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Position Open: Academic Director for UCL European Institute

16 June 2016

 

14 June 2016
The UCL European Institute is looking for a new Academic Director to represent the Institute at UCL's senior management level as well as externally. The new post holder will take over in September 2016 for the next three-year period.


The UCL European Institute is looking for a new Academic Director to replace Professor Mary Fulbrook, whose three-year tenure is coming to an end in July 2016. The new post holder will take over in September 2016 for the next three-year period. The role of the Academic Director is to provide academic leadership for the Institute and represent the Institute at UCL's senior management level as well as externally. S/he will do so in close cooperation with the Institute's permanent team, a full-time Executive Director, a full-time Senior Research Associate, and a part-time Administrator.

The UCL European Institute

The European Institute is UCL's hub for research, collaboration and information on Europe and the European Union. Set up in August 2010, it has two main foci. On the one hand, it promotes academic research on Europe in all disciplines and facilitates collaboration across them. On the other hand, it acts as the one-stop access to UCL expertise on Europe, and serves as a liaison to UK and European policy-makers, think tanks, cultural organisations, civil society and the media.

The Institute has become a leading forum for debate on Europe in London, offering an annual programme of events including public lectures, panel discussions, academic conferences, and workshops. It also works to translate UCL research into new formats, such as comments, briefing papers, blog posts, guest editorships or exhibitions, in order to inform public debate with expert analysis and commentary. An active part of the strategic development of European research at UCL, the Institute also works to build up national and international networks and alliances, and provides an intellectually stimulating environment for researchers at all stages of their careers.

Now forming part of UCL's Institute of Advanced Studies, the EI has appointed a group of UCL academics as Fellows. These meet once a term to discuss the Institute's programme, and advise on how it may best work towards meeting UCL's academic and strategic priorities. The EI is also guided by an external Advisory Board, currently chaired by Sir John Birch, who meets twice yearly and who ensures the Institute is well placed to respond to topical events, engages with relevant organisations and authorities, and fulfills its external remit.

Main tasks

The Academic Director plays a key role in advising the Executive Director and her team on new projects and thematic priorities, and where appropriate takes an active part in these. Such initiatives may be based on the Academic Director's own research interests, expertise and specialist contacts, but will also take the interdisciplinary interests of the European research community at UCL into account. As such, the Academic Director will also contribute to consolidating and expanding buy-in from UCL's academic community across the university's three Schools.

The post holder will work with the Institute's team to set objectives and identify opportunities for external impact, new alliances and institutional partnerships. Going forward, this should in particular contribute to the Institute's aim to equally represent and work for all relevant disciplines at UCL; to build up domestic and international links as well as networks in close consultation with leading UCL academics; and to experiment with new formats to bring UCL research to a wider public.

The Academic Director will work closely with the Institute's team to identify and respond to external funding opportunities, and to review the Institute's strategic development for the medium term. This will among others include preparing the Institute's active role in submissions to the next REF. An academic appointed on a professorial grade, he or she will represent the Institute at Senior Management level in UCL and ensures that the Institute can offer input into, as well as being taken into account of, strategic decisions relevant to its future. As part of the Institute's team, the Academic Director will report to regular Fellows' meetings, as well as to the Advisory Board.

Stipend

The post holder will receive a direct stipend of £2,700 pa.

Application

 

1. Applications are invited from academics appointed at Reader or Professorial level at UCL, whose research has a substantial focus on (any aspect of) Europe.

2. A 1-2 page personal statement is required, in which applicants should outline their vision for the Institute, a summary of his/her experience and expertise, and an explanation of its relevance to the Institute.

1. Statements should be sent to: Cathy Brown, Joint Faculty Manager, SHS and A&H, G16, South Wing, Wilkins Building, London WC1E 6BT (email: cathy.brown@ucl.ac.uk) by Friday 1 July 2016. Short interviews may be scheduled for early July 2016.