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Working at Durham University 

A globally outstanding centre of teaching and research excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other.

As one of the UK’s leading universities, Durham is an incredible place to define your career while enjoying a high-quality work/life balance. We are home to some of the most talented scholars and researchers from around the world who are tackling global issues and making a difference to people's lives.  

We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things in the world.

Our University Strategy is built on three pillars of research, education and wider student experience, but also on our keen sense of community and of inspiring others to achieve their potential. 

Our University Strategy

Our Purpose and Values

Find out more about the benefits of working at the University and what it is like to live and work in the Durham area on our Why Durham? information page. 

The Department 

The Department of Mathematical Sciences at Durham University seeks to appoint a talented individual to the role of Associate Professor.  We welcome applications from those with research and teaching interests in the broad field of probability theory, including stochastic analysis. Durham University is continuing to pursue opportunities for developing excellence in provision of postgraduate education, and we encourage candidates who have experience and/or interests in mathematical and/or computational finance also to apply.

This post offers an exciting opportunity to make a major contribution to the development of internationally excellent research and teaching while allowing you unrivalled opportunities to progress and embed your career in an exciting and progressive institution. For more information, please visit our Department pages at https://www.dur.ac.uk/mathematical.sciences/.

Associate Professors at Durham 

Associate Professors on the Education and Research track are encouraged to focus on research and teaching quality, and innovation.  We of course value research income, which is a necessary input to drive research outputs and impact.   

Academic colleagues are supported to publish internationally excellent research in high impact outputs including (monographs, essays in edited volumes, book chapters), in their area of interest with a focus on quality rather than quantity. We will fully support your research needs including practical help such as resources to attend conferences and to fund research activity, as well as a generous research leave policy and a designated mentor. Sitting alongside world class research; teaching quality and innovation is critical to ensure a first-class learning environment and curricula for all of our students. You will be supported to develop your existing teaching expertise and to engage in teaching innovation to embed our student experience. 

Engagement in wider citizenship is expected as your career develops, to support your department and wider discipline, and to contribute to the wider student experience.  

We are confident that our recruitment process allows us to attract and select the best international talent to Durham. We therefore offer a reduced probation period of 1 year for our Assistant Professors and thereafter, subject to satisfactory performance, your position will be confirmed as permanent.

Associate Professor in Probability 

Applicants must demonstrate research excellence in the field of probability, with the ability to teach our students to an exceptional standard and to fully engage in the services, citizenship and values of the University.   The University provides a working and teaching environment which is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate these key principles as part of the assessment process. 

Key responsibilities: 

• Pursue research that is world-leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour, commensurate with the Department’s continuing emphasis on international excellence.
• To make a significant contribution to the development of successful research project/ fellowship proposals in pursuit of suitable national and international funding opportunities to support research.
• Deliver excellent teaching offering lectures, seminars and tutorials at undergraduate and taught postgraduate levels.  Contribute significantly to the development and delivery of high quality teaching, including the design of excellent learning environments and curricula.
• Contribute to enhancing the quality of the research environment in the Department, the wider University and beyond.  Contribute to establishing and leading research groups within and beyond the University, and engaging in the mentoring of early career researchers.
• To attract and provide excellent supervision to research students, and to enhance the Department’s commitment to its vibrant and international postgraduate culture. 
•  Contribute significantly to the administrative functioning and collegial environment of the Department and wider University, undertaking leadership activities which support the functioning of the Department and wider University.
•  To fully engage in, champion and enhance the values of the Department.
•  Carry out such other duties as specified by the Head of Department.

Durham University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion 

Our collective aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and we believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work.  

As a University equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key part of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do.  We also live by our Purpose and Values  and our Staff Code of Conduct.  At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive. It’s important to us that all of our colleagues are aligned to both our values and commitment to EDI. 

We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force including people with disabilities and people from racially minoritised ethnic groups. 

We are committed to equality: if for any reason you have taken a career break or periods of leave that may have impacted on the volume and recency of research outputs, such as maternity, adoption or parental leave, you may wish to disclose this in your application.  We also understand that the Covid-19 pandemic will have had differential impacts on different people and welcome information on this if you wish to share it. The selection committee will recognise that this may have reduced the quantity of your research accordingly 

The University has been awarded the Disability Confident Employer status. If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

Person Specification  

Applicants must demonstrate research excellence in the field of probability, with the ability to teach our students to an exceptional standard and to fully engage in the services, citizenship and values of the University.  

Research  

Candidates must have the capacity for and be progressing towards the independent development of internationally excellent research that produces high-quality outcomes, including some work that is recognised as world-class or that has world-class potential.   

Essential Research Criteria

1.      Qualifications - a good first degree and a PhD in probability, stochastic analysis, or a related subject.

2.      Outputs - that are consistently recognised as internationally excellent, with at least one output regarded as world class.  Candidates are asked to submit two research papers with their application (as outlined in the How to Apply section below). 

3.       Personal Research Plan - strong research programme evidenced by a personal research plan which supports and enhances the Department’s research strategy. The research plan should present the candidate’s research agenda and objectives over a span of 5 years, and should be presented on no more than 4 pages of A4.

Education 

Candidates must demonstrate Significant contribution to the development and delivery of high-quality teaching with a demonstrable contribution to the design of excellent learning environments & curricula, including curriculum development, that enable students to achieve their potential.

