Two lectureships in Exercise Biochemistry

 

School of Sport and Exercise Sciences
University of Birmingham

The School achieved the highest rating possible (5*A) in the 2001 national Research Assessment Exercise and has recently appointed Professor Anton Wagenmakers to a Chair in Exercise Biochemistry. It is now seeking to expand this area further with two new Lectureships. For one, candidates should have experience of in vivo human research, preferably expertise concerning substrate and protein metabolism at rest and during exercise. Experience with stable isotopic tracers would be an advantage. For the other, candidates should have expertise in the application of molecular biology techniques, preferably applied to human tissues. Experience with in vivo human metabolic research and a demonstrable interest in exercise would be an advantage. Candidates for both must have a PhD and a strong commitment to research.

The posts are available from autumn 2003, but a later starting date can be negotiated. Informal enquiries can be directed to Dr. Asker Jeukendrup; tel: 00 44 121 414 4124; email a.e.jeukendrup@..., Professor Douglas Carroll, tel: 00 44 121 414 7240; email carrolld@..., or Professor Anton Wagenmakers, tel 00 31 43 38881502, email a.wagenmakers@.... The School's web address is http://www.sportex.bham.ac.uk.

Starting salary £22,191 - £33,579 a year.

Application forms (returnable by 18th March 2003) and details can be obtained from the Director of Personnel Services, The University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, tel: 00 44 121 414 6486; web: http://www.bham.ac.uk/personnel/. Please quote reference S32540/03

Working towards equal opportunities.

 

 

Further particulars

 

The School of Sport and Exercise Sciences has a policy of expanding research and teaching in Exercise Biochemistry and Metabolism.  To this end, Professor Anton Wagenmakers has recently been appointed to Chair in Exercise Biochemistry and the School is seeking to appoint two lecturers and one technician to support the active and expanding Exercise Biochemistry group.   There are two broad areas of interest to be developed.  One will be concerned with the development of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease and the interactions of diet and exercise in these processes, both at the molecular and systemic level.  The other concerns the molecular adaptation in the muscle to exercise and training, to include gene expression and regulation of protein synthesis.  There is considerable overlap between the two areas and the work will encompass both clinical issues in patient populations and research aiming at maximising the metabolic adaptation in athletes.

 

Candidates must have a strong research background and experience in human metabolic research. Candidates for the first lectureship should have expertise in substrate and protein metabolism at rest and during exercise and experience with stable isotopic tracers will be an advantage. Candidates for the second lectureship should have demonstrable expertise in the application of molecular biology techniques to the study of metabolism, preferably applied to human tissues. Experience with in vivo human metabolic research and an interest in exercise will be advantages.

 

The School

The School of Sport and Exercise Sciences was constituted in its present form in 1986 within what was then the Faculty of Science and is now a self-contained budget centre with a recurrent budget of around £3.0M.  In addition, the School attracts a further £1.0M annually in external research grants and contracts.  The School has four full Professors. Professor Douglas Carroll, currently the Head of School, has a Chair in Applied Psychology, Professor Joan Duda holds the Chair of Sports Psychology, Professor Anton Wagenmakers was recently appointed to a Chair in Exercise Biochemistry, and Professor David Jones holds the Chair of Sport and Exercise Sciences.  The School has an overall teaching staff complement of 21, supported by 5 technical and 6 secretarial staff.  In addition, there are 8 research fellows within the School and over 40 postgraduate research students. 

 

The School has extensive laboratory facilities for Biochemistry, Physiology, Motor Control, Psychophysiology, and Sports Psychology, as well as clinical laboratories in the School of Medicine (Physiology, Psychophysiology), and Selly Oak Hospital (Physiology). The Biochemistry laboratory is equipped with a Cobas MIRA automated analyser, plate readers, gamma counter, a gas chromatography mass spectrometer (GC/MS), spectrophotometers, freezers, centrifuges etc.  The School is confident that it will have acquired an Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer. There are close links with the School of Biosciences, Chemistry and Medicine (Immunology, Physiology, Endocrinology, Obesity Clinic) which allow access to specialised equipment such as DEXA, a microscopy unit, fluorescent microscopes, HPLC, and extensive PCR facilities.  

 

As a result of substantial investment by the University, the School has acquired additional accommodation in the recently refurbished Hills building and Old gym.  The School is a partner in the Human Performance Laboratory, situated in the Munrow Sports Centre, and managed for the School by Dr. Asker Jeukendrup.  The Human Performance Laboratory is well equipped with 4 breath by breath systems, 2 treadmills, 4 electromagnetically braked cycle ergometers, rowing ergometers etc. 

 

Research

The School has a very strong research base.  It achieved a 5*A rating in the last national Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) in 2001, the highest rating achievable.  The School’s research activities are organised into three broad and somewhat overlapping research groupings: Exercise Physiology (which includes Biochemistry), Motor Control, and Applied Psychology. While members of staff are expected to apply for external research funds, the School has a policy of providing base support for the research of members of staff.  Through internal formula funding, based on published output, grant income, and postgraduate supervision load, the School currently distributes over £50k annually.  An additional £50k plus is available annually for bids for equipment.  Further support for staff research takes the form of School-funded PhD scholarships.  In all, the School funds around 30 such scholarships.

 

Teaching

The School has around 500 FTE undergraduate students, most of whom follow a single honours BSc programme in Sport and Exercise Sciences.  A common first year, which covers the basics in Biochemistry, Physiology, Psychology, and Sociology, is followed by a second year that allows for some specialisation, and a third year in which students undertake a substantial research project and are free to choose from a range of specialist option modules.  In addition, the School is involved in joint honours programmes with Material Sciences, Mathematics, and Psychology.  Student applications are buoyant and the minimum A-level grades for entry are currently BBB.  The School achieved an ‘Excellent’ score in its recent Teaching Quality Assessment.  In the first instance, the new appointee would be expected to contribute the equivalent of one module to the undergraduate programme and to supervise a number of third year project students. 

 

Accommodation

Most of the School’s activities are situated within single storey accommodation on the terraces overlooking the playing fields and all-weather pitches.  In addition, new office, laboratory, and postgraduate research student accommodation has been provided in the recently refurbished Hills’ building, adjacent to the School’s main building.  The University is committed to providing new, custom-built, facilities within the next five years.

 

Resources available to new lecturers

The research of newly appointed staff is supported in a number of ways initially: reduced teaching and administrative loads in the first two years of their appointment; a start up consumables and equipment package of nearly £7k; being able to appoint a PhD student to one of the School scholarships.  All newly appointed staff have mentors selected from experienced staff and receive additional support for their research and teaching through courses offered by the University’s Staff Development Unit.  All newly appointed lecturers enrol for the University’s Diploma of Learning and Teaching in Higher Education.  The School will provide financial assistance of up to £3k towards the costs of relocation.

 

School Website

Further information on the School, its personnel, research and teaching programmes can be found at the School’s website: http://www.sportex.bham.ac.uk

 

 

 

Dr Asker Jeukendrup

Human Performance Laboratory

School of Sport and Exercise Sciences

University of Birmingham

Edgbaston

Birmingham

B15 2TT

 

Tel +44 (0) 121 414 4124

Fax +44 (0) 121 414 4121

Mob +44 (0) 778 926 0975