Job Description

Nature of the Post

LMH wishes to appoint a fixed-term, 6-hour Stipendiary Lecturer in Neuroscience. The post will start on 1 September 2025 and will run for the period up to the end of August 2027.



The post is to cover the extended research leave of one of Professor Ana Domingos who has been awarded a Leverhulme Research Grant.

Please note that it may be possible to offer two 3-hour Stipendiary Lecturer posts and interested applicants are invited to state in their application their willingness to be considered for a 6-hour post and/or for a 3-hour post

.




The Lecturer will undertake teaching for an average of six contact hours per week during term time to undergraduates on the BM Pre-Clinical Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (BMS) degree programmes of the University of Oxford at Lady Margaret Hall. Further information about teaching is available at www.medsci.ox.ac.uk/

Lady Margaret Hall

Lady Margaret Hall is located in spacious gardens beside the University Parks. The College was founded in 1878 with a dual passion for learning and for equality, specifically making it possible for women to study at Oxford the first time. In 2016, LMH was the first Oxbridge college to a launch a Foundation Year targeted at under-represented but academically able students. We combine consistently high academic standards with a long tradition of being a welcoming, stimulating and inclusive environment.


In 2025 LMH is a thriving co-educational academic community of over 400 undergraduate and some 300 postgraduate students. We have a Governing Body Fellowship of 48 with academics from across all four Divisions of the University. These include Statutory Professors, Tutorial Fellows, Official Fellows and Supernumerary Fellows.


We have around 140 support staff across the College and an additional cohort of some 60-academic staff. We are particularly proud to be the only Oxbridge college to hold the Gold Award from Investors in People for our support staff.


LMH is committed to research and scholarship and to effective, highly personalised teaching and learning. The collegiate system fosters a strong sense of community, bringing together leading academics and students across subjects, and from different cultures and countries. Our current strategic plan recognises the importance of student-staff collaboration.


We welcomed our Principal, Professor Stephen Blyth, in Michaelmas Term 2022. Professor Blyth is continuing LMH's commitment to reducing barriers to higher education as well as strengthening investment in our people: students, academics, support staff and alumni. https://www.lmh.ox.ac.uk/


The College Library (80,000 volumes) exists to support the members of the College, particularly our students, with multiple copies of key textbooks and broad modern collections covering all of the subjects studied at the LMH. It is open 24 hours a day for College members, and by appointment for other users. The provision for BM/BMS is excellent, with multiple copies of all the key undergraduate texts that ensure all students can borrow books for most of the year as required. There are also copies of more specialist texts. Most importantly students can suggest texts that they feel would be useful and these are obtained within 24 hours. Much of the undergraduate BM/BMS Final Honours course requires reading of the primary literature and in that sense the most important facility is fast internet access. The College has invested substantially in that provision and all areas of the College have excellent wifi provision.


We have outstanding professional Wellbeing support in College,including two Study Skills Lecturers. https://www.lmh.ox.ac.uk/current-students/wellbeing



To find out more about the College, please see our website www.lmh.ox.ac.uk

Pre-Clinical Medicine (

from Medicine | University of Oxford)
The first five terms of this course are devoted to the First BM. This addresses not only much of the science that underpins Medicine, but also the clinical problems that arise when systems fail. Students are introduced to the major systems of the body and study all aspects of their structure and function in health and also the principles of disease processes.

Students are encouraged to develop an enquiring approach and to consider the experimental basis of the science in the course. Matters of clinical relevance are illustrated from the outset with students making regular visits to GP tutor.

The First BM is followed by a four-term BA Honours course (the Final Honours School) in Medical Sciences. Students specialise in areas of biomedical science selected from a range of options. They will become adept at working from primary research literature, and will be encouraged to think both critically and creatively. Students will gain in-depth knowledge of their chosen options, as well as advanced technical skills at the laboratory bench and in scientific data handling and presentation.

Biomedical Sciences

(from Biomedical Sciences | University of Oxford)

Biomedical science focuses on how cells, organs and systems function in the human body; an exciting and dynamic area that is highly relevant to the understanding and treatment of human diseases.


Oxford is a highly respected and internationally recognised centre for biomedical research. Students on this course will benefit from tuition from leading experts working within a variety of nonclinical and clinical departments.


