. Evidence of an ability to teach, inspire and supervise students, communicate ideas and concepts in a teaching and learning environment.

Research

Essential Criteria

7. Evidence of appropriate research achievement as indicated by published work and other research outputs appropriate to the discipline;
8. Potential to attract funding through competitive research grants or other sources as relevant;
9. Experience of or potential for research supervision (particularly PhD students);
10. Evidence of other relevant scholarly activity;
11. Ability and willingness to collaborate with colleagues on research projects, as appropriate to the discipline.

Contributions

Essential Criteria

12. Administrative experience or evidence of ability to contribute to academic administration;

Desirable Criteria

13. Evidence of participation in relevant academic and professional associations/ bodies as appropriate;
14. The potential to participate in and contribute to the overall intellectual life of the University, the academic discipline and society at large.

Other

Essential Criteria

15. Good communication and interpersonal skills;
16. Evidence of ability to work on own initiative as well as part of a team;
17. Ability and willingness to work in a collaborative environment;
18. An understanding of, and empathy with, the concerns of students.

Desirable Criteria

19. A commitment to the long term development of the discipline.

Salary Information

Appointment may be made on the Lectureship Salary Scale: Below the Bar €40,185 - €69,632 (Scale B) / €42,232 - €66,259 (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 - Sustainability 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 - Sustainability initiative.

Details of the following should also be included, as appropriate:

• Publications,
• Research Interests,
• Teaching Interests and Abilities,
• Teaching Objectives and Methods.  

Who to contact

Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Professor Andy Wheeler, Tel +353 (0)21 4904577.

Deadline for applications

Candidates should apply, in confidence, before 12pm (Irish Standard Time) on Tuesday, 29 October 2024.

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.