Essential Education Criteria

1. Quality - making a significant contribution to the development and delivery of high-quality teaching at a nationally competitive level. Contribution to training, educating and mentoring other teachers in the department and/or the University in relationship to learning and teaching. (Candidates may choose to provide student evaluation scores and/or peer reviews of teaching). 
2. Innovation – evidence of successful new programme development and innovate in the teaching methods for the design / delivery of high quality teaching at a nationally competitive level including lectures, small group learning and/or using technology or other techniques to enhance learning and/or assessment. 
3. Strategic – Significant contribution to the design and delivery of excellent teaching activities and the creation of learning environments that enable students to achieve their potential.

Service, Citizenship and Values 

Candidates must actively contribute to leadership activities, administrative functioning and to the citizenship and respectful environment of the Department, Faculty and University, positively contributing to the University Values and to fostering a respectful environment; as well as demonstrating their commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Essential Service, Citizenship and Values criteria 

1. Citizenship contribution – a significant contribution to the collegial work and environment of an academic Department, Faculty or University. (Candidates may choose to evidence departmental or University roles, Faculty or University level committees or projects, mentoring activity, pastoral and academic support of students, engagement with widening participation, proactive support of the work of professional services colleagues, contributions to departmental programme management and/or strategic development, contribution to equality and diversity initiatives and membership or engagement with external bodies).
2. Leadership - evidence of leadership roles or a significant contribution to leadership activities that support the administrative functioning of an academic Department, Faculty or University and / or which support the development of the relevant discipline.  (Candidates may choose to detail any leadership roles which they have undertaken, preferably in an academic context).
3. Communication - candidates must have excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to engage with a range of students and colleagues across a variety of forums.

Desirable Criteria  

The desirable criteria for this post (for which candidates should provide evidence of some if not all criteria) are: 

1. Research Leadership - significant contribution to establishing and leading research groups within and beyond the candidate’s institution, a recognised contribution to the development of the relevant research field, and engagement in the mentoring of early career researchers.  Significant contribution to the development of successful research project / fellowship proposals.  (Candidates may choose to include information about research group leadership, mentoring of research colleagues, invitations to external events, engagement with international networks or projects).
2. PhD Supervision – the successful recruitment and excellent supervision of PhD students. 
3. Research Impact - evidence of a significant contribution to the development of research that has a demonstrable impact beyond the Candidate’s institution.  
4. Income Generation - significant evidence of engagement in the development of successful research projects and quality research grant proposals.  

Contact Information 

Department contact for academic-related enquiries 

Professor Sunil Chhita, sunil.chhita@durham.ac.uk

Contact information for technical difficulties when submitting your application 

If you encounter technical difficulties when using the online application form, we prefer you send enquiries by email.  Please send your name along with a brief description of the problem you’re experiencing to e.recruitment@durham.ac.uk 

Alternatively, you may call 0191 334 6801 from the UK, or +44 191 334 6801 from outside the UK. This number operates during the hours of 09.00 and 17.00 Monday to Friday, UK time.  We will normally respond within one working day (Monday to Friday, excluding UK public holidays).  

University contact for general queries about the recruitment process  

How to Apply  

We prefer to receive applications online.    

Please note that in submitting your application, we will be processing your data.  We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement https://www.dur.ac.uk/ig/dp/privacy/pnjobapplicants/ which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.  

If you are unable to complete your application via our recruitment system, please get in touch with us on e.recruitment@durham.ac.uk.  

What to Submit 

All applicants are asked to submit: 

· A CV  

· A covering letter which details your experience, strengths and potential in the requirements set out above; 

· Personal research plan of up to 4 pages. 

· Two of your most significant pieces of written work.  Where possible your written work should have been published or submitted since 2020, however work prior to 2020 may be submitted where candidates have had career breaks. 

· An EDI & values statement – (of no more than 500 words) which outlines work which you have been involved in which demonstrates your commitment to EDI and our values. I.e. Involvement in quality, diversity, and inclusion activities such as mentoring, volunteering, or attending conferences 

Where possible we request that you provide accessible web links to your publications, which the hiring Department will use to access your work.  The application form contains fields in which to enter each of the web links. Please note we are unable to access publications behind a paywall.  

In the event you are unable to provide accessible links to online hosting of your work, your work should be uploaded as PDFs as part of your application in our recruitment system. Please ensure that your PDFs are not larger than 5mb. Please note that your work may be read by colleagues from across the Department and evaluated against the current REF criteria;

Please save all application documents with your name and document type as PDF files. 

We will notify you on the status of your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system.  Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to ensure you receive all emails. 

Referees 

You should provide 3 academic referees they should not (if possible) include your PhD supervisor(s).  The majority should be from a University other than your own (save for early career applicants applying for their first post). 

References will be requested for candidates who have been shortlisted and will be made available to the panel during the interview process. 

As part of your application, you will be asked whether you give your consent to your academic references being sought should you be invited to attend an interview. We will only request references where permission has been granted.  

Next Steps 

All applications will be considered; our usual practice is for colleagues across the Department to read the submitted work of long-listed candidates.   

Short-listed candidates will be invited to the University, either virtually or in-person and will have the opportunity to meet key members of the Department.  The assessment for the post will normally include a presentation to staff in the Department followed by an interview  and we anticipate that the assessments and interviews will take place over two days in January 2024.

In the event that you are unable to attend in person on the date offered, it may not be possible to offer you an interview on an alternative date. 

Applicant Guidance  

For further guidance on your application please see HERE