This course provides students with an intellectually stimulating education in modern molecular, cellular and systems biology and neuroscience. Please note this course does not provide medical training.


The Biomedical Sciences course at Oxford has been designed so that students initially acquire an integrated understanding of biomedical science that allows them to shape their subsequent studies towards the topics that interest them the most.


Practical laboratory work forms an integral part of this programme and you will be required to complete these practical elements to a satisfactory standard in order to progress through the course.

As the course progresses, increasing emphasis is placed on scientific research, as students obtain first-hand experience of laboratory research in the later stages. Students choose their own project and the possible areas for investigation within the University are wide ranging.


Students can elect to graduate after three years with a BA degree. On the basis of the specialisation initiated by the selection of second-year modules and confirmed by the choice of third-year options, students will be awarded a degree in either Neuroscience or Cell and Systems Biology.


The research-intensive fourth year leads to the award of a Master's degree. Students who complete the fourth year will graduate with a Master's degree

Medicine at LMH

Professor Ana Domingos' expertise is in neurobiology and obesity. A second Tutorial Fellow has been appointed recently in the area of cell and molecular biology. Professor Shona Murphy is a college Senior Research Fellow and recently retired from her post in Molecular Genetics. Prof. Murphy has been tutoring and supporting students at LMH on the BM programme and the M Biochemistry for many years. In this current academic year and for the next two years, Prof. Murphy is Director of Studies for and tutor to our students on the Biomedical Studies degree (first cohort started in 2024).


We are also pleased to have as a member of our established BM teaching team Dr Birte Feix, a Consultant in neuroanaesthesia and critical care who teaches Physiology and Pharmacology to first-year students on the BM and the BMS degrees. In addition to Dr Feix, a key college teaching team member is Dr John Reader, Associate Professor in the Radcliffe Department of Medicine at Oxford University.


We recruit up to six undergraduates for the undergraduate pre-clinical BM degree programme and three students for the Biomedical Sciences programme. Our current undergraduate population numbers thirteen students on the BM over three years of study and three "freshers" on the BMS.


LMH prides itself on providing expert research-led teaching delivered by established postholders. LMH is committed to access and the BM and BMS degree programmes have a strong record of recruiting the most able students from the most disadvantaged backgrounds.


We encourage our BM students to continue with us for Clinical School of which we currently have four. They are "supervised" on the college side by Dr Stefan Kluzek, Associate Professor and Consultant in Sports Medicine, in close collaboration with Prof. Domingos and the Senior Tutor. We also have over fifty full-time postgraduate students and thirty part-time students in a broad range of Medical Sciences, including a number from The Dunn School. We are also pleased to have as members of our Fellowship the following colleagues who are hugely supportive in particular of our graduate members: Professor Antony Galione (pharmacology) and Professor Vanessa Ferreira (cardiovascular medicine).


In recent years, Professor Domingos has refreshed as well as instituted an interesting series of informal and formal academic-led events which bring together all students of "Medicine" in the College, along with our established tutors and Professors, involving also an interesting range of guest speakers, from Oxford and beyond. Prof. Domingos has also ensured that our undergraduates lead The Alison Brading Society in College (dedicated funds) to encourage student engagement and activities beyond the curriculum. (Professor Brading was a distinguished Fellow here from 1968.)


LMH encourages the interaction between year groups to form a cohesive cohort of students, including dinners (Freshers' and Schools' Dinners, Society Dinners), which are usually preceded by a social gathering for all year groups. Furthermore, all year groups are invited to the FHS project presentations, which is also a social occasion. The graduate and post-doctoral community is also rapidly developing its "subject cluster" focus with seminars and appropriate hospitality.
Main duties of the Post


The postholder will be required to teach the relevant BM topics, specifically: the basal ganglia and cortex, the neurophysiological principles of vision, audition, and sensorimotor processing, as well as behavioural neuroscience. For Biomedical Sciences: the postholder will be responsible for the Brain thread of the 1st year syllabus and be expected to contribute to 2nd year tutorial provision.



In addition to teaching, the Lecturer will be expected to help, as required, with related administrative duties and pastoral duties. These will include serving as Personal Tutor to undergraduates, helping to organise their tuition, to monitor their progress and to provide general pastoral support. Please note that LMH has an excellent Wellbeing Team and Study Skills support. The post will also involve the setting and marking of collections (termly college examinations) and completing tutorial reports on the Tutorial Management System (TMS). The postholder may be invited to act as "graduate adviser" to a small number of students for which a small honorarium will be paid.



