Immunology lecturers carry out vital research and deliver lectures and laboratory classes to biological sciences and medical students. Universities look to employ immunology experts from a wide range of backgrounds who can inspire the next generation of biomedical scientists.
jobs.ac.uk have created a Immunology Lecturer Jobs Profile to look at a typical immunology lecturer job, the qualifications and experience you need and opportunities for career progression.
What does a Immunology Lecturer do?
They are scientists or clinicians who focus on the body’s immune system in the context of health and disease. Their research has an impact on the development of new drugs, vaccines and treatments for a wide range of conditions, from autoimmune disease and cancer to hay fever and allergies.
Specialists in immunology can be qualified medical practitioners or those from a biosciences academic background. They work in teaching hospitals, diagnosing and treating patients with immune disorders (clinical route) or as researchers in universities, research organisations, public sector bodies and the biomedical/life sciences industries (scientific route).
Immunology lecturers teach specialist courses and modules to undergraduate and postgraduate students across biosciences, pharmacology and biomedical sciences disciplines. They also support and contribute to applied immunology research.
Duties include:
- Delivery of lectures, tutorials and lab-based teaching to biosciences students.
- Contributing to the design and development of specialist modules in immunology.
- Conducting impactful applied research both individually and in collaboration with others.
- Contributing to knowledge transfer and dissemination of research findings.
- Applying to appropriate external bodies for research funding and managing grants awarded.
- Establishing research and education links with industry and public health organisations.
- Supervising and mentoring students.
How to Become an Immunology Lecturer
The majority of lecturing jobs in immunology require candidates to have the following qualifications, experience and knowledge:
Essential qualifications
- A PhD in Immunology or a related area (such as microbiology, pharmacology or biomedical sciences). Clinical immunologists must have a primary medical degree or training as a clinical scientist through the NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP).
- A recognised teaching qualification and/or Associate Membership or Fellowship with Advance HE. The requirement to have a teaching qualification or fellowship can be either essential or desirable criteria, depending on the higher education employer.
- Some employers may ask for candidates to have fellowship with a professional body such as the Institute of Biomedical Science.
Experience and knowledge
Immunology is a broad research area so candidates would need to demonstrate research interests (and a publication record) in an area of immunology consistent with the institution’s current priorities. If an institution is actively engaged in a programme of research surrounding, for example, anti-inflammatory drug design, you would need to show how your research and knowledge align with this area.
Most immunology lecturers will have completed several postdoctoral research projects and have experience of contributing to funding bids. Experience having worked as an immunologist in the commercial sector or within a clinical setting would be an advantage.
You would also need to demonstrate evidence of delivering higher education teaching, at least at undergraduate level.
What’s the pay?
An immunology lecturer can expect a salary in the range of £40,521 to £44,263, depending on prior research outcomes and teaching experience.
What can it lead to?
On completion of several years as a lecturer, the next step would be to apply for a senior lecturer or associate professor of immunology position. Promotion would depend on successful research outcomes, publication, and your ability to deliver high-quality teaching.
Where can I find Immunology Lecturer jobs?
Immunology is becoming increasingly important in the development of vaccines and treatments and academic job availability in this field is higher than average.
The current focus is on bringing academic and industrial immunology research closer together. Therefore, the higher education sector is keen to employ lecturers from a variety of academic and industry backgrounds to provide their students with comprehensive immunology education.
You’ll find a diverse range of immunology jobs here at jobs.ac.uk, with new opportunities added every day.
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- Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences
- Associate Professor of Synthetic Biology
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