Public Engagement and Outreach Fellow

Faculty of Technology

Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation

 

Public Engagement and Outreach Fellow

 

Employment type: Fixed term contract for 12 months (or the earlier return of the substantive post holder) to cover a period of maternity leave

Employment basis: Full-time

Salary: £35,845 - £39,152 per annum

Post number: ZZ006356

Date published: 17 December 2020

Closing date: 08 January 2021

Interview date: 25 January 2021

 

The University of Portsmouth is a dynamic and ambitious institution with a track record of success. One of only four universities in the south east of England to achieve a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework and ranked in the top 150 in the Times Higher Young University World Rankings.

The Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation (ICG) at the University of Portsmouth is looking for a Public Engagement and Outreach Fellow maternity cover for up to 12 months, with an anticipated start date of 1 March 2020.

The role involves managing and delivering the ICG’s schools outreach programme to their three partner secondary schools and associated feeder primary schools. This also involves managing a team of undergraduate outreach demonstrators.

The role also involves supporting public engagement with research activities within the ICG, through large-scale event organisation, supporting existing projects and developing new projects with the ICG researchers.

Overall, the role is varied, and a fantastic opportunity for anyone with a background working within physics/STEM public engagement and outreach who is looking for an opportunity to get the experience needed to advance their career.

The role will get support from the South East Physics Network (SEPnet) Outreach & Public Engagement team (http://www.sepnet.ac.uk/) including the Director of Outreach and Public Engagement, Dr Olivia Keenan. SEPnet also provides seasonal SEPnet Outreach Officers Meetings which include bespoke training.

There will be an amount of travelling occasional evening and weekend work and the possibility of travel away from home involving overnight stay(s). A DBS check will be required.

The ICG consists of 17 academic staff, 17 postdoctoral researchers and around 30 PhD students, as well as staff dedicated to public engagement and outreach, impact partnerships, computing, and admin support. It has an active international visitors programme. Portsmouth is a member of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), the Dark Energy Survey (DES), the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST), the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), ESA’s Euclid satellite mission, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO), the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), the Gravitational Wave Optical Transient Observer (GOTO), and other international collaborations. The University of Portsmouth is a member of the South-East Physics Network (SEPnet) and hosts the 3704-core SCIAMA supercomputer. More information is available at http://www.icg.port.ac.uk/

We welcome applications from all qualified applicants, but applications are particularly encouraged from traditionally under-represented groups in science. We are happy to consider applications from candidates wishing to work part-time, job-share or who wish to work flexibly. The University of Portsmouth is signed up to the Race Equality Charter which aims to improve the representation, progression and success of minority ethnic staff and students within higher education. The University of Portsmouth and the ICG hold Athena SWAN Bronze awards; we are committed to developing organisational and cultural practices that promote diversity and equality and create a better working environment for people with all gender identities.

As an equal opportunities employer, we welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons and all appointments will be made on merit. As we are committed to the principles of the Race Equality Charter Mark, we would particularly welcome applications from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community who are currently under-represented at this level in this area.

For informal enquiries please contact Dr Jen Gupta ([email protected]) or Dr Olivia Keenan ([email protected]).

Applications (application form, CV, and a supporting statement detailing an example of an outreach or public engagement activity planned, delivered and evaluated by the candidate) should be submitted via the online application system at https://port.engageats.co.uk by the closing date. It is the policy of the University to only accept applications submitted using the University’s online application system.

All applications for this position will be processed and conducted in compliance with UK legislation relevant at that time.

Please note that anonymous shortlisting will be carried out for this role as part of the University’s commitment to equality and diversity and ensuring a fair and consistent approach to recruitment. Personal details that are included on application forms, including the candidate’s name and address, will not be disclosed to the shortlisting panel. We kindly ask that candidates do not send CVs or cover letters as these will not be considered.

For detailed information about University of Portsmouth, please select this link: Working at Portsmouth

For detailed information about the vacancy, please select this link: ZZ006356 - Public Engagement and Outreach Fellow.docx

To find out more about the University of Portsmouth and this role, visit https://port.engageats.co.uk and apply on-line.

It is the policy of the University to only accept applications submitted using the University’s application form.

All applications for this position will be processed and conducted in compliance with UK legislation relevant at that time.