The Lecturer will take part in the annual undergraduate admissions exercise in December, which will include interviewing applicants. Training in admissions interviewing is required, and will be provided.



The Lecturer will be expected to participate in recruitment and access initiatives relating to Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, (e.g. Open Days and Taster Days in the College) and in the social events with students which are funded by the College.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Essential

A higher degree (DPhil/PhD) in a relevant area Evidence of excellence in undergraduate teaching and learning and a strong demonstrable commitment to the organisation and delivery of teaching The ability to teach the relevant BM topics, specifically: the basal ganglia and cortex, the neurophysiological principles of vision, audition, and sensorimotor processing, as well as behavioural neuroscience; For Biomedical Sciences: the postholder would be responsible for tutorials and college collections for the Brain thread of the 1st year syllabus and be expected to contribute to 2nd year tutorial provision; Excellent interpersonal skills necessary for undertaking teaching in the tutorial context and the pastoral care of students; Ability and willingness to undertake the full range of administrative duties the College; An understanding of the needs of high achieving undergraduates, and a commitment to fostering high academic achievement in undergraduates; Good communication skills and sensitivity to deal effectively with pastoral duties; A commitment to access and equal opportunities.

Desirable

An enthusiasm for involvement with the wider life of the College, including social contact with students, and the potential to contribute to the intellectual community.

Please see Appendix 1 - Extract from LMH Undergraduate Handbook

Appendix 1 - EXTRACT from the LMH Undergraduate Handbook

Tutorials

Tutorials are central to your education at Oxford and normally involve a pair of students meeting with a single Tutor. In all subjects, you should normally have one tutorial every week or nearly every week and will need to do substantial preparation in advance. The aim of tutorials is to stimulate you to think independently within your discipline. The tutorial will go into depth on certain topics, but will also require you to draw on a breadth of knowledge in your discipline, perhaps making connections between the focus topic and other areas studied. Some subjects will also have meetings in larger class groups.



It is acceptable to take a few notes in tutorials, e.g. to an additional reference source, but note-taking is not the objective. Your aim should be to engage in discussion of the material you have been studying with your Tutor and to develop your own understanding of the subject area. Your Tutor may ask you to explain the material you have prepared and will question you to probe your understanding and to help you think more clearly. You will only be able to engage properly in this process if you have done sufficient preparation. That does not require you to be entirely clear about the material, to have completed all problem sheets correctly or to have written the definitive essay on the topic. You may have had great difficulty with the set work and this would not be unusual! Your tutors do not expect you to have complete mastery of the topic, they simply expect you to have given sufficient time and effort to the attempt. If you find you are spending hours without progress, move on to something else or contact your tutor for advice.

A tutorial is an opportunity for you to have any questions answered; however, if you have engaged with the confusion yourself you should be able to locate the specific areas you find challenging. A tutorial should not be a 'mini lecture'. If it becomes one, this can be due to a lack of preparation on your part, and it will be a missed opportunity. The more you put into your tutorial preparation, the more you will get out of it!

Tutors will differ in their requirements for the submission of tutorial work. Some will require it in advance, while others may want you to bring the work with you to the tutorial; some want work delivered to their pigeonholes, and others may accept emailed submissions. It is important to be clear about what your Tutor requires and to comply with this. If you fail to meet the requirements, the tutorial may be postponed or cancelled. If for any reason you cannot complete the required work to the deadline or cannot attend a tutorial, you should always contact the Tutor in advance of the submission deadline.

Private study

In most subjects, the majority of your work will be based on private study. This does not have to be an isolated activity. It will always be beneficial to discuss academic work with others in the College who study similar (or even quite different) subjects. In addition to information from lectures and classes, there are extensive libraries both in the College and in the University. Study at University level requires you to do more than simply regurgitate the material presented to you in lectures, so do take this wonderful opportunity to delve into the libraries and possibly find something beyond the reading list to surprise your Tutor!

