Join Life Sciences as a Principal Investigator
We are always looking for dynamic people to join us in Life Sciences at the University of Dundee.
Research Excellence Framework 2021
Opportunities for Principal Investigators
The School of Life Sciences is undergoing significant expansion and is looking to recruit up to 45 research active Group Leaders/Principal Investigators across all career stages (tenure-track, senior lecturer, reader and professorial) over the next 5-year period. We are looking to make appointments across all molecular life sciences research, and particularly in the following thematic areas:
- Ageing and Neurodegeneration
- Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Disease
- Computational Biology
- Drug Discovery/Chemical Biology/Computational Chemistry
- Plant Sciences for Sustainability and Climate Change
Successful candidates will be joining the School of Life Sciences at an exciting time of significant expansion providing the opportunity to contribute to our future direction.
We are also keen to attract researchers with an aptitude for broader research leadership.
Further details can be found in the applicant pack , and we welcome informal enquires to the mailbox SLS_PI_recruitment@dundee.ac.uk.
We offer
Outstanding in-house support and state-of-the-art facilities
A critical component of our research success is the quality of infrastructure and in-house support. These include our Central Technical Services (media services and wash-up), health and safety, stores team, laboratory management and administrative support. All our laboratories in the research complex are open-plan, which encourages collaboration and interdisciplinary working. We are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and technologies.
Members of our Division of Plant Sciences are based at the James Hutton Institute and benefit from their specialist facilities such as the new Advanced Plant Growth Centre and International Barley Hub.
Teaching opportunities
Our research-led teaching is preparing the next-generation of employable graduates with degrees that have a real-world focus. Principal Investigators contribute to this at level 3 and 4 as well as part of our taught postgraduate programmes. Direct research lab experience and training is provided to students through our popular summer lab placements for undergraduates, Honours and Masters projects as well as our PhD programmes.
Teaching loads for Principal Investigators are typically between 5-10% of total workload, and our tenure-track staff have minimal requirements in the first few years whilst they establish their independent research.
Kirby Swatek, Principal Investigator, MRC PPU, joined SLS in 2022 and awarded a Lister Research Prize Fellowship in 2023
For Tenure-track appointments
Our Tenure-track appointments are typically made on a 5+2 year basis, with a tenure decision usually being made five years after appointment and salary being underwritten for two years afterwards.
We provide our researchers with a range of professional and informal support systems to allow them to acquire new skills and develop their careers. Alongside access to the University Talent and Development (formerly OPD) resources, courses and team, we provide additional opportunities for our tenure-track PIs. These include a programme of mentoring, support and assessment to develop their scientific career. As well as preparation for teaching provided by the University Academic Skills Centre and the opportunity to attend the EMBO laboratory management course.
Our technology transfer office, Research and Innovation Services (RIS), supports the licensing of university technology to industry and collaborative research programmes.
External engagement opportunities
The work undertaken in the School of Life Sciences has a significant impact on people’s health, our shared economy and environment. We make our science accessible through public engagement and we work in partnership with our audiences and external partners.
We are also one of the leading universities in the UK for spinning out and commercialising research, creating companies such as Exscientia and Amphista Therapeutics. We are 6th in the UK and 1st in Scotland for the value of our spinouts over the last two decades (University Spinout Report 2021, GovGrant).
Professional culture
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential for us to ensure a vibrant and sustainable workplace culture. We aim to support and develop all our staff and students so they can work to the best of their ability, this requires a culture where everyone is able and feels empowered and safe to question and challenge behaviours that compromise this goal.
If you are interested in exploring the possibility of joining us as Principal Investigator (research group leader), please contact SLS_PI_recruitment@dundee.ac.uk or the relevant Head of Division.