Job Description

Position Details

School of Computer Science

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £47,389 to £56,535 with potential progression once in post to £63,606

Grade: 8

Full Time, Permanent

Closing date: 31st August 2026

One post is available as either a a Assistant Professor (Research and Education) in Computer Science - 107618 - Grade 8 or a Associate Professor (Research and Education) in Computer Science -107617 - Grade 9. Applicants from both vacancies can be considered for either role, and do not need to submit a second application.

Information for applicants

The School of Computer Science at the University of Birmingham, UK, seeks to recruit talented computer scientists from diverse backgrounds for the role of Assistant Professor. Successful candidates will join a vibrant School, regarded as one of the best in the UK in academic research, societal impact and education in computer science. We welcome applications from enthusiastic academics from any area within computer science, to strengthen, collaborate with and expand research and education related to Cyber Security and Artificial Intelligence. Successful candidates will join a thriving University in pursuing collaborative, challenge-led, research based on interdisciplinary research funding and in further improving diversity and inclusion in computer science research and education

Academic Development Programme - new Assistant Professors will undertake a 5-year development programme, at the end of which they are expected to be promoted to Associate Professor. The programme consists of a variety of development opportunities and the time to reflect and develop.

The School of Computer Science at the University of Birmingham is recruiting academic staff to fulfil its ambitions as a leading UK university for computer science. We seek to recruit in all areas of computer science, with an emphasis for candidates with research activity in or related to Cyber Security and Artificial Intelligence. Other research themes of interest in Birmingham include Cyber-Physical Systems, Theory of Computation, Human-Computer Interaction and Distributed Systems. In your application, please make clear which research theme best describes your research.

Computer Science in Birmingham research is ranked 3rd in research for all UK universities according to the latest UK-wide Research Excellence Framework. Education is also ranked among the top in the UK for computer science, according to 2025 tables (6th in the 2026 Complete University Guide). The University is ranked 68th in the QS world ranking.

You will contribute to a range of research, teaching and administration. In addition you will be expected to demonstrate academic citizenship, developing and maintaining generous, mutually respectful and supportive working relationships with all staff and students, and ensuring the way you carry out your role impacts positively on how others can carry out theirs.

Teaching includes contributions to: (a) the management, development (including programme/module review) and delivery of teaching and assessment; and (b) enhancement of the student experience or employability. The role will typically involve developing and advising others, including: (a) providing expert advice to staff and students, (b) supervising and examining PhD students, and (c) developing and advising others on learning and teaching tasks and methods.

Research involves initiating, conducting and disseminating original research. Your research will have measurable outcomes reflect in your growing national (and ideally international) reputation. Members of the School are also active in industrial collaborations based on their research, run professional education or consulting activities and lead start-ups. You are strongly encouraged to pursue such opportunities.

Management and administration involves contributions at Departmental and School level, and/or making an important contribution to managerial/leadership activities (e.g. working groups) within the University or your academic community. This may include developing and making substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement, widening participation, schools outreach, or similar activities at Department/School level or further within the University.

We value diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working. We support and mentor new staff through the Academic Development Programme, which provides a 5-year development programme, at the end of which staff are expected to be promoted to Associate Professor. The programme consists of a variety of development opportunities and the time to reflect and develop, provides mentoring, grant writing workshops/training and exposes you to colleagues across the disciplines and in our business and entrepreneurship units.

Main Duties

Education

Using a variety of methods in teaching and advising individuals and groups of undergraduates, postgraduates, or CPD students, including (as appropriate):

• teaching and examining courses at a range of levels;
• planning and reviewing your own teaching approaches and encouraging others to do the same;
• designing contemporary, inclusive, engaging and academically challenging curriculum content;
• working collaboratively with colleagues to design and deliver teaching, learning and assessment;
• using digital resources/environments effectively to support learning and assessment;
• developing programme proposals and making substantial contributions to the design of teaching programmes more widely;
• where appropriate, undertaking and developing the full range of responsibilities in relation to supervision, marking and examining;
• developing and advising others on learning and teaching tasks and methods;
• developing and making substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement activities or similar on own specialism that enhances the student experience or employability and which benefits the College and University;
• devising and supervising projects, student dissertations and practical work.

