"Assistant or Associate Professor (Research and Education) in Water Science"

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

Location: Birmingham

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

Hours: Full Time

Contract Type: Permanent

Placed On: 3rd December 2025

Closes: 1st February 2026

Job Ref: 106734

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 Water Science in the School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences (GEES) at the University of Birmingham. Their expertise should address how freshwater and catchment systems respond to climate change, extreme events, human pressures, and/or environmental transitions. The post will strengthen our portfolio of water-related research across the School - ranging from catchment hydrology, river processes and water quality, to aquatic ecosystems, hazards, and water-society interactions.

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 impactful research across the physical, environmental, and interdisciplinary dimensions of water science, including but not limited to:

• Hydrological processes, extremes, and human–water interactions
• Freshwater biogeochemistry, water quality, emerging pollutants, and ecosystem responses
• Ecohydrology, land–water connectivity, water-cryosphere, and climate– aquatic ecosystem feedbacks
• Hydroinformatics (including novel AI), data assimilation, uncertainty analysis, and reflective approaches to model design and evaluation
• Hydrological processes linking water, disease, and health
• Earth observation and spatial analysis for monitoring, mapping, and diagnosing change to hydrological processes across scales.

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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Informal enquiries to Josh Larsen.

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