Professor of Computational Modelling and Data Analytics

Professor of Computational Modelling and Data Analytics

University of Limerick

Limerick, Ireland

JOB SYNOPSIS

The University of Limerick (UL) and the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) are collaborating on an exciting initiative to appoint a Professor in Computational Modelling and Data Analytics. This pivotal role is designed to enhance the Computational Modelling efforts within UL's research centres, with a particular focus on the Pharmaceutical and BioPharmaceutical processing Centre (SSPC). The appointed candidate will not only contribute to advancing research but will also be instrumental in fulfilling teaching and project supervision needs of the IChem accredited BEng and MEng programmes in Chemical & Biochemical Engineering. This position will also support the Master of Science (MSc) in Bioprocessing. The successful candidate will thus play a vital role in shaping the future of engineering education and research at UL. University of Limerick (UL) seeks extraordinary, career-focused academics and is committed to the development of their research excellence. Here in UL, we foster a long-term career orientation that will set faculty members on course for developing an international profile in their discipline and carve out a rewarding and satisfying career. We are committed to making a difference by cultivating cutting edge research and shaping the future by educating and empowering our students.

QUALIFICATIONS

• PhD (level 10NFQ) in computational modelling, data analytics, or related fields.

OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE JOB

• Lecturing and research in Computational Modelling and Data Analytics.

DESCRIPTION

The University of Limerick invites applications for the prestigious UL-NIBRT Professor in Computational Modelling and Data Analytics in the Department of Chemical Sciences. The Department of Chemical Sciences seeks candidates who can show evidence of quality research outputs with impact, both within and beyond academia. This may include but is not limited to publications in the discipline domain. The successful candidate will demonstrate excellence in their discipline with evidence of existing and further growth as a research leader. Impact with one’s research, aligned with international standards in computational chemistry is essential.

The UL-NIBRT Professor in Computational Modelling and Data Analytics will be a Principal Investigator in the Department of Chemical Sciences playing a key leadership role in SSPC, the Science Foundation Ireland national research centre for pharmaceuticals and biopharmaceuticals. The role will be jointly appointed with NIBRT, the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training, under an interinstitutional strategic partnership agreement.

The Professor in Computational Modelling and Data Analytics will hold a 40% joint appointment with NIBRT, the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training. NIBRT i s a global centre of excellence, headquartered in Dublin, with the mission to address the important needs of the biopharmaceutical manufacturing industry through innovative and impactful training and research that covers the biological manufacturing process from end to end in a purpose-built pilot-scale GMP-simulated 8,000 m² facility.

The Professor in Computational Modelling and Data Analytics will be a specialist in computational science and/or data analytics applied to pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical manufacturing, with a strong emphasis on advanced therapeutics including cell and gene therapies. They should demonstrate expertise in advanced computational modelling methods (for example, but not limited to, Bayesian decision theory, large-scale molecular dynamics, computational fluid dynamics) and/or statistical methods including machine learning approaches. The Professor will collaborate across the university as appropriate, including colleagues in the Mathematical Application Consortium for Science and Industry (MACSI) in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. They will apply high-performance computing (HPC) enabled state of the art methods working in partnership with academic and industry partners, and they will strive to further develop these methods with respect to their statistical and methodological foundations. The Professor will have demonstrated clear focus on the application of these methods to fundamental research questions that impact pharma and biopharma manufacturing.

As an academic professor, the post holder will drive the strategic direction and academic mission (research/innovation and teaching) of the Department of Chemical Sciences, SSPC Centre and the Bernal Institute, and will work closely with researchers at MACSI, while also conducting research at and building partnerships with NIBRT in Dublin. Hosted within the Faculty of Science and Engineering at UL, the appointed candidate will hold a senior academic role within the discipline of Computational Modelling and Data Analytics.

The Professor in Computational Modelling and Data Analytics will demonstrate leadership in internationally leading research that can address industry challenges. They will have rich experience in collaborative, cross-disciplinary work and in scientific outreach. They will systematically strive to connect fundamental and applied research to meet the needs of the national research landscape, while at the same time, firmly embedding their expertise in international research efforts.

