UNIVERSITY OF WALES, BANGOR

 

COLLEGE OF HEALTH & BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES

 

SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY

 

Chair in Psychology

 

 

Salary negotiable in Professorial Range

 

(Ref: 07-6/139)

As part of continued expansion in the School of Psychology at Bangor, one of the UK’s leading Psychology departments, we invite applications for a Chair in Psychology, with particular interests in the psychology of language. The School has an outstanding record of success. In the most recent national assessments we achieved the highest possible ratings for both Research (5*A) and Teaching Quality (“Excellent”). We are seeking to further consolidate our research strengths in language with the appointment of an individual whose research in this area is internationally excellent.

 

We have a vibrant faculty carrying out research in many areas related to language -- including language development in children, neuroscience of language, bilingualism in children and adults, aphasia and associated disorders of language, dyslexia, and language and cognition in children, adults, and older people. To support research, the School has established patient and participant panels in these domains and has good links with the National Health Service, and local nurseries and schools. Many researchers, across all academic domains in the School, apply cognitive neuroscience methods, and our new Psychology building houses the Wolfson Centre for Clinical and Cognitive Neuroscience, which has excellent facilities for fMRI, ERP, and MRI guided TMS. The University has also been recently awarded a £5 million ESRC Centre for Research on Bilingualism in Theory and Practice, with Psychology as a major partner and, in addition, is establishing a postgraduate Speech and Language Therapy course in North Wales.

 

The expectation is that the post will begin as soon as possible.

 

Application forms and further particulars should be obtained by contacting Human Resources, University of Wales, Bangor; tel: +44 (0)1248 382926/388132; email: personnel@bangor.ac.uk; web: www.bangor.ac.uk

 

Please quote the appropriate reference number when applying.

 

For informal discussion about this position and the School of Psychology please contact Professor Richard Hastings, Acting Head of School, email: psyrecruit@bangor.ac.uk and see the Psychology website: www.psychology.bangor.ac.uk.

UNIVERSITY OF WALES, BANGOR

 

SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY

 

 

 

Chair

 

 

JOB DESCRIPTION

 

Background

The University of Wales, Bangor, was established in 1884, and today has approximately 7,000 full-time students, and a further 3,000 part-time students. The University is, and always has been, a research-active institution but it has also won awards for its work with business, and is currently in the top 10 of UK universities for the number of Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-sponsored ‘Knowledge Transfer Partnerships’ it has running with companies.

 

The University’s mission statement is to be a world-class research-led university, to provide teaching and learning of the highest quality, and to contribute to the development of the economy, health and culture of a sustainable Wales and a sustainable world. Domains in which Bangor already has an established research reputation are receiving strategic investment and these will increasingly shape the identity of the University. To help deliver on these strategic undertakings, cognate departments have been brought together to form six new Colleges.

·          College of Arts & Humanities

·          College of Business, Social Sciences & Law

·          College of Education & Lifelong Learning

·          College of Health & Behavioural Sciences

·          College of Physical & Applied Sciences

 

The School of Psychology is part of the College of Health and Behavioural Sciences.

 

The School of Psychology has a vibrant faculty carrying out research in many areas related to language -- including language development in children, neuroscience of language, bilingualism in children and adults, aphasia and associated disorders of language, dyslexia, and language and cognition in children, adults, and older people. To support research, the School has established patient and participant panels in these domains and has good links with the National Health Service, and local nurseries and schools. Many researchers, across all academic domains in the School, apply cognitive neuroscience methods, and our new Psychology building houses the Wolfson Centre for Clinical and Cognitive Neuroscience, which has excellent facilities for fMRI, ERP, and MRI guided TMS.

 

Since 1^st January 2007 the School of Psychology has been part of an exciting new development, a new ESRC Centre for Research on Bilingualism in Theory and Practice (see www.bilingualism.bangor.ac.uk). Professor Margaret Deuchar of the School of Linguistics is the Centre’s Director, with Professor Virginia Gathercole (Psychology) and Professor Colin Baker (Education) as Co-Directors. Because of the unprecedented opportunity that this new Centre offers for developing research in bilingualism, the University is seeking to recruit additional leading scholars in language and bilingualism from the disciplines of linguistics, education and psychology to contribute to this research effort and to the continuing existence of the Centre.

 

In addition, a joint initiative between the Schools of Psychology, Linguistics, and Healthcare Sciences has led to the establishment of a new two-year postgraduate course in Speech and Language Therapy, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government. The course combines theoretical content in the areas of language sciences, behavioural sciences, and bio-medical sciences; clinically based experience under supervision of qualified speech and language therapists; and work placements with health visitors, educational psychologists, the University’s Dyslexia Unit, nurseries, playgroups, residences for the elderly, and programmes for learning disabilities.

 

Person Specification

 

The successful candidate will have an international profile in the area of the psychology of language, research output of the highest quality, and a track record of grant capture. Individuals with research interests in bilingualism, and who may become a member of the new ESRC Bilingualism Centre, are welcomed. The successful candidate will be an integral member of the School of Psychology. We aim to appoint a highly motivated academic with skills in research leadership and the ability to secure funding for new research projects.

 

Duties:

 

• To take a lead role in advancing the School’s research in the psychology of language, demonstrating outstanding international excellence.
• To provide appropriate leadership in advancing the School’s teaching
• To pursue a programme of original scientific research of international excellence and give leadership to others within the research domain.
• To teach psychology at undergraduate and postgraduate levels with the degree of professional application appropriate in a School committed to excellence in teaching.
• To carry out additional duties as may from time to time by required by the Head of School.
• To pursue appropriate professional development opportunities.

Required Attributes:

 

• A doctoral degree.
• A background and experience in research in the psychology of language of outstanding international quality, including substantial peer reviewed publications in the best research journals in the applicant’s field and a very strong record of external research grant capture.
• Appropriate teaching experience.