A major challenge for many freshers will be learning how to manage your time appropriately. This is particularly true for arts subjects where there is relatively little timetabled activity and a large amount of reading to be done. If you have problems with managing your time, do ask your Personal Tutor or the Senior Tutor for help and advice, or look at the excellent study resources available on the University counselling service website.

Study Skills and Academic Wellness

LMH is committed to providing the best possible learning experience, and offers a great deal of help and support for you to succeed in your studies. All students will be invited to attend group meetings on time management, exam techniques and stress reduction. It is not unusual to need a little extra help or clarification from time to time, so if you have questions about managing your academic work please do ask for help and advice.

Your first port of call will be your subject tutors whom you will see frequently within tutorials. You can also talk to your Personal Tutor or the Senior Tutor about academic issues or difficulties. Tutors may refer you to the Study Skills Lecturers, Emma Lalande and Dr Edward Sutcliffe, who can assist with a wide range of matters such as time management, essay writing, laying out problem sheets, note-taking, and strategies for revision and exams. Students of LMH can attend group workshops, drop in for quick advice at specified times, or make an appointment for a longer one-to-one meeting for confidential support tailor-made to suit your individual requirements.

For more details, contact the Study Skills Lecturers at study.skills@lmh.ox.ac.uk.

Wellbeing at LMH

LMH is passionate about nurturing a supportive and healthy environment for our whole community. We have a team of health professionals, tutors, support staff and students dedicated to providing help and advice.

Wellbeing at LMH - Lady Margaret Hall
Salary, Benefits and How to Apply


Salary will be on the Senior Tutors' scale for Stipendiary Lecturers, (17,023 to 18,308 per annum for 6 hours at current 2024/25 rates). This may be subject to adjustment in line with any general cost-of living review of academic salaries which may take place in October 2025.



The post is superannuated within the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS).


A research allowance of 366 per annum will be reimbursed on submission of receipts to the Senior Tutor.


The Lecturer will be entitled to weekday lunches in Hall without charge during full term and the vacation, and one free dinner (including SCR Guest Nights) per week during term (this includes Week 0 and Week 9). Other meals may be taken if paid for; all drinks and formal desserts are charged.




The Lecturer may have access to a shared College room but bookable teaching rooms are available. The Lecturer will be eligible for membership of the Senior Common Room at Lady Margaret Hall, for which a small subscription fee is payable.



Additional college benefits include a free annual flu jab, employee assistance programme, a parking permit scheme, a childcare salary sacrifice scheme, a bicycle purchase scheme, a bus and Train Season Tickets.



Applications can be submitted via the 'Apply Now' button to arrive not later than

12 noon (BST) on Friday 18 July 2025.

Applicants are asked to supply:

(a) A brief covering letter setting out your suitability for this post, including relevant teaching experience. Please indicate if you would consider a 3-hour role.

(b) An up-to-date curriculum vitae.

Please submit both documents as one pdf in the 'Resume/CV' section of the Pinpoint system.



The interview date has yet to be fixed but applicants will be advised as soon as possible. It is likely to be in either the week beginning 11 August 2025.


Should you be shortlisted, you will need to ask two referees to write directly via email to Mrs Jo White: academic-recruitment@lmh.ox.ac.uk . References must be sent by email from an institutional email address. A copy of the further particulars should be passed to referees, and the Selection Committee would like to take this opportunity to thank referees for their help.


Referees should be aware that under the 1998 Data Protection Act, the references they provide will be regarded as disclosable to the subject of the reference unless marked "strictly confidential" at the top of the letter itself.


Shortlisted candidates will be asked to give a short sample undergraduate teaching presentation. Full instructions will be provided.


Please note that any personal data submitted to Lady Margaret Hall as part of the job application process will be processed in accordance with the GDPR and related UK data protection legislation. For further information, please see the LMH Privacy Notice at: https://www.lmh.ox.ac.uk/privacy-notice

Lady Margaret Hall is an Equal Opportunities Employer
About LMH


LMH began with nine women and is now a vibrant academic community transforming the lives of hundreds of students. We are diverse, open, intellectually curious and pioneering. We continue to break boundaries as the first Oxford College to establish a Foundation Year for under-represented students.

Application Deadline

July 18, 2025

Department

Academic Office

Employment Type

Fixed Term Contract

Location

Oxford

Workplace type

Onsite

Compensation

17,023 - 18,308 / year