Professor of Biomedical Sciences and Discipline Lead

About

About the Role

Our School of Health is seeking to recruit and appoint an inspirational academic at Professor level to join our dynamic team of community-focused and dedicated educators to lead the Biomedical Science discipline. The successful applicant will bring an established scholarship agenda that tackles big ideas in education, a credible national and international research profile and a track record of quality publications and attainment of research grant funding.

The Discipline Lead provides leadership and support to academic staff within a discipline, or a group of cognate disciplines, in learning and teaching, curriculum development, research, and engagement in line with agreed School directions and the strategic objectives of the University. The role also supports the integration of research with learning and teaching, fosters innovation, and seeks to improve experiences for students and staff.

Key Accountabilities

Specific accountabilities for this role include:

Learning and Teaching:

The Professor of Biomedical Science and Discipline Lead will see you offering continuous improvement in teaching practices, staying current in your field, and implementing effective methodologies.

In addition to designing, evaluating, and enhancing curricula to meet students’ needs, you will play a crucial role in ensuring that the program meets accreditation standards.. Utilising technology and innovative teaching methods, you will create engaging learning experiences for students while ensuring that the Biomedical Science programs meet the highest educational standards.

Your comprehensive support and constructive feedback to students will be essential for their success. This role offers opportunities to demonstrate leadership in educational excellence and accreditation, making a significant impact on the future of the program and its students.

Research:

You will play a pivotal role in advancing knowledge and scholarship. You’ll be encouraged to demonstrate leadership nationally and internationally in your field, developing expertise and research agendas. Leading teams to address significant research problems,

you’ll contribute to the body of knowledge through rigorous project design, execution, and reporting. Securing external research grants and funding will support your endeavors, as will mentoring early career researchers and supervising research candidates.

Your ability to cultivate strategic partnerships and leverage intellectual property will be integral to your research success.

Engagement:

Your engagement at regional, national, and international levels will be vital to the University’s mission. Through external partnerships and consultations, you’ll apply your disciplinary knowledge to address societal challenges. Your contributions

to social, civic, and professional functions will align with the University’s strategic priorities. You’ll also play a crucial role in fostering a positive and inclusive academic environment, modeling culturally capable, respectful, and ethical conduct. Beyond your primary responsibilities, you’ll be expected to undertake additional duties as needed within the evolving academic landscape.

Your role will encompass continuous improvement in teaching practices, staying current in your field, and implementing effective methodologies. In particular, you will be instrumental in leading the accreditation process for the new Masters of Dietetics program.

Health and Safety

In addition to your learning, teaching and research responsibilities, you will be expected to prioritise health and safety considerations in all aspects of your work. This includes adhering to relevant health and safety protocols and guidelines, both in face-to-face and online teaching settings. You will need to incorporate health and safety considerations into the design and delivery of curricula, ensuring that learning activities are conducted in a manner that minimises risks to students and staff.

As a senior academic, it is your responsibility to cultivate a positive and safe work environment by modeling and advocating for conduct that is culturally capable, inclusive, respectful, and ethical. Your leadership sets the tone for the academic community, influencing the attitudes and behaviors of both colleagues and students. By embodying these values in your interactions and decision-making processes, you contribute to a workplace culture that celebrates diversity and fosters mutual respect.

Selection Criteria

Applicants need to demonstrate they meet the following knowledge, skills and experience:

1. Completion of a doctoral qualification in a relevant field and extensive experience as an academic leader.
2. Experience of leadership at a School, Discipline or Program level.
3. Involvement in the development of the Biomedical Science profession at a national and international level, and evidence of having made a clear and formative impact in one or more of the Biomedical Science sub-disciplines.
4. A clear and coherent research program with: a strong track record of active, sustained and productive engagement in high quality research; publicly verifiable outputs and outcomes from research; external recognition of research performance and achievement; quality supervision of candidates for Higher Degrees by Research; and impact of research.
5. Quality academic leadership, for example through: effective mentoring to develop the research capability and capacity of individual and teams of Mid- and Early Career Researchers; substantial leadership contributions in the area of Biomedical Science that strengthen the University’s teaching programs, research capacity, capability and culture; and a consistent record of service on national discipline panels, such panels of experts and other assessment panels.
6. Effectiveness as a teacher, which is evidenced by both exemplary teaching practice and leadership in teaching, the ultimate outcome of which is student engagement and success. For example, by:
   •   Leadership and/or implementation of research-led approaches to learning and teaching in the design and development of curricula;
   •   Leadership of learning and teaching development processes which improve teaching practice within and/or beyond the University;
   •   Sustained formal recognition for excellence in learning and teaching.
7. Strong leadership contributions and personal qualities that influence the development and maintenance of a positive academic environment which is conducive to high levels of engagement and standards of achievement for both staff and students.
8. Participation and success in academic administrative functions e.g. course/ program/discipline coordination and/or leadership, within a University.
9. The ability to develop and maintain productive regional, national and international partnerships that reap significant benefits for the University.
   Desirable
10. Formal external and/or internal recognition for excellence in learning and teaching and/or research

Recruitment process

How to apply

Your application should include:

• Resume
• A cover letter not to exceed one page. This statement should outline your skills, knowledge and qualities that will make you a success at UniSC.
• A response to key selection criteria. You must respond to this within the application form for this job.

Closing date 

Applications close: Sunday 22 June 2025

Contact 

If you have any questions about the position or for a confidential discussion, please contact:

Professor Tony Perkins, Dean, School of Health

Email: deanSH@usc.edu.au

or

Kristie Husk, Talent Acquisition Manager

Email: khusk@usc.edu.au Tel: +61 418 884 610

Candidates may be requested to undergo psychometric testing and give permission for verification of their tertiary qualifications.

Prospective candidates interested in applying for this position must demonstrate eligibility to work full-time in Australia. Employment sponsorship opportunities are available for qualified candidates.