Post Status: 5-year contract (Full-time)
Discipline/Faculty: Discipline of Geology, School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Engineering, Mathematics and Science
Location: Museum Building
Salary: This appointment will be made on the Lecturer scale at a point in line with current Government pay policy.
Closing Date: 12 noon on Friday, 11^th November, 2011

Post Summary

The lectureship will be in the field of classic magmatic petrology including volcanology and igneous geology. It will contribute to undergraduate teaching, research and student supervision in the School. The appointee will develop an active externally funded programme of research linked to Earth and Environment - an interdisciplinary research theme in the School. Geology at Trinity College Dublin is committed to education that emphasises the importance of field-based investigation and observational skills. The successful candidate will need to demonstrate their experience in teaching and conducting field-based magmatic petrology and laboratory based microscopic description of magmatic rocks.

Background to the Post

Geology, which is part of the School of Natural Sciences, has recently been strengthened by the addition of a new Chair (Professor Balz Kamber), a strategic lectureship in Isotope Geochemistry (Dr. Quentin Crowley) and this appointment. The new post is concerned with the formation and evolution of magmatic rocks. Using a combined approach of field observation, petrographic information and petrological data, the successful candidate's research will contribute to deeper and more quantitative understanding of the interplay between magmatism and planetary evolution. Geology at Trinity College Dublin values observational and quantitative skills that are used to investigate the complex interactions between the solid Earth, the biosphere and the hydrosphere.

The School's four cross-disciplinary research themes: Ecology and Evolution; Earth and Environmental Science; Society, Space and Environment; and Molecular and Comparative Physiology are linked via the Centre for the Environment and the Centre for Biodiversity Research. The successful candidate's research will provide further opportunities for cross-disciplinary research both within and between schools in Trinity College Dublin. It will also strengthen links, through the Innovation Alliance, with University College Dublin, thereby building on receipt of State funding via the PRTLI5 programme and the newly established National Centre for Isotope Geochemistry at University College Dublin.

Standard Duties of the Post

The exceptional individual appointed, whilst being based in Geology, will be expected to foster interdisciplinary, collaborative research and teaching. S/he will be enthusiastic to develop further their internationally recognised research profile whilst contributing to undergraduate and post-graduate level teaching and supervision, including taught masters courses (there are currently four in the School of Natural Sciences). S/he will also undertake such administrative responsibilities as directed by the Head of School or their nominee.

Funding Information

The School will be able to provide a modest start-up package for the new Lecturer. In addition, we have excellent infrastructure in place particularly with respect to rock preparation and the analytical laboratories associated with the Geochemistry Laboratory in Geology and the Centre for the Environment. Trinity College Dublin operates a variety of advanced micro-beam microscopes for sub-microscopic analysis of solid specimens.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Candidates must either hold a Ph.D. in a relevant research area or have submitted their Ph.D. thesis for examination. In the latter case, the application must be accompanied by a letter from the principal supervisor of the Ph.D.

Knowledge & Experience (Essential & Desirable)

Essential

• Experience of teaching at undergraduate level.
• Evidence of research potential and achievements, including publications, in a cognate area.
• Ability to contribute to undergraduate teaching in the School, including fieldwork.

Desirable

• Experience of both small and large group teaching at undergraduate level.
• Experience of supervising undergraduate dissertations.
• Experience of teaching at Masters level.
• Experience of developing new courses and teaching material, including field-based geology.
• Experience of working in an interdisciplinary environment.
• Experience of research student supervision.
• Experience and documented success in obtaining research funding.

Skills & Competencies

• Demonstrated potential to manage and develop courses in a University setting.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Demonstrated enthusiasm for and success in teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students.
• Enthusiasm and aptitude for a collegial style of working, for collaborative and interdisciplinary work in teaching and research, and for international networking.

General School Information

The School of Natural Sciences, comprising the disciplines of Botany, Geography, Geology and Zoology, the Centre for the Environment and the Centre for Biodiversity Research, is one of the largest schools in the Faculty of Engineering, Mathematics and Science and hosts biological, physical and social scientists. The School currently accommodates 47 academic staff, c. 15 postdoctoral research fellows and c. 195 postgraduate students (including 120 research students) and has a substantial annual research income of ca. €4,000,000.

It's taught programmes are varied as the School offers moderatorships (undergraduate degrees) in, Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Functional Biology, Geography, Geology, Plant Sciences and Zoology and contributes to other moderatorships including Neurosciences, Geography and Politics and to Science (TR071) and Two Subject Moderatorship (TSM) programmes (http://www.naturalscience.tcd.ie/undergraduate/).

The School has also a major commitment to graduate teaching and supervision and currently hosts four taught masters programmes (http://www.naturalscience.tcd.ie/postgraduate/).

Research has, since 2004, secured more than €26 million of externally-funded research grants and under-pinned more than 500 publications in international, peer-reviewed journals, several reports for government and non-government agencies, a significant number of books and a large number of graduate research student theses.

Geology is located in the Museum Building on the main campus. Its academic staff and postgraduates are engaged in research across the breadth of Geology, and make a major contribution to the School's interdisciplinary research and teaching programmes. Further information is available at http://www.tcd.ie/Geology/.

