Dublin Institute of Technology

Assistant Lecturer in Cell & Molecular Biology - Ref HRC-A-501-13

Please complete the online application form which can be found at http://dit.ie/hr/resourcing/resourcingandrecruitment/vacancies/ .  You will receive an acknowledgement by email immediately after submitting the form.  Interested applicants must fully complete the online application form as incomplete forms will not be accepted.  You may attach a CV to accompany your application form, but it is not sufficient to state “See CV” on the form.  Please ensure that you submit your application not later than: 

  Latest day for receipt of applications on our online recruitment system is

3^rd June 2013

Late applications will not be accepted.

Tel: +353-1-402 7516

Fax: +353-1-402 3395

Email: hr@dit.ie

Please note, should you have any queries in relation to the submission of your application, support is available at the contact details listed above Monday – Friday, 09.00 – 17.00. 

You are also advised that you can only submit one application per competition.  Should you have any issues with your submission, please contact us.

Job Description:

The School of Biological Sciences is seeking to appoint an Assistant Lecturer in Cell and Molecular Biology on a specified purpose basis. The School seeks a highly motivated candidate with experience in teaching at third level, particularly in Cell and Molecular Biology. The appointee will play an active role in the academic direction of programmes including teaching, research, academic assessment and academic administration.

The School of Biological Sciences is a highly dynamic School in the Dublin Institute of Technology and provides undergraduate and postgraduate education in a number of areas including Biomedical Science and Clinical Laboratory Science, with dual accreditation of undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications for Medical Scientists by two Professional Bodies, the Academy of Medical Laboratory Sciences (AMLS) and the Institute of Biomedical Science, UK (IBMS). In addition, the School, in association with Trinity College Dublin, is the only centre in the Republic of Ireland educating graduates in Human Nutrition and Dietetics and also provides undergraduate education in Biosciences and Biomolecular Science. The School is also a partner in the delivery of an Erasmus Mundus postgraduate Programme in Food Science, Technology and Nutrition. A number of the Programmes delivered by the School lead to Professionally Accredited Awards.

Nature of the Post:

This post is to cover for a staff member on Career Break and the contract will cease when this purpose ends.

The post is wholetime, specified purpose and pensionable, subject to the terms of the provisions of the Dublin Institute of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006 and any subsequent Acts replacing or amending these Acts and any orders and regulations made under these Acts will apply. 

This contract post is subject to public policy in respect of recruitment on the public sectors (for example as outlined in the ‘Employment Control Framework for Higher Education Sector’ published by the Higher Education Authority pursuant to the Moratorium on Recruitment and Promotions in the Public Service). It is a condition of this contract post, that if the Institute is obliged to terminate the post for reasons outside of its control (such as State policy), a redundancy will arise in respect of this position.

Duties:

The appointee will play an active role in the academic direction of courses including teaching, research, academic assessment and academic administration. The appointee should carry out such duties as are assigned by management including but not limited to:-

a)      Teaching such assigned classes as deemed appropriate by management of the Institute, day or evening, up to 630 hours per annum including supervision of post-graduate students where appropriate. There will be a norm of 18 class contact hours per week, which may be varied from 16 to 20 in consultation with the teacher.  Where a lecturer is supervising a Tutor/Demonstrator, a reduction in teaching hours will be applied on the basis of one-hour reduction per three hours demonstration/tutorials supervised;

b)      Carrying out assessment, monitoring and evaluation of examinations work, and providing an academic and consultative support to students in their learning activities;

c)       Providing academic input on existing and new courses and course development;

d)      Engaging in research, consultancy and development work as appropriate;

e)      Participating in committees appropriate to courses and meetings convened by management;

f)       Maintaining appropriate records and making available information as required by management;

g)      Engaging in promotion including student recruitment as appropriate;

h)      Participating in development, implementation and maintenance of academic quality assurance arrangements;

i)        Participating in appropriate activities necessary to the development of their department/school and the Institute;

j)        Directing and supervising the work of Tutor/Demonstrator and taking academic responsibility for the academic standards of this work.

The performance of these duties will require attendance in addition to class contact hours during the normal working week.

The appointee shall carry out the lawful instructions of the President or authorised officer and comply with the requirements and regulations of the Minister for Education and Skills.

The provisions of the agreement with the Teachers’ Union of Ireland in the context of the Public Service Agreement as set out in Circular Letter 0026/2011 will apply to this post. 

