Lecturer in Cellular or Molecular Neuroscience

The Open University; Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

The Open University seeks a Lecturer in Cellular or Molecular Neuroscience to join their School of Life, Health & Chemical Sciences. This role involves teaching, research, and collaboration within a flexible distance-learning environment. Candidates should have a PhD and experience in neuroscience education. The position offers a supportive academic community and opportunities for professional development.

Qualifications

• PhD in cellular neuroscience or relevant biomedical science required.
• Experience teaching at undergraduate level in neuroscience.
• Understanding of online learning technologies.

Responsibilities

• Prepare asynchronous learning materials and support student learning.
• Establish an independent research programme.
• Contribute to the academic community and undertake leadership roles.

Skills

Teaching

Research

Collaboration

Innovation

Equity and Inclusion

Education

PhD in Cellular Neuroscience

Masters in Biomedical Science

Job description

Lecturer in Cellular or Molecular Neuroscience

Join to apply for the Lecturer in Cellular or Molecular Neuroscience role at The Open University

Lecturer in Cellular or Molecular Neuroscience

Join to apply for the Lecturer in Cellular or Molecular Neuroscience role at The Open University

Lecturer in Cellular or Molecular Neuroscience

Advert Reference Number: 738

Job Location: Milton Keynes, Remote/Hybrid

Department: School of Life, Health & Chemical Sciences

Weekly Working Hours: 37

Contract Type: Permanent

About the Role

The Open University is the UK’s largest university and is a world leader in flexible part-time education combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education.

The School of Life, Health and Chemical Sciences is part of the Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). It brings together a multi-disciplinary team of academics with expertise in a broad range of subjects, providing a stimulating, collaborative and supportive teaching and research environment in which to develop your academic career.

The School offers undergraduate qualifications in Biology, Natural Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Chemistry, and Health Sciences and a postgraduate qualification in Mental Health Sciences, as well as hosting PhD students and research fellows.

As a Lecturer in Cellular or Molecular Neuroscience, you will collaborate with colleagues in the production, presentation, assessment, and quality assurance of modules, including those in the Biomedical and Health Sciences qualifications, to collectively deliver asynchronous distance-learning in this area. You will be provided with the mentorship to develop an independent research portfolio that has synergy with the research strategy of the School/University.

As a distance learning University, our teaching model differs significantly from that at more traditional face-to-face universities - please visit https://www.open.ac.uk/stem/life-health-chemical-sciences/about-us/our-teaching-model to find out more.

Key Responsibilities

The successful applicant will be expected to undertake a combination of the following duties at a level appropriate for their career stage.

Teaching

• Prepare asynchronous learning materials for the teaching and learning methodologies used by the Open University (including potentially outside their immediate area of expertise).
• Support student learning, through the delivery and maintenance of existing modules and qualifications, including the preparation of assessment materials and participation in quality assurance processes.
• Work with key stakeholders to ensure the curriculum is future-focussed and use new technologies as appropriate to enhance its design and delivery.
• Work with other academic and academic-related colleagues in the support of student engagement and progression and the enhancement of the quality of teaching, learning and pedagogic research within the School.

Research, scholarship and enterprise

• Work collaboratively to support the research culture of the School.
• Establish an independent research programme that contributes effectively to the research and scholarship activities of the School and/or the Faculty and University.
• Enhance the national and international reputation of the School, the Faculty, and the University, through developing high-quality peer-reviewed publications, as well as representation at scientific meetings and other public-facing activities.

Other academic contributions

• Contribute to the academic community in the School, Faculty and University, including by undertaking a range of leadership and administrative roles from time to time.
• Demonstrate a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion principles in all their work.
• Undertake a programme of continuous professional development.

Skills and Experience

Your Personal Statement should explain how you meet or exceed the requirements of each of the points on this list (commensurate with your career stage). You may find it helpful to list each point and give an example for how you meet that requirement.

• A PhD in area related to cellular neuroscience or a relevant biomedical science, or a Masters and equivalent professional experience.
• Experience of teaching cellular or molecular neuroscience at undergraduate level, including for example with respect to neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation or ageing.
• An understanding of the role of modern technologies to deliver engaging learning opportunities for students, and a commitment to innovation in this area.
• Evidence of the ability to successfully conduct research that complements the existing research in the School. We are particularly interested in candidates who work at the interface between neuroscience and other areas of biomedical research (e.g. cancer, immunology, infectious disease).
• A broad knowledge of developments relevant to teaching and/or research in your discipline area.
• Commitment to the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of your work and to the aims, ethos, and values of the Open University.
• Excellent team working skills and ability to work collaboratively and supportively with others and to agreed deadlines.
• An understanding of supported open and distance learning and experience of producing asynchronous online and/or distance learning materials.
• Higher Education professional accreditation or equivalent teaching qualification.

To apply for this role please submit the following:

• CV that includes details of academic qualifications, teaching and research experience, grants received and publications.
• Supporting statement, up to 1,000 words, you should set out in your supporting statement why you’re interested in this role and provide examples of where your skills and experience meet the essential and desirable criteria for this role as detailed above. You may find it helpful to list each point and give an example for how you meet that requirement. Alternatively, you might find it easier to put your application into the form of a table.
• Research Plan, up to 400 words, please outline your plans for the next 3 years. Please add this to the bottom of your supporting statement and upload as 1 document.

You will need to have your documents ready ahead of submitting the electronic application.

Next Steps

Interview date: Likely to be week commencing 7th July 2025.

The selection process for those shortlisted for interview will include the following (in addition to the main interview itself):

1. A short, specified written teaching activity to be completed before the interview date; this will be discussed with a teaching panel.

2. A short presentation on your plans for research/scholarship.

The written teaching text and presentation will be discussed with you as part of the interview process.

Candidates will be notified as soon as possible after the closing date whether they have been shortlisted for interview.

Work location

It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where you can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes office it is expected that attendance on our Milton Keynes campus will be required when necessary and in response to business needs, for example for laboratory-based research and/or supervision of research students or occasional team meetings.

We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it’s a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what may work for you and the role.

Early closing date notification

We may close this job advert earlier than the published closing date where a satisfactory number of applications are received. We would therefore encourage early applications.

The Open University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion which is reflected in our mission to be open to people, places, methods and ideas. We aim to foster a diverse and inclusive environment so that all in our OU community can reach their potential. We recognise that different people bring different perspectives, ideas, knowledge, and culture, and that this difference brings great strength. We strive to recruit, retain and develop the careers of a diverse pool of students and staff, and particularly encourage applications from all underrepresented groups. We also aspire to make The Open University a supportive workplace for all through our policies, services and staff networks.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Education and Science

• Industries

  Higher Education

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