Looking for lecturing jobs in chemical engineering?
In this post, we look at a range of typical chemical engineering lecturing and teaching jobs, the qualifications and experience you’ll need and how to move your academic career forwards.
A relatively ‘young’ specialism, chemical engineering has had to evolve quickly to meet the world’s ever-changing needs. Chemical engineers are in demand globally and graduates in this field are among the most sought-after and highest-paid in the engineering sector.
Universities compete to hire experienced chemical engineering lecturers, teachers and specialists who can provide high-quality training as well as undertake innovative research.
Incorporating a broad range of disciplines – such as chemistry, maths, engineering and physics – chemical engineering offers academic career opportunities to candidates from multiple research, teaching and industry backgrounds.
Job Descriptions
- Lecturer in Chemical Engineering
- Lecturer in Chemical and Environmental Engineering
- Teaching and Research Technician – Chemical Engineering
Lecturer in Chemical Engineering
Chemical engineering lecturers deliver multi-disciplinary teaching to undergraduate and postgraduate students. They’re also responsible for carrying out individual and collaborative research in their field.
Duties:
- Teaching across chemical engineering and related disciplines
- Delivery of practical/technical classes in a laboratory environment
- Curriculum and module design and development
- Carrying out high quality research in areas of chemical engineering
- Generating research income and publication of outcomes
- Working with national and international partners in research activities
What qualifications and experience do you need?
A PhD in chemical engineering or related area would be essential for a lectureship.
Universities also encourage applications from candidates who have equivalent professional/industrial experience, however they must be able to demonstrate the ability to make the transition from industry to academia.
Evidence of research and/or academic activity in a subject or discipline consistent with the research focus of the department or school would also be a must.
What’s the pay?
Chemical engineering specialists are in demand and lecturers in this field can expect a higher-than-average starting salary of around £39,992 to £47,722 p.a., depending on qualifications and research experience.
What can it lead to?
On gaining experience as a junior lecturer, the next step would be to apply for a senior lecturer or associate professor role in chemical engineering.
Alternatively, depending previous research activities, you may want to consider a research-only role as a senior research fellow or associate.
Related roles:
- Lecturer in Biochemical/Industrial Engineering
- Lecturer in Materials Science
- Lecturer in Pharmacology
Where can I find jobs?
Chemical engineering degrees are fast-becoming one of the most popular engineering choices for students. You’ll find opportunities are evenly spread across the UK and around the world.
However, competition for lecturing roles is fierce. Appointment to a lectureship will depend on your ability to demonstrate evidence of high-quality published research.
Find lecturing jobs in chemical engineering here.
Lecturer in Chemical and Environmental Engineering
Lecturers in chemical and environmental engineering teach interdisciplinary modules to undergraduate and postgraduate students. They also conduct research activities in their own specialism.
Duties:
- Delivery of lectures, seminars and technical/lab-based classes
- Curriculum and module design and development
- Project supervision and assessment
- Carrying out research in chemical or environmental engineering
- Publication of research outcomes and writing grant proposals
What qualifications and experience do you need?
A PhD in chemical or environmental engineering would be essential for a lectureship.
A strong track record of published research, plus previous experience of teaching at higher education level would also be essential.
What’s the pay?
A lecturer in chemical and environmental engineering can typically expect a starting salary in the region of £35,333 to £42,155 p.a., depending on qualifications and experience.
What can it lead to?
On gaining experience the next step up would be to apply for a senior lecturer or associate professor role. Promotion would depend on the quality of your research and teaching activities.
Related roles:
- Lecturer in Energy
- Lecturer in Environmental Management
- Lecturer in Biochemistry
Where can I find jobs?
As the world attempts to move away from oil and gas, the demand for engineers with specialist knowledge in environmental chemistry has increased, particularly in the development of air and water treatment technologies.
Chemical engineering and environmental engineering are now closely-linked disciplines and universities are increasingly offering joint degrees in these areas. Therefore, lecturers with combined skills and knowledge in both fields are in high demand.
Find lecturer in chemical and environmental engineering here.
Teaching and Research Technician – Chemical Engineering
This is a unique role for laboratory technicians with a background in chemical engineering to carry out teaching and demonstration duties in a university.
Duties:
- Working with technicians and academic staff to instruct students in a laboratory setting
- Delivering demonstrations and workshops about laboratory equipment and usage
- Supporting research staff with laboratory-based experiments and activities
- Ensuring the safety of staff and students in the laboratory
What qualifications and experience do you need?
Having a PhD is not always necessary for these types of jobs. However, you will need to have a first degree in chemical engineering (or related discipline) and proven experience of working in a research or teaching laboratory, whether in a university or in industry.
Practical experience of using technical laboratory equipment and the ability to instruct students safely and comprehensively would be essential.
What’s the pay?
A teaching and research technician in chemical engineering can expect a starting salary of around £27,790 to £34,308 p.a., depending on qualifications and experience.
What can it lead to?
The next step up would be to apply for senior laboratory technician roles, where you would manage your own lab.
Alternatively, you may want to consider pursuing your research and teaching interests by completing a PhD in chemical engineering or related area.
Related roles:
- Research technician
- Research and teaching assistant
- PhD studentship
Where can I find jobs?
There are plenty of research technician roles available in universities and other laboratory settings, but most of these roles don’t include formal teaching duties.
However, universities are keen to combine teaching and technical roles for practical subjects in order to better prepare students for a career in industry. Therefore, these types of roles are slowly becoming more widely available.
Find research technician in chemical engineering jobs here.
Further Information:
- Academic Jobs in Chemical Engineering
- Research Jobs in Chemical Engineering
- Senior Level Academic Jobs in Chemical Engineering
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