Job Description

Job Category: Academic Non-clinical
:
Position Details
Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Infection, Inflammation and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range 36,130 to 45,413 with potential progression once in post to 48,149
Grade: 7
Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to April 2026
Closing date: 2nd July 2025
This role is also open as an internal secondment opportunity which would need to be agreed by your current line manager.
'Open House' Drop In Session: We will be holding an 'open house' drop in session at the University's Exchange building, in Centenary Square, Birmingham, between 10am and 5pm on Friday 6th June 2025. If you're interested in working at the University of Birmingham and perhaps have a few questions, this is an opportunity to meet colleagues in the Recruitment team. It will be a relaxed and informal event - you can drop in at any time.
Background
The University of Birmingham is seeking a Teaching Fellow in Anatomy (maternity cover) to work as a member of the team who deliver anatomy teaching to undergraduate and postgraduate students in the College of Medicine and Health, the University at large, and occasionally to external clients, under the guidance of academic staff with ultimate responsibility for the design, delivery and assessment of our programmes. This role is a fixed-term appointment for maternity cover.
The main focus of the role is to provide anatomical and/or clinical input to the teaching of anatomy across all our programmes, as well as the development and maintenance of teaching materials and assessments for use in Medical, Dental, Pharmacy, Nursing, Physician Associate and Biomedical Sciences and other degree programmes. The post holder may also take delegated responsibility for anatomy provision in individual modules and/or programmes. Histology is a key element of this role.
The post holder will also be expected to engage in continuing professional development, to contribute to academic scholarship activities in anatomical or medical education research, and to develop and/or undertake citizenship activities (e.g. outreach, public engagement, committees, recruitment).
Role Summary
The Human Anatomy Unit in the Department of Biomedical Sciences is responsible for teaching topographical anatomy, histology, embryology and neuroanatomy to students in most programmes of the College and beyond. The main role of this post is to undertake and support all areas of learning and teaching provision as part of the anatomy teaching team, with a specific emphasis on histology. The post is designed to be a career development post, so opportunities for personal development are available, including taking delegated responsibility for components of anatomy provision and assessment, particularly histology, and taking opportunities to introduce innovation where appropriate. The post holder will provide innovative, engaging sessions for a wide variety of students in several different learning environments (e.g. prosection sessions, small group teaching, interactive lectures, flipped classroom sessions, dissection, Anatomage, ultrasound). They will also be involved in all other aspects of learning and teaching, which may include, for example, setting and marking of assessments and examinations; creating, updating and refreshing learning materials; creating anatomical prosections; being involved in curriculum development; and pastoral student support. The post holder will also be expected to contribute to scholarship and citizenship activities.
Main Duties

• To deliver teaching and assessment activities in relevant subjects (e.g. specifically histology, but also gross anatomy, neuroanatomy, embryology, radiology) to a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate students in different learning environments, in order to meet the School's teaching objectives.
• To develop, enhance and/or create appropriate learning resources to support student learning, ensuring that content, methods of delivery and learning materials meet defined learning objectives.
• To provide a range of direct teaching services, as allocated by the Head of Anatomy, which include, for example, whole cohort workshops, small group learning, Anatomage sessions, ultrasound teaching, interactive lectures and seminars, prosection and/or dissection sessions, etc.
• To plan and prepare teaching material, including guidance notes and handouts in accordance with the established objectives of the relevant programme.
• To produce high-quality prosection material suitable for teaching.
• To develop a self-reflective approach to planning and reviewing teaching, using student and peer review feedback, in order to enhance teaching and learning processes.
• To develop a good understanding of dynamics of student groupwork, addressing specific issues and providing assistance/guidance to groups or individuals as necessary.
• To challenge thinking, foster debate and develop students' ability to engage in critical discourse and rational thinking.
• To contribute to all forms of assessments and examinations papers, including, for example, invigilating, marking, applying assessment criteria, undertaking oral examinations and moderating papers and scripts.
• To contribute to School teaching-related activities and teaching-related administration, particularly in relation to components of anatomy teaching with delegated responsibility, in discussion with Head of Anatomy or Module/Programme Lead, as appropriate.
• To assist in management and organisation of anatomical collections.
• To assist the Head of Anatomy and professional services staff in all activities related to compliance with Human Tissue Act (HTA) anatomical legislation, as required.
• To provide collegiate support to all other staff engaged in teaching and learning.
• To engage continually with personal professional development, including, for example, updating subject knowledge, developing teaching expertise and creating new teaching resources, as required.
• To contribute to knowledge transfer of anatomy that is of manifest benefit to the College and the University, under supervision where appropriate.
• To engage in scholarship activities (e.g. medical education research) with clear outputs.
• To contribute to the wider Department, School, College and/or University through citizenship activities such as recruitment, outreach, public engagement, and/or active committee membership which demonstrate manifest benefits to the Institution.
• To attend activities out of hours occasionally, including Saturdays.
• To contribute to external courses and/or knowledge exchange, as required.
• To contribute enthusiastically to the strategic objectives of the Unit, Department, School, College and University.
• To perform any other relevant duties as assigned.

Person Specification
Qualifications/Education/Training

• Medical or dental degree and/or degree in anatomy (or related subject)
• Postgraduate qualification in anatomy (or related subject)
• MSc (essential) or PhD (desirable) in a relevant discipline
• Education qualification e.g. postgraduate certificate/diploma in higher education (or willingness to work towards)
• Membership of Anatomical Society, British Association of Clinical Anatomists, or equivalent learned society

Experience

• Experience of cadaveric anatomy gained either through dissection or exposure to prosections
• Excellent knowledge of histology, anatomy, embryology and neuroanatomy
• Good understanding of HTA regulations and codes of practice
• Evidence of ability to contribute enthusiastically to the work of an active Unit
• Awareness of Health and Safety procedures (desirable)
• Scholarship or research experience and/or outputs (desirable)
• Evidence of contribution to citizenship activities (desirable)

Skills

• Experience of learning and teaching competence using cadaveric material
• Evidence of innovative teaching methods
• Proven record of strong organisational skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent team working skills, with demonstrated ability to work collegially as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Good interpersonal skills, with strong negotiating and influencing skills
• Good IT skills, especially Microsoft Office applications
• Demonstrated ability to use initiative
• High level of motivation, with ability to work well at times of high teaching levels/volume
• Ability to assess and organise resources effectively
• Digital delivery of teaching, web and/or imaging skills (desirable)
• Prosection skills (desirable)
• Understanding of, and ability to contribute to, broader management/administration processes
• A flexible approach to hours of work

Further particulars can be found
Informal enquiries to Lisa Powell, email:
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