Duns Scotus Assistant Professor in Franciscan Studies (T&R_01) (

Job Number:

24001807)

Department of Theology and Religion

Grade 8: – £46,485 – £52,295 per annum

Fixed Term – Full Time

Contract Duration: 5 year fixed term

Contracted Hours per Week: 35

Closing Date

: 03-Oct-2024, 11:59:00 PM

Disclosure and Barring Service Requirement: Not Applicable. 

Working at Durham University 

A globally outstanding centre of teaching and research excellence, a warm and friendly place to work, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other.

As one of the UK’s leading universities, Durham is an incredible place to define your career. The University is located within a beautiful historic city, home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and surrounded by stunning countryside. Our talented scholars and researchers from around the world are tackling global issues and making a difference to people’s lives. 

We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things in the world. Being a part of Durham is about more than just the success of the University, it’s also about contributing to the success of the city, county and community.

Our University Strategy is built on three pillars of research, education and wider student experience, but also on our keen sense of community and of inspiring others to achieve their potential. 

Our Purpose and Values

We want our University to be a place where people can be free to be themselves, no matter what their identity or background. Together, we celebrate difference, value one another and are each responsible for creating an inclusive community that is respectful and fair for all.

Find out more about the benefits of working at the University and what it is like to live and work in the Durham area on our Why Durham? information page. 

The Department 

Durham’s Department of Theology and Religion is one of the very best UK departments in this field, with an outstanding reputation for excellence in teaching, research and employability of our students. It is held in high esteem across the globe, as reflected in the QS World Reputation rankings, which placed Durham’s department as 6th worldwide based on its most recent survey in 2023. In January 2024, in recognition of its commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion the department was awarded the Athena Swan Silver Award by Advance HE.

The Department of Theology and Religion currently comprises 33 academic teaching staff, 15 research staff and 10 professional support staff. We currently have a large cohort of undergraduate students (around 80 per year group) studying on 3 programmes, including the BA in Religion, Society and Culture, and over 200 postgraduate students, studying on MA, PhD and DThM (professional doctorate in theology and ministry) programmes.

The Department has three overlapping areas of academic expertise: Biblical Studies (including Hebrew Bible, New Testament, early Christianity, and early Judaism); Christian Theology (including historical and contemporary theology, philosophy, and ethics); and Study of Religion (including the empirical study of contemporary religion and its contexts of practice).

The Department enjoys many cross-departmental and interdisciplinary links around the University, including with the Institute for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies and the Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies, as well as a strong, collaborative relationship with the theological institutions based in and around Durham (e.g., Cranmer Hall).

With its home in Abbey House, right next to Durham Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is a beautiful and immensely exciting place to study and to research in Theology and Religion.

The Department is also home to a number of research centres, including the Centre for Catholic Studies (CCS) (https://www.dur.ac.uk/theology.religion/ccs). The CCS, established in October 2007, is a unique body: a major research and teaching centre explicitly focussed on the study of Catholic Theology and Catholic Studies more widely (including the empirical study of Catholicism, the history of Catholicism, Franciscan Studies, and the cultural impact of Catholicism).

The Department of Theology and Religion at Durham University seeks to appoint a talented individual to a 5-year fixed term role of the Duns Scotus Assistant Professor in Franciscan Studies. We welcome applications from those with research and teaching interests in the broad field of Franciscan Theology and we are particularly eager to hear from applicants with a focus on the classical tradition of Franciscan Theology and its contemporary significance. 

The post, made possible through generous benefaction, consolidates the long-term interests of the CCS to develop a research programme area in Franciscan Studies in liaison with global Franciscan communities. The post-holder will be expected to participate in academic leadership for and development of a Franciscan Studies programme within the CCS, delivering high-quality research and teaching in Franciscan Studies, focussing on classical Franciscan theology and its continuing significance.

The post-holder will be expected to have a track record in delivering successful teaching and will be expected to teach at undergraduate and postgraduate level, including supporting online distance learning modules. The appointee will also be committed to supervising students studying for a PhD.

Alongside the primary research and teaching responsibilities, the post-holder will have an additional focus on Franciscan related outreach. They will be involved in organising an academic conference once every three years; a Franciscan summer school, at most once every two years; and occasional other outreach activities in Franciscan Studies (e.g., local school liaison and days of reflection for local churches in partnership with St Francis’s Friary, Durham). Where possible they will also encourage visiting scholars of Franciscan Studies. The post-holder should have demonstrable experience in public engagement activities and possess strong communication skills. 