The Professor will contribute to attracting and training graduate students and to leading postgraduate and postdoctoral research teams at the Department of Chemical Sciences at University of Limerick and at NIBRT.

The post holder will actively contribute to the development of significant research and teaching initiatives across the University of Limerick and at NIBRT.

The specific duties of the Professor in Computational Modelling and Data Analytics are outlined below. It is supported by an attractive start-up package. A key duty of this post is that the successful candidate develops a vibrant research programme in UL and creates new research initiatives in collaboration with existing research centres. The post-holder will contribute to the educational mission of the Department of Chemical Sciences, the Faculty of Science and Engineering, research at the SSPC, Bernal Institute and the University at large. Under the unique UL-NIBRT partnership arrangement, the post-holder will also conduct research at NIBRT that is integrated with their activity at UL.

The role of the Professor in Computational Modelling and Data Analytics:

• To strengthen the research and teaching activities of the Department of Chemical Sciences and develop new research initiatives within the SSPC.
• To provide overall scientific leadership in the area of Computational Modelling.
• To lead collaborative UL-NIBRT research activities, including housing some research projects (as appropriate) at NIBRT.
• To support and play a key role in the activities of SSPC research centre.
• To provide mentoring, and inspirational leadership to the research community.
• To be a lead external and internal advocate for Computational Modelling in the Bernal Institute.
• Contribute to the undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programmes of the Department of Chemical Sciences.
• The supervision of postgraduate students.
• Enhance public engagement.
• The appointee will also be expected to play an interdisciplinary role in the Faculty and across the University and participate in the overall life of the University.

The successful candidate will demonstrate excellence in the following essential key areas:

• Expertise in state-of-the-art computational modelling and/or data analytics including machine learning, applied to pharma and biopharma.
• Experience in the analysis of large, multidimensional data sets collected in a pharmaceutical setting.
• In-depth knowledge of biological manufacturing processes, including cell and gene therapy production.
• Experience with interdisciplinary research.
• Experience with public outreach.
• Visibility in the scientific community.

Mentorship & Career Planning

The appointee may be assigned a mentor within the Department/School and one outside of the Department/School under the UL Mentorship programme to guide their further career development. A range of supports in career advancement are available. Working with their mentor and department head and during their first year of service, the Associate Professor will develop a career plan as part of professional development. The plan will foster a long-term career orientation that will further enhance an international profile in their discipline and carving out a rewarding and satisfying academic career. The plan will also identify resources required to facilitate its achievement, including, for example, an appropriately funded (subject to resources) research account which may be used to avail of developmental opportunities, teaching releases (as appropriate and available), along with attendance at networking and preparatory meetings necessary for completing grant applications in order to become, or continue to become, a funded independent Principal Investigator (PI) with the University of Limerick. The University of Limerick has a range of supports available for the creation of a research agenda enabled through competitive research funding.

Essential Criteria

• Experience in applying computational modelling, data analytics, etc to challenges associated with pharmaceuticals and biopharmaceuticals manufacture (e.g. computational chemistry, synthetic biology, bioinformatics, etc).
• A minimum of five years of post-doctoral experience acquired in a university or comparable research centre or equivalent.
• Successful track record in mentoring (groups of) early and mid-career researchers in academia and or industry.
• Evidence of a successful leadership position within an academic or industrial research environment with responsibility for significant research programmes.
• An appropriate international research profile as evidenced by peer-reviewed publications, participation in conferences and collaboration in international research initiatives.
• Demonstrated capability to attract competitive third-party research funding.
• Demonstrable experience of collaboration with pharma/biopharma and/or biotechnology companies.
• University-level teaching experience at undergraduate and postgraduate level.
• Ability to act as an academic leader within University of Limerick, contributing to university governance as appropriate.
• Ability to operate successfully across several collaborating higher education and research performing institutions, and ability to bring organisations together under a collaborative strategy.

Desirable Criteria

• Willingness to support undergraduate teaching through final year research project.
• Willingness to participate in outreach events organised by the department or the Bernal Institute.

Apply NowDeadline 15 August