NIHR 2026 Academic Clinical Lecturer Department of Dentistry 106973ACL Clinical

Position Details

School or Department:School of Health Sciences College of Medicine and Health

Location: University of Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range of 109725 to 145478

Clinical

Full Time / Permanent

Closing date:4 March 2026

Background

With over 120 Dental Dental Hygiene and Therapy students per year large cohorts of postgraduate research students and taught masters students and a committed group of staffthe School of Dentistry is an exciting and dynamic place to study undertake research and work. The School continues to grow and is well placed to meet the demands and challenges of the future.

The School of Dentistry is proud of its undergraduate courses in Dental Surgery and Dental Hygiene & Therapy and its research-based postgraduate and taught masters programmes.

The clinical dental courses at Birmingham provide a solid foundation for learning upon which to build experience and excellence in patient care. Our long-standing and pioneering approach to teaching whole patient care throughout the BDS course enables students to integrate the specific clinical skills they acquire from our speciality teaching areas and execute comprehensive treatment for their patients.

Our academics join forces with leading global industry partners such as Unilever Philips and Mars to develop and trial new products which will have health impacts far beyond dental issues including in diabetes and heart disease. Our research has also led to several clinical assessment tools being launched for high- street dentists and other healthcare professionals including low-cost tests to help people stop smoking. Following significant investment the first new build Dental Hospital and School in the UK for 40 years opened in April 2016 to great acclaim.

Oral infectious and inflammatory diseases are the most common human diseases worldwide and cause significant morbidity impacting upon general health wellbeing and mortality rates. Their impact on the economy is substantial. Our research is making significant inroads into understanding their pathobiology and translating this into novel treatments.

Oral cancer is the 6th most common form of cancer with survival rates of only 60% and we aim to impact significantly upon these statistics through our collaborative research activities. Our interdisciplinary research excellence in the field of tissue regeneration and rehabilitation draws upon multi-disciplinary expertise in the biological physical and biological sciences to improve current and develop future therapeutic solutions.

Our clinician-basic science partnerships provide broad expertise and enable us to exploit our findings through clinical research and trials of novel diagnostics and therapeutics in collaboration with our NHS partners. While our state-of-the-art purpose built laboratories (620 m2) and associated clinical trials suites house cutting-edge technologies enabling us to explore disease mechanisms improve our understanding of pathogenic processes and formulate new healthcare solutions.

The strengths of our internationally leading teams centre upon a detailed and sound understanding of disease mechanisms which help us develop novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for periodontal pulpal and peri radicular diseases caries and oral cancer; are enhanced by strong local national and international (Europe North/South America Far-East Asia) collaborations.

Our state-of-the-art Dental School and Hospital opened in 2016 as the first integrated stand-alone facility of its kind in the UK for almost 40 years. The building offers 650m2 of on-site high technology laboratory space including cell culture suites confocal micro-CT and scanning electron microscopy facilities microbiology immunology molecular biology histology flow cytometry analytical chemistry photobiology and biomaterials science laboratories. Specifically our local microbiology laboratory is fully equipped including two anaerobic chambers a bead beater for microbial sample extraction and related molecular biology facilities.

A large liquid nitrogen facility for our two HTA-approved tissue banks onsite and a large patient cohort within the clinics of the Dental Hospital enable fast access to biological samples. Two associated clinical trials suites enable us to translate our discovery science into novel healthcare solutions as well as research surgeries within the Institute for Translational Medicine and the Inflammation Research Facility (Queen Elizabeth Hospital). We forge strong clinical-basic science partnerships which provide broad expertise and enable us to exploit our discovery science through clinical research and trials of novel diagnostics and therapeutics in collaboration with NHS partners.

The School of Dentistry at the University of Birmingham is a hub of innovation and excellence in oral and dental research and education. Ranked 22nd in the 2023 global QS rankings our School is committed to maintaining and improving its world-class status. The growing strength and impact of the Dental Schools collaborative interdisciplinary research was also recently highlighted in our excellent REF2021 scores. Dentistry (alongside Pharmacy and Nursing) ranked in the 1st quartile for % 4* outputs and 94% of our REF2021 return was deemed internationally excellent or world leading.

Our research is strategically organised into two overarching theme areas of Clinical and Experimental Sciences and Regeneration and Rehabilitation Sciences. The groups comprise of expert and cognate interdisciplinary teams that operate broadly within and across the theme areas. The strengths of our world-renowned academics centre upon a detailed and sound understanding of disease mechanisms and translational research which help us develop novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for periodontal pulpal endodontic and peri-radicular diseases caries skin and mucosal diseases including oral cancer.

This position presents a distinctive opportunity to make significant academic contributions in research and education within our own School and College spanning both our UK and flourishing Dubai campuses.