The post-holder will be fully involved in the life and work of the CCS through such means as: regular participation in and contribution to the Durham Catholic Theology Research Seminar, and other such lectures, conferences, and public events organised by the CCS; participation in CCS planning meetings, and the annual Friends’ and Benefactors’ event; being an advocate for the CCS, and being prepared, on occasion, to meet with potential donors.

As part of the Department of Theology and Religion at Durham University, the appointee will be directly responsible to the Head of Department of Theology and Religion and will work alongside CCS colleagues, working particularly closely with the CCS Director, in bringing the strategic goals of the CCS to fruition.

This post offers an exciting opportunity to make a major contribution to the development of internationally excellent research and teaching while allowing unrivalled opportunities to progress and embed your career in an exciting and progressive institution. For more information, please visit our Department pages at www.durham.ac.uk/departments/academic/theology-religion/ 

Assistant Professors at Durham 

Assistant Professors on the Education and Research track are encouraged to focus on research and teaching, but are also expected to engage in wider citizenship to enhance their own development, support their department and discipline, and contribute to the wider student experience. 

Academic colleagues are supported to publish excellent research in their area of interest with a focus on high quality outputs (including monographs and journal articles), rather than quantity. We aim to support your research needs, including practical help such as resources to attend conferences and to fund research activities, as well as a generous research leave policy and a designated mentor. 

Durham University is also committed to ensuring outstanding teaching quality, stimulating learning environments, and innovative curricula for all our students. You will be supported to develop your teaching expertise and skills. 

Applicants must demonstrate high quality research in the field of Franciscan Theology with the ability to teach our students to an exceptional standard and to fully engage in the services, citizenship and values of the University. 

We strive to provide a working and teaching environment that is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate these key principles as part of the assessment process. 

Key responsibilities: 

• To pursue research that is high quality in terms of originality, significance and rigour.
• To develop clear plans for the pursuit of national and international funding opportunities to support research and end-user engagement.
• To play a role in relevant teaching and research supervision, and contribute to ongoing curriculum development.
• Contribute to enhancing the quality of the research environment in the CCS, the Department, the wider University and beyond through collaborative research activity.
• Demonstrate a willingness to contribute to the administrative work, citizenship and values of the Department.
• To deliver lectures, seminars and tutorials at undergraduate and taught postgraduate levels, including online distance learning modules, as well as engaging in related activity such as assessment.
• To fully engage in and enhance the values of the Department.
• To contribute to attracting and supervising research students, and to enhance the Department’s commitment to its vibrant and inclusive postgraduate culture.
• Carry out other duties as specified by the Head of Department.

Durham University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion 

Equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key component of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do. We also live by our Purpose and Values and our Staff Code of Conduct. At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive. It’s important to us that all colleagues undertake activities that are aligned to both our values and commitment to EDI. 

We welcome and encourage applications from those who are currently under-represented in our work force, including people with disabilities and from racially minoritised ethnic groups.

If you have taken a career break or periods of leave that may have impacted on the volume and recency of your research outputs and other activities, such as maternity, adoption or parental leave, you may wish to disclose this in your application. The selection committee will take this into account when evaluating your application.

The University has been awarded the Disability Confident Employer status. If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role. 

Person Specification 

Candidates will have completed their PhD (or be close to completion) and should outline their experience, skills and achievements to date, which demonstrate that they meet the essential criteria.

Research 

Candidates must have the capacity for and be progressing towards the independent development of internationally excellent research that produces high-quality outcomes, including some work that is recognised as world-class or that has world-class potential. 

Essential Research Criteria

1. Qualifications –- a good first degree, and a PhD (or close to completion at the time of application) in some area of Franciscan Theology.
2. Outputs – evidence of high-quality outputs, some of which is recognised as internationally excellent or world-class. Candidates are asked to submit two research papers with their application (as outlined in the How to Apply section below). Candidates may additionally choose to submit evidence such as external peer review of their outputs.
3. Personal Research Plan – evidence of a personal research plan which demonstrates how the candidate’s research will enhance and support research within the Department of Theology and Religion, including its Centre for Catholic Studies.

Education 

Candidates must demonstrate the development and delivery of high-quality teaching that contributes to providing a supportive and enabling learning environment and curricula which encourage students to achieve their potential.

Essential Education Criteria 

1. Quality – evidence of the development and delivery of effective and engaging teaching. (Candidates may choose to provide student evaluation scores and/or peer reviews of teaching).
2. Innovation – experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate your contribution to new programme development and innovation in the design and delivery of high-quality teaching and assessment of learning. This can include lectures, small group learning and/or using technology or other techniques to enhance learning and/or assessment.
3. Strategic – evidence of strategic teaching development, or achievements that demonstrate the potential to engage in the design of excellent teaching programmes which are research informed and led.