Requirements/Qualifications:

Essential:

a)      A first or second class honours degree in Cell and Molecular Biology from a recognised degree awarding authority or an approved equivalent qualification

b)      Three years appropriate experience, subsequent to obtaining the qualification in a) above

Desirable:

·         A Masters Degree or PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology or a cognate discipline

·         Third level teaching experience in Cell and Molecular Biology

·         Experience in designing, teaching and assessing basic and advanced Cell and Molecular Biology practical classes

·         A track record of research and scholarly activities

·         A knowledge of pharmacology, toxicology and drug development

·         Excellent communication skills both oral and written. Communication with students is particularly important

 Experience of directing and supervising the work of Tutor/Demonstrator and taking academic responsibility for the academic standards of this work

·         Knowledge and experience of working with Powerpoint and other Microsoft applications

·         Experience of e-learning education management systems such as Webcourses or Blackboard

·         Flexibility and ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team

·         An enthusiastic team player with the ability to network with colleagues and other stakeholders

·         Experience of participating in the development, implementation and maintenance of academic quality assurance arrangements

·         Experience of participating in committees appropriate to Programmes and meetings convened by management

[Note: Masters Degrees must have been obtained by thesis/examination]

Salary:

Assistant Lecturer Salary:            

• ·  €39,715
• ·  €35,743 (10% reduction in the pay of new entrants to the public service contained in the National Recovery Plan applies)

 Appointments will be made at Point (01) of the Assistant Lecturer Salary Scale.

 The rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy.

 Superannuation

This is a pensionable post.  Details of the appropriate Pension Scheme will be communicated to the successful candidate on appointment.

Probation:

The Institutes Probationary Policy will apply.

 Progression:

Assistant Lecturers will progress to the main career grade of Lecturer on completion of one year’s service after having reached the maximum of the Assistant Lecturer scale subject to a minimum of five years continuous service in the grade subject to ability, experience, academic qualifications, scholarship and demonstrated performance. Possession of an appropriate defined postgraduate qualification or equivalent shall normally be considered an essential requirement. An Assistant Lecturer with a Ph.D. and relevant research experience may be considered for progression after three years continuous service. If successful such an Assistant Lecturer may be placed on the first point of the Lecturer scale and remain on that point until five years of service has been completed.

 Teaching Qualifications for Newly Appointed Academic Staff:

Please note that effective from the 1^st March 2006, all new academic staff appointed to the DIT at Assistant Lecturer and Lecturer grades, who do not currently have a teaching qualification or equivalent will be facilitated to undertake the Postgraduate Diploma in Third Level Learning and Teaching offered by the DIT Learning and Teaching Centre. Enclosed is a copy of DIT’s policy on support for newly appointed academic staff which outlines details of exemptions granted on the basis of earned equivalent qualifications and further information on the Postgraduate Diploma in Third Level Learning and Teaching.

 For further information please visit our website at: http://bit.ly/KcHVYo

 Holidays:

Leave will be granted in accordance with the collective agreements approved by the Minister for Education and Skills from time to time for permanent whole-time Lecturers.

 Certificates:

Persons appointed for the first time to a wholetime position within the Institute will be required to furnish:

• a satisfactory Health Certificate from a medical practitioner nominated by the Institute;
• as evidence of age, a certified extract from a Public Register of Birth;
• two satisfactory references, one from your current/most recent employer.

 Other Information:

Applicants who have availed of the Incentivised Scheme of Early Retirement in a public sector body should note that persons who retire under this Scheme are not eligible for appointment to a position in the same employment or the same sector of employment in the public service.

 Successful applicants must inform the Institute if they are beneficiaries under this Scheme. In this case the Institute is required to inform the former employer of such employment. In these circumstances, payment of the pension awarded under this Scheme will be abated with effect from the date of that appointment and abatement of pension will continue while the person is employed in the public service or until maximum pension age, as appropriate.

 General Information:

• Canvassing will automatically disqualify.

• Shortlisting of applicants may take place, on the basis of information supplied in the application form.

• Late applications will not be accepted.

• DIT is an equal opportunities employer.
• DIT operates a policy of Garda Vetting & Disclosure of Criminal Convictions.  All applicants will be asked to disclose criminal convictions and may have to undergo Garda Vetting as part of the selection process.

Human Resources Department                                                                                                                  May 2013