Role Summary

This NIHR Clinical Lecturer post is available for 4 years or until CCST (whichever is sooner). The post provides the opportunity for specialty training in Endodontics alongside research and a contribution to teaching as per any clinical trainee. The main clinical duties of the post will be in Birmingham Dental Hospital.

Research is a key component of this lecturer appointment with 50% of the timetable allocated for this purpose. The post-holder will have a PhD or equivalent doctoral qualification and a strong desire to develop their post-doctoral research programme complementing the current research interests in the School of Dentistry College of Medicine and Health University of Birmingham with a view to securing a post-doctoral fellowship during their specialist training program. The School houses state-of-theart facilities technologies and expertise to support and facilitate the research career of the successful applicant. These encompass areas including the biological physical (especially materials) and clinical sciences which underpin our two umbrella research theme areas of Clinical & Experimental Dental Medicine and Regenerative & Rehabilitative Technologies and associated clinical translational research arising from these overarching themes.

An NTN (A) in Endodontics will be provided by Health Education England (West Midlands) for the clinical specialist training and the appointee would enter the existing specialist training programme under the guidance of the current Training Programme Director (TPD) Ms Fiona Blair subject to clinical benchmarking at national recruitment for Endodontics. Applicants will not be shortlisted if they are not registered with the General Dental Council at the time of application.

Main Duties

Academic

Individual and Group Research Projects

• To perform clinical and/or laboratory-based research studies complementing the academic interests of the School of Dentistry.

Attendance at research group meetings and the seminar programmes

Analysis of data from experimental models and subsequent presentation and publication

• To apply statistical methods to analyse scientific study data.

• To prepare study findings in a format appropriate for oral or poster presentation.

• To write research papers that are internationally excellent or world leading based upon the findings of the studies performed in a format appropriate for publication in scientific journals.

Participate in writing grant and research ethics application.

• To prepare with support from the schools Clinical Trials Co-ordinator applications to the Research Ethics Committee for the approval of proposed studies.

• To prepare grant applications for the funding of proposed future studies to bodies such as NIHR and the Medical Research Council and other major funding agencies.

Develop and enhance experience in the core functions of a research-intensive dental school.

Teaching

Where appropriate to the appointees career development contribute to undergraduate and post graduate teaching programmes at a level expected of a speciality trainee.

Clinical

50% WTE as Specialty Registrar in Endodontics.

Clinical Supervisor(s) (Trust) details

The Specialty Registrar will be enrolled with the Specialist Advisory Committee in Endodontics immediately following commencement of the post.

Study leave will be granted for courses conferences and meetings provided that there is agreement from the Training Programme Director and the Clinical Tutor that it meets defined learning aims.

The Specialty Registrar will be accountable through the Training Programme director to the Clinical Director.

Person Specification or Required Knowledge Skills Qualifications Experience

Education

Essential Criteria

• BDS or Equivalent with full General Dental Council registration (or eligibility)
• MFDS RCS or equivalent
• Higher degree (PhD) or equivalent
• Eligibility for Dental Performers List
• Completion of Dental foundation training (or equivalence)

Desirable Criteria

• Diploma or masters in clinical discipline
• Evidence of commitment to Endodontics

Knowledge and Achievements

Essential Criteria

• Demonstration of acquisition of the level of knowledge and skills necessary for the achievement of clinical competencies appropriate for entry at the advertised ST level
• Demonstration of understanding of and commitment to an academic career
• Demonstration of the potential for scientific independence and the ability to lead a research team
• Potential to become a leader in chosen field

Desirable Criteria

• Knowledge of the centre hosting the research and how this is best placed to support the research education and training needs
• Prizes or distinctions
• Presentation of work at a national or international meeting
• Significant publications in peer reviewed journals

Research Experience

Essential Criteria

• Postgraduate research experience
• Publications in the international peer reviewed scientific literature

Desirable Criteria

• Research interests complementary to the School of Dentistrys theme areas
• Evidence of grant capture

Teaching Experience

Desirable Criteria

• Experience and appropriate qualifications in teaching

Skills and Knowledge

Essential Criteria

• Sound basic knowledge of Endodontics

Desirable Criteria

• A working knowledge of the NHS in primary & secondary care

Personal Attributes

Essential Criteria

• Demonstration of understanding and commitment to academic career
• Indication of medium- and long-term career goals
• Demonstration of educational reasons for applying to a NIHR CL
• Ability to work in teams
• Evidence of leadership potential
• Strong self-motivation to pursue a career in Endodontics
• Ability to take responsibility for both clinical practice and self-management
• Committed to an evidence-based approach to practice
• Excellent communication skills

Informal enquiries to Estrella Zoe Hankinson -

Use of AI in applications:We want to understand your genuine interest in the role and for the written elements of your application to accurately reflect your own communication style. Applications that rely too heavily on AI tools can appear generic and lack the detail we need to assess your skills and experience. Such applications will unlikely be progressed to interview.

We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyoneon our website.