Director of Jeremiah Horrocks Institute, UCLan, UK. (Full professorial post)
The University of Central Lancashire invites applications for the full professorial post of Director of the Jeremiah Horrocks Institute, based in Preston, UK.
The JHI Institute (http://www.star.uclan.ac.uk) includes around 40 staff and research students in Astrophysics, Solar Physics and related research areas, and achieved internationally excellent and world leading ratings in the UK’s 2008 Research Assessment Exercise.
The JHI is a partner in the Southern African Large Telescope and in the COSMOS HPC project, holds core membership in the Herschel-ATLAS and GAMA survey teams, and hosts the UK data hub for Solar Dynamics Observatory. The University has a Space Act Agreement with NASA that is unique amongst UK Universities.
JHI staff are involved in collaborations active on every continent on Earth. Research interests include: solar and solar-terrestrial physics; stellar and interstellar physics including asteroseismology, evolved stars and pre-stellar objects; galaxy formation and evolution, extragalactic jets and large-scale structure.
The JHI Director reports to the Dean of the School of Computing, Engineering and Physical Sciences, which also hosts teaching in Physics and Astronomy including a highly successful Astronomy distance learning programme (www.studyastronomy.com) attracting around 400 students internationally each year and providing the only BSc(Hons) Astronomy programme by distance learning. Many JHI staff also teach on the School’s Mathematics programme. There are existing and developing synergies with other aspects of physics, mathematics, engineering, computing, nuclear and energy disciplines within the School.
The appointee will be a world-class researcher with excellent leadership abilities, and be responsible for driving an increase in the fraction of JHI research judged to be world leading and internationally excellent. In addition the appointee will work closely with the School Executive Team and Professoriate, and the University Director of Research, to develop inter-disciplinary links including support for activities around teaching and knowledge transfer. Key to the role is leading and further developing the supportive environment for staff and students to enable them to perform to the best of their abilities.
It is envisaged that the appointee would take up a professorial role at the University prior to the current Director retiring in 2012/13, to enable a managed transition into the role. This is a professorial appointment: candidates should meet all the essential criteria on the person specification and the specific professorial criteria as described via the Further Information link at http://www.uclan.ac.uk/information/services/work/191A-22-07.php
The JHI is located on UCLan’s main campus, on a pleasant site near the centre of the city of Preston, which has a rich history dating back over 800 years. Immediately outside the city is the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, whilst three National Parks (Lake District, Peak District, Yorkshire Dales) are each only an hour away. Preston has excellent communications by rail and motorway with the rest of the country: London, Edinburgh and Glasgow are all less than 2.5 hours away by direct train. The city has many parks and green spaces for outdoor activities, a plethora of pubs and clubs and a vibrant city centre only a few minutes’ walk from the university. There are numerous cultural events, both in Preston itself (e.g. during 2012 with the unique once-every-20-yrs Preston Guild celebrations which have run since the 12th Century) and in nearby cities such as Manchester and Liverpool. Preston is also the European City of Sport for 2012.
Informal enquires regarding this post may be addressed to Robert Walsh, Director of Research rwwalsh@uclan.ac.uk
or Robert Wallace, Dean, rrwallace@uclan.ac.uk
Further Information:
http://www.uclan.ac.uk/information/services/work/191A-22-07.php
Full-time indefinite-term management contract. Reference: 191A-22-07
Closing Date: Wednesday 30th November 2011 at 17:15 UT.
Interviews will be held in Preston in mid-late January.
How to apply: http://www.uclan.ac.uk/information/services/work/apply.php