Assistant Professor in Mechanical / Biomedical Engineering

About our Team

We are looking to recruit a Biomedical or Mechanical Engineer (assistant professor) to join the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences (EPS) at the Edinburgh campus of Heriot Watt University for maternity cover. Applicants will ideally have expertise in biomaterials, as well as design and manufacture.

The successful candidate will deliver existing teaching relevant to Mechanical Engineering undergraduate and/or Biomedical Engineering postgraduate students. The successful applicant will also help support student project supervision. Whilst this is a role with a significant amount of responsibility you will have a network that will help support you.

EPS has 250 academic staff across our campuses in Edinburgh, Dubai and Malaysia driving our teaching and research activity. EPS delivers teaching of various disciplines (e.g. Electrical, Electronic & Computer Engineering; Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, and Biosciences). Our research interests span biomedical, mechanical, electrical and chemical engineering, as well as toxicology, brewing and distilling plus chemical, physical and biological sciences. All areas are supported by strong external funding, with currently >£100M of active research grants. Academics are based in 5 research institutes: Institute of Biological Chemistry, BioPhysics & BioEngineering (IB3); Institute of Chemical Sciences (ICS); Institute of Mechanical, Process & Energy Engineering (IMPEE); Institute of Photonics & Quantum Sciences (IPaQS); and Institute of Sensors, Signals & Systems (ISSS). The successful applicant could be associated with IMPEE and IB3 if they are interested.

Heriot Watt University holds an Institutional Athena Swan Bronze Award, as does the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, recognising excellence in championing the advancement of the careers of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. We offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, staff engagement forums, campus facilities and services to support staff from different backgrounds. Applications from members of underrepresented groups are especially encouraged. 

Purpose of Role 

The role holder will be expected to lead and contribute to the delivery and assessment of several courses which could include Biomaterials (postgraduate), Biomanufacture in Bioengineering (postgraduate), Design and Manufacture (undergraduate) and project supervision. Exact teaching could change based on the expertise of the successful candidate. Teaching will involve the delivery of existing lectures, tutorials, and practical classes and may involve organisation of external expert speakers and field trips (e.g. to industry). The successful candidate will have opportunities to demonstrate innovation in teaching and deliver research-led teaching. The role holder will also be a personal tutor to undergraduate students. 

The role holder will be based in Edinburgh in the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences and the role will require you to collaborate with colleagues in EPS as well as other schools at the Edinburgh campus, and potentially our overseas campuses in Dubai and Malaysia. There will be administrative responsibilities associated with the role such as reporting on marks and student performance. 

We are interested to consider applicants with or without research experience in biomaterials and biomedical engineering and stress that extensive research experience is not essential for this role. 

Key Duties and Responsibilities 

The successful applicant will be responsible for

Learning, Teaching and Scholarship 

• Delivery of existing teaching (e.g. lectures, tutorials, practical classes). 
• Invite external experts to deliver teaching 
• Ensuring students are engaged with the learning materials 
• Assessing courses (e.g. designing and marking coursework and exams) 
• Carrying out course related administrative tasks (e.g. contributing to exam boards and participating in relevant committees) 
• Act as a personal tutor for assigned undergraduate students 
• Supervising student projects 
• Delivering research-led teaching 
• Demonstrating innovation in teaching 
• Liaising with colleagues in Heriot Watt University and externally to support teaching delivery

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of activities and the role holder may be required to undertake other relevant duties commensurate with the grading of the post. Activities may be subject to amendment over time as the role develops and/or priorities and requirements evolve. 

Person Specification 

These are the criteria on which the short-listing and recruitment selection will be made.

Essential

Learning Teaching and Scholarship 

• A degree (PhD level or equivalent expertise) in a relevant discipline (e.g. Mechanical
• Engineering, Biomaterials or Biomedical Engineering) 
• Willingness and capability to deliver teaching for other engineering programmes relevant to the expertise of the role holder 
• Excellent oral and written communication, team working and organisational skills 
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues 
• Willingness to demonstrate versatility and flexibility

Desirable

Learning Teaching and Scholarship 

• Experience of developing/delivering training/teaching material.
• Ideas for innovation in teaching.
• Familiarity with online communication tools such as Teams, Canvas or Blackboard .

Research or Professional Experience 

• Chartered Engineer and Member of the IMechE – or equivalent engineering institution. 
• Commitment to adopting principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. 
• A Postgraduate certificate in teaching in higher education. 
• Experience of supervision or mentoring of students or colleagues