NIHR 2026 Academic Clinical Lecturer - Department of Dentistry - 106973ACL - Clinical in Birmingham

Position Details

Department of Dentistry, 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 £45,943 to £82,701

Clinical Full Time Fixed Term Contract for 4 years or until CCST is achieved, whichever is sooner

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 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.

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. 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.

Our research is strategically organised into two overarching theme areas of ‘Clinical and Experimental Sciences’ and ‘Regeneration and Rehabilitation Sciences’. The groups comprise 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-the–art facilities to support and facilitate the research career of the successful applicant, including areas in biological, physical 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 themes.

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, 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

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

• Where appropriate to the appointee’s career development, contribute to undergraduate and post graduate teaching programmes at a level expected of a speciality trainee.

• 50% WTE as Specialty Registrar in Endodontics.
• 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

• 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)

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

• 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

• 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

• Essential Criteria

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

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

• Desirable Criteria

• Experience and appropriate qualifications in teaching

• Essential Criteria

• Sound basic knowledge of Endodontics

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

• 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

Pre-employment OH & DBS: The University is committed to safeguarding and we promote safe recruitment practice; therefore all associated pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. Due to the nature of the work in this role, successful applicants will be subject to satisfactory Occupational Health and/or DBS clearance prior to appointment.

Informal enquiries to Thomas Dietrich t.dietrich@bham.ac.uk

Further particulars can be found here.

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 everyone on our website.