Assistant or Associate Professor (Research and Education) in Forests under Global Change

University of Birmingham - School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Location:Birmingham Salary:£47,389 to £67,468 Grade 8/Grade 9 Hours:Full Time Contract Type:Permanent Placed On: 4th December 2025

Closes: 1st February 2026

Job Ref: 106741

Salary:

Grade 8 Full time starting salary is normally in the range £47,389 to £56,535 with potential progression once in post to £63,606

Grade 9 Full time starting salary is normally in the range £58,225 to £67,468 with potential progression once in post to £87,974

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.

Background

We are seeking to appoint an Assistant or Associate Professor in Forests under Global Change in the School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences (GEES) at the University of Birmingham, UK. The successful candidate will join a growing research community addressing how forests respond to climate change, disturbance, and environmental stress. The post will strengthen our internationally recognised expertise in forest ecosystems, including the world-leading Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR) Free-Air CO₂ Enrichment (FACE) experiment, a unique long-term platform for understanding how mature temperate forests respond to rising atmospheric CO₂.

The role is advertised as a three-legged contract with excellence in research, education and administration all expected, with candidates able to demonstrate a commitment to teaching and school service. We welcome applications from candidates undertaking innovative and ambitious research in any area of forest science, including but not limited to:

• Forest ecology, physiology and biogeochemistry under climate change
• Forest ecosystem modelling
• Carbon–water–energy cycling
• Remote sensing, or spatial analysis of forest structure, function and change
• Forest climate resilience, biodiversity, and forest management strategies
• Integrative science linking forests to atmospheric, hydrological or biogeochemical processes

Role Summary

The role holder will be based in Edgbaston. The key duties and responsibilities will include but not be limited to: giving lectures and seminars and supervising undergraduate / post-graduate students, course development and innovation, taking an active part in examinations, carrying out innovative research and writing papers on topics relevant to the specialist subject area (this will include journals, books and other material), and obtaining research grant funding.

The successful applicant will have a PhD in a relevant specialist subject area, as well as postdoctoral experience. We are looking for candidates who will actively contribute to our portfolio and community, through pursuit of research that will bring new opportunities, synergies, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The successful candidate will also have a track record in teaching at a higher education institution.

Appointments will be made at either an Assistant Professor or Associate Professor level please specify which role you are applying for in the application

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Grade 8

Grade 9

Informal enquiries to Josh Larsen, email: j.larsen@bham.ac.uk

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the 'Apply' button above.

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working