Academic Clinical Lecturer in Restorative Dentistry - School of Dentistry - 103266 - Clinical Post

Full Job Description

Position Details

School of Dentistry, Institute of Clinical Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £38,619 to £70,769

Clinical Post

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to March 2028 or until CCST (whichever is sooner)

Closing date: 4th March 2024

Interview date: 27th March 2024

Background

With over 120 Dental, Dental Hygiene and Therapy students per year, large cohorts of postgraduate research students and taught master’s students and a committed group of staff, the 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 master’s 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.

The school was ranked first of all dental schools in the country in terms of internationally excellent research outputs (4* and 3*) at REF2014. Our academics also 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 School’s 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 Academic Clinical Lecturer post is available for 4 years or until CCST (whichever is sooner). The post provides the opportunity for specialty training in Restorative Dentistry 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 Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, with a view to securing a post-doctoral fellowship, during their specialist training program. The School houses state-of-the–art 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 Restorative Dentistry 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 Restorative Dentistry. Applicants will not be shortlisted if they are not registered with the General Dental Council at the time of application. 

Description of research component of programme 

The ACL would build on the existing themes of research within the School of Dentistry based on previous research training and areas of expertise, with the aim of further enhancing basic and clinical/translational research at the school. The School of Dentistry has a rich culture of research within which is embedded a strong ethos of basic-clinical science partnerships. Our goal is for our portfolio of research programmes to demonstrate novelty, vision and strong translational application based on a robust foundation of science. Research is funded through a broad range of agencies including UK research councils, charities, EU, industry and international bodies, emphasising the international competitiveness of our research. International activities by our researchers include exciting collaborative research programmes with others from around the globe spanning the UK, North and South Americas, Europe, Asia and the Far East as well as frequent keynote presentations at leading international conferences and symposia. Our research is also complemented by the involvement of doctoral research students, postdoctoral researchers and visiting researchers from a variety of countries globally. In the 2014 Research Excellent Framework (REF), Dentistry in Birmingham was ranked first in the country in Dentistry for research that was Internationally Excellent or World Leading (98.5% of our outputs). Our research programmes are broadly encompassed within 2 theme areas of “Clinical & Experimental Dental Medicine” and “Regenerative & Rehabilitative Technologies”, within which individual research groups have critical mass and interact between the programmes within and between the various theme areas. A number of these research programmes also interact closely with cognate research activities within the 8 Institutes of the College of Medical & Dental Sciences at Birmingham allowing broader dimensions to our research to be forged. Our strong tradition for training within the School will ensure that the successful applicant will have a supportive environment within which to develop a broad range of skills. 

For a postholder wishing to perform some basic science research there are state-of-the-art facilities and strengths within the School of Dentistry and the College of Medical and Dental Sciences that will support their development. Collaborations with other clinical and basic science research units locally, nationally, and internationally would be actively encouraged, to build on existing links with other clinical units, primary care, public health and basic science groups. 

Description of clinical training component of programme 

Entry requirements 

Applicants will not be shortlisted if they are not registered with the General Dental Council at the time of application.

Duration of the training programme 

The training programme will take the equivalent of 5 years on a full-time basis. Allowance for previous relevant training/experience may be made. The extent of any such allowance is a matter for the Deanery who may take advice from the SAC. 

Skills to be developed by the training programme. 

The detailed training programme will ensure that, at completion, the trainee has the skills, experience, and knowledge to enable him/her to obtain their CCST and specialist registration with the GDC. To achieve this objective, the training programme will provide the experience and the educational support to ensure that the StR has developed an appropriate level of knowledge and skill in those areas set out in the Specialty Training Curriculum.

Content of the training programme 

The training programme will commence with a period of induction and orientation; during which time the extent and depth of existing relevant knowledge and experience of the trainee will be identified through joint discussion between trainers and trainee to tailor the content of the training programme to the needs of the individual. The trainee will then undertake a variety of activities relevant to his or her training needs and appropriate to the work of the training organisations. These will be undertaken with a degree of supervision appropriate to the learning status of the trainee, within the general approach that supervision will be more direct in the early stages of the training programme and diminish as the trainee develops. 

Supervision of training 

In addition to day-to-day supervision, the trainee will meet with their Training Programme Director on a regular basis (at least four times per year). At the first meeting the educational objectives for the year will be agreed with their educational supervisor. Subsequent meetings will review progress and will be based on the supervisor’s observations of the trainee’s performance, feedback from the other supervisors and formal assessment results from Case based Discussions and Assessments and documented completed cases.