Services, Citizenship and Values

Active engagement in administrative and citizenship requirements and to fostering a respectful environment, including a demonstrable commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Essential Services, Citizenship and Values Criteria

1. Citizenship contribution – evidence of participation in the citizenship/administrative activities of an academic Department, Faculty or University. (Candidates may choose to evidence departmental or University roles, mentoring activity, pastoral and academic support of students, engagement with widening participation, carrying out departmental and interdepartmental activities effectively. Being involved in departmental activities such as open days, employability events, departmental meetings and committees. Involvement in equality and diversity initiatives and membership or engagement with external bodies).
2. Leadership – experience, skills and/or achievements that demonstrate engagement in activities that contribute to the administrative functioning of an academic Department, Faculty, University and/or discipline, including leadership or responsibilities in an academic context. (Candidates may choose to detail any leadership roles which they have undertaken, preferably in, but not limited to, an academic context, including organisation of academic conferences, summer schools, and other outreach activities).
3. Communication – candidates must have excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to engage with a range of students and colleagues across a variety of forums.

Desirable Criteria 

The desirable criteria for this post (for which candidates should provide evidence of some if not all criteria) are: 

1. Qualification – candidates to hold or have the ability to attain the rank of Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/individuals/fellowship/fellow), which is the national body that champions teaching excellence (or Equivalent).
2. PhD Supervision – ability to provide excellent supervision for postgraduate research students.
3. Research Impact – evidence of or the potential to demonstrate the impact of the Candidate’s research beyond their institution.
4. Income Generation – ability to engage in the development of successful research projects and quality research grant proposals.

Contact Information 

Department contact for academic-related enquiries 

Prof. Karen Kilby, Bede Professor of Catholic Theology and Co-Director of the Centre for Catholic Studies – karen.kilby@durham.ac.uk 0191 334 3612

Contact information for technical difficulties when submitting your application 

If you encounter technical difficulties when using the online application form, we prefer you send enquiries by email. Please send your name along with a brief description of the problem you’re experiencing to e.recruitment@durham.ac.uk 

Alternatively, you may call 0191 334 6801 from the UK, or +44 191 334 6801 from outside the UK. This number operates during the hours of 09.00 and 17.00 Monday to Friday, UK time. We will normally respond within one working day (Monday to Friday, excluding UK public holidays). 

University contact for general queries about the recruitment process 

How to Apply 

We prefer to receive applications online. 

Please note that in submitting your application, we will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement https://www.dur.ac.uk/ig/dp/privacy/pnjobapplicants/ which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data. 

What to Submit

All applicants are asked to submit: 

• A CV
• A covering letter which details your experience, strengths and potential in the requirements set out above.
• Personal research plan.
• Two of your most significant pieces of written work. Where possible your written work should have been published or submitted since 2021, however work prior to 2021 may be submitted where candidates have had career breaks.
• An EDI & values statement – (of no more than 500 words) which outlines work which you have been involved in which demonstrates your commitment to EDI and our values. I.e. Involvement in equality, diversity, and inclusion activities such as mentoring, volunteering, or attending conferences.

Where possible we request that you provide accessible web links to your publications, which the hiring Department will use to access your work. The application form contains fields in which to enter each of the web links.

Please note we are unable to access publications behind a paywall. 

In the event you are unable to provide accessible links to online hosting of your work, publications should be uploaded as PDFs as part of your application in our recruitment system.

Please ensure that your PDFs are not larger than 5mb. Your work may be read by colleagues from across the Department and evaluated against the current REF criteria. 

All application documents should be uploaded with your name and document type as PDF files. 

We will notify you on the status of your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to ensure you receive all emails. 

Referees 

You should provide 3 academic referees they should not (if possible) include your PhD supervisor(s). The majority should be from a university other than your own.

References will be requested for candidates who have been shortlisted and will be made available to the panel during the interview process. 

As part of your application, you will be asked whether you give your consent to your academic references being sought should you be invited to attend an interview. We will only request references where permission has been granted. 

Next Steps 

All applications will be considered; our usual practice is for colleagues across the Department to read the submitted work of long-listed candidates. 

Short-listed candidates will be invited to the University, either virtually or in-person and will have the opportunity to meet key members of the Department. The assessment for the post will normally include a presentation to staff and students in the Department followed by an interview. We anticipate that the assessments and interviews will take place over two days in the week commencing 28th October.

If you are unable to attend on the date offered, it may not be possible to offer you an interview on an alternative date. 

Applicant Guidance 

For further guidance on your application please see HERE 

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