Overview

UCC wishes to appoint to a Fixed Term Whole Time post (4 years) basis, a Lecturer in Translational Pharmaceutical Science to support development and delivery of iED Hub courses. This Lecturer post is funded through the Human Capital Initiative (HCI) award to iED Hub, a novel, agile educational platform producing next-generation graduates for the Health Technology industry sector in Ireland. Reporting to the Head of the iED Hub, the Lecturer will be affiliated with the UCC School of Pharmacy.

This new specific purpose Lectureship in Translational Pharmaceutical Sciences is aligned to the ‘UCC Futures’ programme and specifically ‘Future Medicines’ – a multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers and clinician investigators at UCC, working collaboratively to advance the translation of next generation medicines and medical technologies for diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases. Applications are particularly welcome from candidates with expertise in translational pharmaceutical science or for example, in one or more of the following thematic areas in Future medicines: 

• Nano-technologies for delivery of future medicines
• Nanomedicines
• Precision pharmacotherapy 

The successful candidate will be expected to have demonstrated the capability to undertake high-quality, impactful, and internationally competitive research that aligns with UCC Futures, with the ambition and potential for securing competitive funding such as ERC or SFI early-career stage grants. 

The successful candidate will have demonstrated potential to work within a team in the iEd Hub tasked with the development and delivery of a suite of enterprise-focused teaching programmes, contributing significantly to iED Hub operations in association with industry partners in the biopharma sector. The successful candidate will be involved in lecturing specifically in industrial pharmaceutical science. The successful candidate will be primarily involved in lecturing on iED programmes and may also be expected to lecture on other degree programme in the School of Pharmacy.  The successful appointee will hold an academic qualification to PhD/Doctorate level in Pharmaceutics, translational Pharmaceutical Sciences or another relevant discipline. 

Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to the Head of the iED Hub, Professor Mark Tangney or the Head of School, Professor Brendan Griffin

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

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 School.

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 iEd Hub courses at UCC and, where appropriate, other degree programmes in the School of Pharmacy UCC and/or abroad with our international partners;

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, in the context of the iEd Hub;

5. Demonstrate excellence in teaching and learning and apply innovative teaching and learning methodologies within the School of Pharmacy, the iEd Hub and within other academic units in the University, as appropriate;

6. Contribute to the development of online teaching in UCC and promote the integration of online and campus-based teaching programmes;

7. 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

8. To undertake research that contributes to the field of Drug delivery, industrial pharmaceutical development and/or translational pharmaceutical science;

9. 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;

10. Supervise postgraduate research students (particularly PhD students) both in UCC and internationally where appropriate;

11. Undertake initiatives in generating research income as appropriate to the discipline;

12. Actively nurture research collaborations within UCC, with other research institutions and with the pharmaceutical industry;

13. Engage in other scholarly activities relevant to the research discipline.

14. The candidate will be expected to engage with the UCC Futures - Future Medicines cluster; participate in meetings of the cluster; contribute to the development and growth of the overall cluster; engage with the Cluster Director on research alignment and funding opportunities to develop the research theme.

Contributions

15. Participate in the administrative activities of the department/school, including posts of responsibilities, committees and the academic life of the College and University;

16. Act as a member of such committees as may be required by the University;

17. Develop links with professional bodies and external agencies, where appropriate;

18. Promote the discipline both inside and outside the University and contribute to the overall intellectual life of the University and society;

19. 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 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:

Qualifications | Teaching and Examining | Research | Contributions | Other

Qualifications

Essential Criteria

1. A doctorate degree in a relevant discipline such as Pharmaceutics, Industrial Pharmaceutical Sciences or another relevant discipline (e.g. Translational Pharmacology, Translational Biomedical Science);

Desirable Criteria

2. Qualification in teaching and learning;

Teaching and Examining

Essential Criteria

3. Relevant teaching experience OR evidence of teaching potential, to communicate fundamental principles of Industrial Pharmaceutical Sciences (e.g. Industrial pharmaceutical development, Bio/Pharmaceutical technology, Bio/Pharmaceutical processing, Pharma analytics, Regulatory science) to Level 7-9 iEd Hub students;
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.

Desirable Criteria

7. An ability to contribute across a range of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programmes both in and outside the area of research specialisation;

Research

Essential Criteria

8. Evidence of appropriate research achievement as indicated by published work ideally as first/senior author and other research outputs appropriate to the discipline and the particular stage of the candidate’s career;
9. Potential to attract funding through competitive research grants or other sources as relevant
10. Experience of, or potential for developing a research programme in a relevant thematic area in UCC Future Medicines;
11. Evidence of collaboration with external partners on research projects, ideally inter-sectoral (i.e. with industry), inter-disciplinary (e.g. with Research Institutes) and/or with international partners as appropriate to the discipline;

Desirable Criteria

12. Experience of or potential for research supervision (particularly PhD students);
13. Evidence of other relevant scholarly activity;
14. Ability and willingness to collaborate with colleagues on research projects, as appropriate to the discipline;
15. Potential for the establishment of research projects with the Pharma, Biopharma or medtech industry;

Contributions

Desirable Criteria

16. Administrative experience or evidence of ability to contribute to academic administration
17. Experience in or potential to participate in relevant academic and professional associations/bodies as appropriate
18. 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

19. Relevant experience of working in, or with, companies in the pharma, biopharma or medtech sectors;
20. Good communication and interpersonal skills
21. Evidence of ability to work on own initiative as well as part of a team
22. Ability and willingness to work in a collaborative environment
23. An understanding of, and empathy with, the concerns of students
24. A commitment to the long-term development of the discipline and potential to engage with industry in the development of projects of common interest. 

Salary Information

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 the Head of the iEd Hub, Professor Mark Tangney or the Head of School, Professor Brendan Griffin

Deadline for applications

Candidates should apply, in confidence, before 12pm (Irish Standard Time) on Thursday, 16 March 2023. 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 2022 Strategic Plan. 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.