Lecturer in Natural Sciences (Biology / Chemistry)

Job Location: Milton Keynes, Remote/Hybrid

Weekly Working Hours: 37

Fixed Term Contract: End Date: 3 years from start date

Welsh Language: Not Applicable

Change your career, change lives

The Open University is the UK’s largest university, a world leader in flexible part-time education combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education. Find out more about us and our mission by watching this short video (you will be taken to YouTube by clicking this link).

About the Role

The School of Life, Health and Chemical Sciences is part of the Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). It brings together a multi-disciplinary team of academics with expertise in a broad range of subjects, providing a stimulating, collaborative and supportive teaching and research environment. 

The School offers undergraduate qualifications in Biology, Natural Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Chemistry, and Health Sciences and a postgraduate qualification in Mental Health Sciences, as well as hosting PhD students and research fellows. 

Members of the School were submitted to REF2021 in Units of Assessment A3 (Allied Health Professions) and B12 (Engineering). For more information about our School, our research and our facilities please see https://www.open.ac.uk/science/life-health-chemical-sciences/.

Key Responsibilities

We are seeking to appoint a fixed-term lecturer in Natural Sciences to join the School of Life, Health and Chemical Sciences (LHCS) to support the development of our Stage 1 (the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ) Level 4) Natural Sciences curriculum with experience in teaching biology or chemistry at this level, and to contribute to our research profile.

You will contribute to the design and delivery of OU undergraduate modules in the Natural Sciences programme. You should be prepared to bring an imaginative approach to the challenge of presenting science courses and programmes for a wide range of adult students of different backgrounds. You may also be required to teach at higher level.

Since its inception, The Open University (OU) has focused on innovation in teaching and learning, with a track record of providing inspiring, world-leading programmes of higher education for students who learn at a distance. Building on award-winning initiatives such as the OpenSTEM Labs, the University is committed to delivering the highest quality teaching, together with excellent research. We provide rewarding academic career paths that are focused on world-class teaching, research, and knowledge exchange.

In particular, within the supportive environment in the School, the post-holder(s) will be expected to: 

• Be an active member of the School of Life, Health and Chemical Sciences to help deliver academic excellence across both teaching and research.
• Work as part of one or more teams, to contribute to the design, production, and presentation of asynchronous online materials for our Natural Sciences, biology and/or chemistry programmes.
• Work with key stakeholders and new technologies to ensure our curriculum is future-focussed and imaginative and innovative in its approach.
• Develop a research portfolio that has synergy with the School’s research strategy, attracting external funding and enhancing our reputation.
• Contribute to the University’s submission to future Research Excellence Framework exercises.

You can find out more about our distance learning teaching model, which differs to that at more traditional face-to-face universities, at https://www.open.ac.uk/stem/life-health-chemical-sciences/about-us/our-teaching-model

About You

Essential

• A PhD in Biology, Chemistry, Natural Sciences or a relevant discipline.
• Experience of teaching biology or chemistry at FHEQ undergraduate level 4.
• Experience of teaching at FHEQ undergraduate level 5 and above in a relevant area.
• An understanding of the role of modern technologies to deliver engaging learning opportunities for students, and a commitment to innovation in this area.
• Evidence of the ability to successfully conduct research that complements the existing research in the School.
• A broad knowledge of developments relevant to teaching and/or research in your discipline area.
• Ability to work in accordance with the University’s values and relevant policies.
• Excellent team working skills and ability to work collaboratively and supportively with others and to agreed deadlines.

Desirable

• An understanding of supported open and distance learning and experience of producing asynchronous online and/or distance learning materials.
• Experience of teaching within an interdisciplinary context.
• Experience of teaching both biology and chemistry at FHEQ undergraduate level 5 and above.
• Higher Education professional accreditation or equivalent teaching qualification.

Support with your application

If you have any questions, or need support or adjustments relating to your application, the recruitment process, or the role, please contact us on 01908 541111 or email careers@open.ac.uk quoting the advert reference number.

What's in it for you?

At The Open University, we offer a range of benefits to recognise and reward great work, alongside policies and flexible working that contribute towards a great work life balance. Get all the details of what benefits we offer by visiting our Staff Benefits page (clicking this link will open a new window).

Flexible working

We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it’s a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you.

Work location

It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where you can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes office it is expected that attendance on our Milton Keynes campus will be required when necessary and in response to business needs, for example for laboratory-based research and/or supervision of research students or occasional team meetings.

Next steps in the Recruitment process

Interview date: Likely to be late June or early July.

The selection process for those shortlisted for interview will include the following (in addition to the main interview itself):   

• A short, specified written teaching activity to be completed before the interview date; this will be discussed with a teaching panel.
• A short presentation on your plans for research/scholarship. 

The written teaching text and presentation will be discussed with you as part of the interview process.
 
Candidates will be notified as soon as possible after the closing date whether they have been shortlisted for interview.

Early closing date notification

While most roles will remain open until the advertised closing date, applications may be reviewed on an ongoing basis. In some cases, vacancies may close earlier if a sufficient number of suitable applications has been received and equality impacts have been appropriately considered. All roles will remain advertised for a minimum of one week before any early closure is implemented. If you have started an application or were in the process of applying when the advert closed, we encourage you to get in touch. We are committed to understanding individual circumstances and can offer further support where needed, including reasonable adjustments for applicants with protected characteristics.

How to apply

To apply for this role please submit the following document(s):

• CV that includes details of academic qualifications, teaching and research experience, grants received and publications.
• Supporting Statement, up to 1,000 words, you should set out in your supporting statement why you’re interested in this role and provide examples of where your skills and experience meet the essential and desirable criteria for this role as detailed above. You may find it helpful to list each point and give an example for how you meet that requirement. Alternatively, you might find it easier to put your application into the form of a table.
• Research Plan, up to 400 words, please outline your plans for the next 3 years. Please add this to the bottom of your supporting statement and upload as 1 document.

You can view your progress and application communications when you are logged into our recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folders if you do not receive associated email updates.

The Open University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion which is reflected in our mission to be open to people, places, methods and ideas. We aim to foster a diverse and inclusive environment so that all in our OU community can reach their potential. We recognise that different people bring different perspectives, ideas, knowledge, and culture, and that this difference brings great strength. We strive to recruit, retain and develop the careers of a diverse pool of students and staff, and particularly encourage applications from all underrepresented groups. We also aspire to make The Open University a supportive workplace for all through our policies, services and staff networks.

Closing date: 11:59pm on Wednesday 27th May 2026