Assistant Professor (Research and Education) in Sport Psychology - School of Sport, Exercise an[...]

Assistant Professor (Research and Education) in Sport Psychology

Position ID: 98439Z25, Grade 8

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary normally £47,389 to £56,535 with potential progression to £63,606.

Contract: Full Time Fixed Term up to December 2026.

Closing date: 2nd November 2025.

This role is also open as an internal secondment opportunity where agreed by the current line manager.

Information for applicants

A full-time Assistant Professor in Sport Psychology is being sought for a 12‑month fixed‑term contract. The role involves contributing to research, teaching, and administration, with a focus on Sport Psychology and Sport Mental Health.

Role Summary

The School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Birmingham, UK is a world‑leading department, known for its innovative research and evidence‑based practice aimed at promoting lifelong physical activity and optimising health, wellbeing and performance for everyone. Consistently in the top 10 of the QS World University Rankings by Subject and in the top 5 in the latest UK’s Research Excellence Framework, the School’s multidisciplinary research and education programmes are designed to address key societal challenges.

Main Duties

• Have expertise in Sport Psychology and Sport Mental Health, with research experience in the use of psychological theories and frameworks to improve mental health and wellbeing in sport and exercise contexts.
• Have experience in conducting mental health research with athletes, intervention design, or applied sport psychology practice (including consultancy and knowledge exchange with sport organisations).
• Supervise PhD and undergraduate students in Sport Psychology and Mental Health.
• Lead a Sport Psychology module and contribute to other modules related to Sport Psychology and Research Methods.
• Participate in student recruitment activities and contribute to initiatives that enhance the student experience across the School.
• Demonstrate excellent academic citizenship, fostering respectful, collaborative, and supportive relationships with both staff and students.

Research

To support research activity in the field of sport psychology and sport mental health, through original research and scholarship. Where appropriate this will include:

• Effective supervision and mentorship of PhD students in the area of Sport Psychology and Mental Health.
• Providing expert advice to staff and students within the discipline of Sport Psychology.
• Participate in research‑related enabling activities.
• Apply knowledge in a way that develops new intellectual understanding.

Education

• Teaching, and assessing on Sport Psychology modules at various levels: lectures, seminars and practical sessions.
• Teaching and assessing on the final year dissertation module (including occasional lectures, small group tutorials).
• Planning and reviewing your own teaching approaches, in accordance with the established objectives of the teaching programme.
• Designing contemporary, inclusive, engaging and academically challenging curriculum content, using appropriate learning and teaching approaches relevant to sport psychology and sport mental health fields.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues to design and deliver teaching, learning and assessment.
• Using digital resources/environments effectively to support learning and assessment.
• Supporting knowledge transfer and enterprise that enhances the student experience and/or employability.
• Engaging in core recruitment activities (e.g., Open Days, Offer Holder Visit Days), including delivering talks, taster lectures, and practical/lab demonstrations.

Management and Administration

• Contributing to the administration/management of research and/or teaching across the School, including departmental, college and university service activities (e.g., committees) and support community outreach initiatives.
• Leading and managing a team to devise and implement new and/or revised teaching and research processes.
• Contributing to the development of external relationships with key stakeholders in education, sport, physical activity and other related sectors.
• Advising on personal development of colleagues and students.
• Contributing to the development and delivery of knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement and public engagement activities with sustained high value impact of manifest benefit to the College and the University.
• Promoting a culture (including policies and procedures) that embeds equality and values diversity and inclusion.

Citizenship

• Taking collective ownership of challenges faced by the School or College and working with colleagues to develop solutions.
• Positively engaging in School strategic initiatives.
• Contributing to some administrative activities within the University (e.g., appeals panels, working groups, Open Days).
• Demonstrating a willingness to be involved in a variety of activities supporting University life (e.g., participation in graduation, School committees).
• Demonstrating support for colleagues, such as sharing resources, providing advice.
• Contributing to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement, widening participation, outreach activities.
• Actively supporting equality, diversity and inclusion through monitoring and evaluation and actively challenging unacceptable behaviour.

Person Specification

Essential

• Doctoral qualification in Sport and Exercise Science or Sport Psychology.
• Experienced in conducting and managing own research in sport psychology or sport and mental health.
• Excellent academic writing skills for publication of research articles in high‑impact journals.
• Experience of leading and delivering undergraduate and/or postgraduate learning and teaching in sport psychology, including module/unit organisation.
• Experienced in design, delivery, assessment of undergraduate teaching in sport psychology, and ability to revise learning and teaching content and curriculum.
• Experience of postgraduate supervision at masters and doctoral level in projects related to sport, exercise, and/or health psychology.
• Experienced in the development and delivery of transfer, enterprise and similar activities that enhance the student experience or employability.
• Excellent organisation and time‑management skills and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

Desirable

• Evidence of contributing to the development of successfully funded research projects.
• Established research partnerships with external organisations.
• Ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes.
• Links to professional organisations related to physical education, sport, physical activity, and/or mental health.
• Experience of applied practice (e.g., sport psychology consultation).

Informal enquiries to Sarah Williams, email: s.e.williams@bham.ac.uk

The University of Birmingham holds 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.