Candidates wishing to discuss the lectureship post informally and in confidence should email Professor Balz Kamber, Chair of Geology: kamberbs@tcd.ie.

Trinity College Dublin

Founded in 1592, Trinity College Dublin is the oldest university in Ireland and one of the older universities of Western Europe. On today's campus, state-of-the-art libraries, laboratories and IT facilities, stand alongside historic buildings on a city-centre 47-acre campus.

Trinity College Dublin offers a unique educational experience across a range of disciplines in the arts, humanities, engineering, science, human, social and health sciences. As Ireland's premier university, the pursuit of excellence through research and scholarship is at the heart of a Trinity education. TCD has an outstanding record of publications in high-impact journals, and a track record in winning research funding which is among the best in the country.

TCD has developed significant international strength in its research in eight major themes which include globalisation; cancer; genetics; neuroscience; immunology and infection; communications and intelligent systems; nano and materials science as well as Irish culture and the creative arts. TCD aims to become the world reference point in at least one of these areas of research in the next 10 years.

Its current flagship interdisciplinary research institutes are in areas such as molecular medicine, neuroscience and international integration studies and nanostructures and nanodevices. The construction of Ireland's first purpose built nanoscience research institute was opened in January 2008, which houses 150 scientists, technicians and graduate students in specialised laboratory facilities. The building also includes an innovative public venue, the Science Gallery. The Biosciences Development is due for completion in mid 2011 and is the most ambitious construction project in Trinity College's history. This Development will define the scientific research landscape in Trinity College and will allow Ireland to take an international lead on the delivery of quality pharmaceutical and biotechnology research infrastructure. The building will be central to the redevelopment of Pearse Street.

The Library of Trinity College is the largest research library in Ireland and is an invaluable resource to scholars. In addition to purchases and donations accrued over four centuries, the College has had 200 years of legal deposit. By this right Trinity can claim a copy of every book published in Ireland the UK. The Library has over 4.25 million books, 22,000 printed periodical titles and access to 60,000 e-journals and 250,000 e-books. The Library's research resources also include internationally significant holdings in manuscripts (the most famous being the Book of Kells), early printed material and maps. Its collections and services support the College's research and teaching community of 15,000+ students and academic staff.

Trinity continues to attract intellectually strong students from Ireland and abroad. More than half of its incoming undergraduates have earned in excess of 500 out of a maximum 600 points in the national Leaving Certificate examination. The accessibility of a Trinity education to all students of ability is also very important. Trinity College was the first university in Ireland to reserve 15% of first year undergraduate places for students from non-traditional learning groups - students with a disability, socio-economically disadvantaged students as well as mature students. The College has met its target in this respect. There is also an exciting international mix of its student body where 16% of students are from outside Ireland and 40% of these students are from outside the European Union. TCD students also have an opportunity to study abroad in other leading European universities through Trinity's partnership agreements.

Students also benefit from a scholar teacher model where they have the opportunity of being taught by world-leading experts in their field. Interdisciplinarity forms a key element in the College strategy in increasing Trinity's international standing as a research-led university.

Many of Trinity College Dublin's alumni have helped shape the history of Ireland and Western Europe. They include author, Jonathan Swift, philosopher, George Berkeley, political philosopher, Edmund Burke, wit and dramatist, Oscar Wilde, historian, William Lecky, religious scholar, James Ussher, scientists, John Joly, George Johnstone Stoney, William Rowan Hamilton and physicians, William Stokes and Denis Burkitt.

Two of Trinity College's alumni have won Nobel prizes - Ernest Walton for Physics in 1951 and Samuel Beckett for Literature in 1968. The first President of Ireland, Douglas Hyde was a graduate as was the first female President of Ireland, Mary Robinson.

The Selection Process in Trinity

• The Selection Committee (Interview Panel) will include members of the Academic community together with an External Assessor who is an expert in the area.
• Applications will be acknowledged by email. If you do not have confirmation of receipt within 1 day of submitting your application online, please get in touch with us immediately and prior to the closing date/time.
• Given the degree of co-ordination and planning to have a Selection Committee available on the specified date, the College regrets that it may not be in a position to offer alternate selection dates. Where candidates are unavailable, reserves may be drawn from a shortlist.
• Outcomes of interviews are notified in writing to candidates and are issued no later than 5 working days following the selection day.
• In some instances the Selection Committee may avail of telephone or video conferencing.
• The College's selection methods may consist of any or all of the following:
• Interviews
• Presentations
• Psychometric Testing
• References
• It is the policy of the College to conduct pre-employment medical screening/full pre-employment medicals.
• Information supplied by candidates in their application (Cover Letter and CV) will be used to shortlist for interview.

Equal Opportunities Policy

Trinity College Dublin is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to the employment policies, procedures and practices which do not discriminate on grounds such as gender, marital status, family status, age, disability, race, religious belief, sexual orientation or membership of the travelling community.

Pension Entitlements

This is a pensionable position. Details of the applicable Pension Scheme will be provided to successful candidates.

The Normal Retirement Age for pension purposes is 30 September on or after your 65^th birthday and the terms of the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous) Provisions Act 2004 presently apply.