Are you looking for biology lecturer jobs in higher education?
Most biology lecturers are specialists in a sub-discipline of biology, such as molecular biology or evolutionary biology, but they are also expected to have a breadth of knowledge across all interlinked subject areas which make up the discipline.
In this post, we explore what it’s like to work as a biology lecturer in higher education, the qualifications and experience you’ll need and where to find biology lecturer opportunities here at jobs.ac.uk.
What does a Biology Lecturer do?
Biologists study all living things, either at a cellular level or the level of a whole ecosystem (and everything in between). Biology researchers and specialists aim to find solutions to the world’s most pressing problems; from discovering new cancer treatments to fighting climate change.
A biologist’s work is driven by their specialism. They carry out lab and fieldwork, data analysis and basic and applied research in universities, clinical/healthcare settings, public sector organisations, charities and a huge range of private sector biosciences industries.
Biology Lecturer Jobs
Biology is an exceptionally broad discipline, so lecturers teach undergraduate/postgraduate students and undertake research according to their specialist areas.
Duties include:
- Planning, delivery and assessment of research-led teaching at all levels.
- Design and development of curricula and innovative teaching resources.
- Developing research objectives and proposals according to the institution’s priorities.
- Conducting individual and collaborative biosciences research projects.
- Producing high-quality, impact-driven research outputs for publication.
- Identifying and securing enterprise and knowledge transfer activities.
- Providing supervision, mentoring and pastoral support to students at all levels.
How to Become a Biology Lecturer
The majority of higher education employers require biology lecturers to have the following qualifications, experience and knowledge:
Qualifications
A first degree and/or Master’s in biological sciences and a PhD in the area of biology sought by the institution (e.g. human or marine biology) would be essential qualifications.
Universities may be willing to accept professional qualifications and experience equivalent to a doctorate – for instance, if you have worked as a research scientist in industry or as a registered health professional in the NHS. However, this is entirely dependent on the nature of the lecturing position and the scope of the research activities of the department.
Having a recognised higher education teaching qualification and membership with a professional body such as the Royal Society of Biology would be highly desirable.
Experience and knowledge
Experience and evidence of biology research activities through published materials and completion of postdoctoral projects and activities in your field would be essential for most higher education biology lecturer positions.
Knowledge and experience of teaching, mentoring and assessing biology students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels would also be essential. For any lecturer in biology job, you would need to demonstrate extensive knowledge of biology beyond research-specific expertise.
What’s the pay?
A lecturer in biology can expect a salary in the range of £44,414 to £52,841 p.a., depending on research and teaching experience.
What can it lead to?
Most universities have a career framework for academic staff to ensure progression. After several years working as a lecturer, you could apply for a senior lecturer or associate professor in biology position. Promotion depends on the quality of your teaching practice, research record and ability to attract further funding.
Where can I find Biology Lecturer jobs?
Lecturers in biology teach and research in Schools or Faculties of Biological Sciences or Life Sciences. However, you will also find lecturing jobs in medical (in either a clinical or non-clinical role) and engineering disciplines (such as biotechnology or medical technology). The availability of jobs depends on your specialist area of biology – for example, there are more roles available in molecular biology, genetics/genomics and cancer biology.
Lecturing jobs are sought after as they offer the security of permanent employment, therefore competition can be fierce, even in a high-demand area such as biological sciences. The busiest time for recruitment to these roles is between May and July.
New lecturing jobs in biology are added to jobs.ac.uk all the time. Take a look at our current roles and get the latest opportunities straight to your inbox by registering for a jobs by email alert.
Find Lecturer in Biology jobs here
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