Research

Planning and carrying out research, including (as appropriate):

• planning and publishing high quality research, including winning financial support;
• project managing research activities, and/or supervising other research staff;
• presenting findings in publications and conference proceedings;
• effectively supervising and mentoring PhD students or early Career Researchers;
• providing expert advice to staff and students within the discipline;
• participating in research-related enabling activities such as adding value to a cross disciplinary network;
• applying knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding; developing and making substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, and enterprise (including business engagement, public engagement) and similar activity that is of benefit to the College and the University, including ensuring that the impact of your activities is realised fully and the impact is documented.

Management/Administration

Contributing to Departmental/School administration, including:

• contributing to the administration/management of research and/or teaching across the Department/School;
• leading and managing a team to devise and implement a new and/or revised process (e.g. new programme or a recruitment drive);
• advising on personal development of colleagues and students;
• making a major contribution to some administrative activities within the University (e.g. appeals panels, working groups);
• managing enterprise, business development, and public engagement activities;
• developing and making substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement, widening participation, schools outreach.
• Actively manages equality, diversity and inclusion through monitoring and evaluation and actively challenging unacceptable behaviour in line with university policies.
• Plans, monitors and evaluates relevant processes for equality impact in line with the Equality Act 2010 and the objectives of the University EDI strategy.

Citizenship

Contributing to an inclusive working environment:

• demonstrating a willingness to be involved in a variety of activities supporting University life (e.g., participation in graduation, Departmental/School committees);
• demonstrating support for colleagues, such as sharing resources, providing advice;
• willingness to volunteer for one-off duties (such as supporting School, Institute, and Departmental projects);
• positively engaging in School strategic initiatives;
• proactive support and involvement in activities specifically contributing to a positive and inclusive community spirit across the School/College/University.

Person Specification

• A PhD relevant to the research area (or near completion at moment of application)
• Extensive research/teaching experience and scholarship within subject specialism
• Proven ability to devise, advise on and manage learning/research
• Skills in managing, motivating and mentoring others successfully at all levels

Teaching

• Ability to design, deliver, assess and revise teaching programmes
• Extensive experience and demonstrated success in developing appropriate approaches to learning and teaching, and advising colleagues
• Experience and success in knowledge transfer, enterprise and similar activity that enhances the student experience or employability

Research

• Experience and achievement reflected in a growing reputation
• Extensive experience and demonstrated success in planning, undertaking and project managing research to deliver high quality results
• Extensive experience of applying and/or developing and devising successful models, techniques and methods
• Experience and achievement in knowledge transfer, enterprise and similar activity

Management Administration

• Ability to contribute to School/Departmental management processes
• Ability to assess and organise resources effectively
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes
• Ability to monitor and evaluate the extent to which equality and diversity legislation, policies, procedures are applied
• Ability to identify issues with the potential to impact on protected groups and take appropriate action
• Ability to identify issues with the potential to impact protected groups and take appropriate action.

Candidates are required to upload the following:

• CV, which includes list of publications as well as URLs for 4 selected top publications in the last 5 years. Please highlight these 4 publications clearly.

They are also recommended to upload below documents to support their applications:

• Covering letter, which can be filled in the application, so the document upload is optional
• Research Statement
• Teaching Statement

We follow a two-stage appointment process:

• October 2026, longlisted candidates will be invited to give an online, 20-minute, research presentation, based on which shortlisting takes place.
• November 2026, shortlisted candidates will then be invited to visit the University of Birmingham, meet with staff members and students (if possible), and conduct a panel interview.

Visit the School of Computer Science’s LinkedIn page at www.linkedin.com/company/uobcompsci/ and our web site to learn more about the research groups, at https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/centres-institutes/research-in-computer-science

Informal enquiries to Prof Aad van Moorsel, email: a.vanmoorsel@bham.ac.uk

Use of AI in applications: We want to understand your genuine interest in the role and for the written elements of your application to accurately reflect your own communication style. Applications that rely too heavily on AI tools can appear generic and lack the detail we need to assess your skills and experience. Such applications will unlikely be progressed to interview.

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website