Job Opportunities

The Board of Electors to the Prince Philip Professorship of Ecology and Evolution invites applications from people whose work falls within the broad fields of Ecology and Evolution, to take up appointment on 1 October 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The Department of Zoology seeks to appoint a scientist of outstanding calibre. Our new colleague will be recognised internationally for the originality and impact of their research in ecology and/or evolution. They will provide in person leadership in one or both of these subjects at Cambridge.

The appointment comes at an exciting time for the Department of Zoology, and for the wider School of Biological Sciences at Cambridge. It coincides with recruitment of several new professors and senior research leaders in the broad and globally impactful research area of biodiversity research. The Prince Philip Professorship is one of the last remaining vacancies and complements the other posts in its focus on ecology and evolutionary biology. The successful applicant will be central to collaborative research across the School of Biological Sciences on the origin and maintenance of biodiversity (https://www.bio.cam.ac.uk/research).

The role-holder's work could additionally have synergies with research conducted within the natural sciences collections at Cambridge (i.e. the University Museum of Zoology, the University Botanic Gardens, the Herbarium and the Sedgwick Museum in Earth Sciences). There are further potential connections with work conducted in the Conservation Research Institute and with the wider activities of the NGOs that work within the Cambridge Conservation Initiative and the Cambridge Conservation Forum. Links are also possible to research carried out in School of Physical Sciences and the Department of Engineering in bioengineering and biomaterials at Cambridge. The University of Cambridge also has close connections to the Wellcome Genome Campus at Hinxton (https://www.wellcomegenomecampus.org/) and the Darwin Tree of Life project (https://darwintreeoflife.org/).

Candidates will be evaluated against several selection criteria including:

• An outstanding research record of international standing in either ecology or evolution, or both.

• The scientific vision, experience, enthusiasm, collaborative and interpersonal skills to shape the direction and emphasis of research, teaching and impact in ecology and/or evolution at Cambridge.

• Commitment and capacity to provide academic leadership in ecology and/or evolution not only in the Department and within the wider University, but also nationally and internationally.

• An awareness of the importance of, and the willingness to promote, the recruitment and training of the next generation of biologists working in ecology and evolution'

The Professor will be based entirely in Cambridge. Standard professorial duties include teaching and research, examining, supervision and administration. The Professor will be expected to take on a senior leadership role in the Department at some point in the future. A competitive salary will be offered.

Applications, consisting of a letter of application, a statement of current and future research plans (of up to 4 pages), a curriculum vitae and a publications list, along with details of three referees should be made online no later than 6 January 2025

We will hold in person interviews in Cambridge in the week beginning 24 March 2025. We particularly welcome applications from women and candidates from a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic background for this vacancy as they are currently under-represented at this level in our institution.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Further information on the University and the Professorship is available at: www.cam.ac.uk and www.hr.admin.cam.ac.uk/professorships or contact the Human Resources, University Offices, The Old Schools, Cambridge, CB2 1TT, (email: professorships@admin.cam.ac.uk). Informal enquiries may be directed to Prof Rebecca Kilner, Head of the Zoology Department and Convenor of Board of Electors, at: HoD@zoo.cam.ac.uk

Please quote reference PF43857 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.