The educational supervisor, when meeting with the trainee, will discuss issues of clinical governance, risk management and the report of any untoward clinical incidents involving the trainee. 

The educational supervisor is part of the clinical specialty team thus if the clinical directorate (clinical director) have any concerns about the performance of the trainee, or there were issues of health care team or patient safety, these would be discussed with the educational supervisor. This would not detract from the statutory duty of the Trust to deliver effective clinical governance through its management systems. 

The outcome of an annual review of competence progression [ARCP] will be made available by the Postgraduate Dean to SACADS via an annual trainee report. 

In addition, progress in training and the operation of the training programme will be subject to regular reporting by the Training Programme Director in Restorative Dentistry to the Postgraduate Dean via regular meetings of the Dental Training Programme Directors. 

Profile of Birmingham Dental Hospital and Specialty of Restorative Dentistry

Birmingham is a thriving city with a population approaching one million, and is located within the West Midlands, a region with a population of almost 5.5million. The city has excellent road and rail links, and its airport is currently the fastest growing in the country. A host of social, cultural, and sporting activities and entertainment are readily available within easy travelling distance. The International Convention Centre is the largest in Europe and includes a concert hall for the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Nearby are the National Indoor Arena, Town Hall, Museum and Art Gallery and the City Library, currently being rebuilt, and itself one of the largest in Europe. There are three professional theatres in the city and Stratford-upon-Avon is only 30 miles distance. On the outskirts of the city is the National Exhibition Centre which, besides being the regular home of many large national and international exhibitions, is also the venue for an increasing number of sports and entertainment events of note. 

The Dental Hospital and School is situated in a brand new £50M facility which opened in Spring 2016 on the Pebble Mill site in Edgbaston, providing the most modern facilities for staff and students in Europe. The modern state of the art facility was the first such building to be opened in 40 years in the UK. The Dental Hospital provides an outpatient and day care service with approximately 130,000 patient attendances per annum, of which some 20,000 are new patient registrations. 

All the dental specialties are represented within the building by consultant clinics and University teaching Departments. Excellent liaison exists with clinical and laboratory departments within local Hospitals and a comprehensive range of investigative and reporting services are available to the site. The Dental Hospital is a Clinical Directorate constituting one of the specialist services of Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust.

Facilities Available to the Specialty Registrar

A trainee's main base will be the Birmingham Dental School and Hospital. The trainee will have full office facilities, including secretarial support, networked personal computing and library facilities.

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 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 school’s “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 appointee’s 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 Restorative Dentistry. 

Clinical Supervisor(s) (Trust) details 

The Specialty Registrar will be enrolled with the Specialist Advisory Committee in Restorative Dentistry 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 your academic supervisor as longs it meets defined learning aims.

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

The Specialty Registrar will be responsible to the following Consultants for the clinical care of their patients:

Restorative Dentistry:

Mr K Malik

Mr N Karir

Mr K Dewan

Mr D Newsum

Mr K Fairbrother

Dr P Tomson

Ms F Blair

Dr P Bardsley

Prof Lumley

Prof Chapple

Prof Kebschull

Mr P Weston

Mr D Green

Mr D Laverty

Dr D Attrill

Prof M Milward

Dr P Sharma

The speciality registrar will have access and support from consultants in the other dental specialities during the training period.

Proposed Job Plan 

The exact timetable will vary through the course of the training program however below is an indicative example to provide 50% research time and 50% NHS service.

Monday: AM Research PM Research

Tuesday: AM Research PM Research

Wednesday: AM Research PM SPA

Thursday: AM Clinic PM Clinic 

Friday: AM Clinic PM Clinic 

Person Specification

Education

Essential

• 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

• Diploma or master’s in clinical discipline
• Evidence of commitment to Restorative Dentistry

Knowledge and Achievements

Essential

• 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

• 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

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

Desirable

• Research interests complementary to the School of dentistry’s theme areas.
• Evidence of grant capture

Teaching Experience

Desirable

• Experience and appropriate qualifications in teaching

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Sound basic knowledge of Restorative Dentistry

Desirable

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

Personal Attributes

Essential

• 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 Restorative Dentistry
• Ability to take responsibility for both clinical practice and self -management.
• Committed to an evidence-based approach to practice.
• Excellent communication skills

Further particulars can be found here

Informal enquiries to Professor Kirsty Hill, Head of School, School of Dentistry, email:  and Professor Thomas Dietrich, IAT Lead, School of Dentistry, email:  

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