Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences
The Faculty Office is based in the heart of London at Strand Campus
King’s College London
King’s College London is an internationally renowned university delivering exceptional education and world-leading research. We are dedicated to driving positive and sustainable change in society and realising our vision of making the world a better place. Through our commitment to exceptional education, impactful research, and genuine service to society, we are creating positive change in our communities, both in London and on the world stage. Our Vision 2029 looks forward to our 200th anniversary in 2029 and sets out our ambitious plans in five key areas: • Educating the next generation of change-makers; • Challenging ideas and driving change through research; • Giving back to society through meaningful service; • Working with our local communities in London; • Fostering global citizens with an international perspective. King’s comprises nine faculties, each with an academic leader and professional services lead: Executive Dean of Faculty and Director of Operations. Professional Services are provided in every Faculty as well as centrally to deliver support services for students and staff.
Our faculties
• Faculty of Arts & Humanities • Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences • Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine • Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences • Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy • Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care • Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience • King’s Business School • The Dickson Poon School of Law
The Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences
Delivering sustainable academic excellence
We are a vibrant faculty based in the heart of London with a long tradition of world-leading research and teaching in physics, mathematics, chemistry, computer science and engineering. Our internationally renowned scientists are working across traditional subject boundaries, leading cutting-edge research, tackling global challenges, and answering fundamental questions about our universe.
Appointment details
Reports to: Professor Rachel Bearon
Salary
A competitive salary commensurate with the academic profile and experience of the successful applicant will be offered.
Terms
Period of Appointment:
There are two elements to this appointment: • Head of Department of Chemistry. This appointment will be for four years in the first instance, on an additional and separate contract to that of the substantive appointment. With the potential for a subsequent renewal following a review process. • The substantive appointment is an ongoing academic contract, a permanent member of the academic staff of King’s College London. It is expected, but not a requirement, that the appointee will meet the criteria for an appointment at professorial level.
Hours of work:
Full time (35 hours per week)
Campus:
Strand Campus
Closing date for applications:
13 February 2025 23:59
Vacancy ID
103065
Role purpose
King’s College London is seeking to appoint an exceptional academic to the role of Head of Department of Chemistry. We are looking for an academic leader, with a strong commitment to excellence in research and teaching. With King’s embarking on a major programme to build a leading presence in Science and Technology, this presents an exciting opportunity for an inspirational leader with the drive and vision to build further on the Department’s strong profile, and to continue towards creating an internationally-leading Department of Chemistry. The Head of Department will provide academic leadership and display a substantial track record in research, teaching and professional achievement within chemistry. You will be an excellent communicator, capable of inspiring staff and students and driving forward the Department’s ambitions and strategic aims across its full range of activities. The person appointed will also play a full part in the senior management team of the Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences. It is imperative that the Head of Department works closely with the Executive Dean, fellow department heads, vice deans, and other appropriate managers to represent the interests of the Department and ensure strategic goals are achieved. As Professor of Chemistry, it is expected that you will undertake internationally leading research in a field, complementary to the current research in the Department.
Main duties and responsibilities:
Academic Leadership and Staff Management
• To participate in the strategic management of the Faculty as a member of the Faculty Executive Board. • To be responsible for the recruitment, induction, management, performance, and welfare of Departmental academic staff, ensuring that probation, performance development reviews, disciplinary, career development and other responsibilities are undertaken in accordance with agreed University policies and guidelines, and to support those whose performance is assessed as requiring it. • To support and develop academic leadership in the department and provide appropriate opportunities for accruing experience in leadership roles, to ensure that staff are suitably prepared to take on more senior leadership roles in the future, including succession planning for key leadership positions within the Department. • To take responsibility for the organisational structure and governance of the Department, implementing changes as appropriate to align with Faculty and University governance, policy, and regulatory frameworks. This includes operating a Department leadership team and holding regular staff meetings. • To ensure that staff and students are appropriately advised to ensure compliance with Faculty and University policies and procedures affecting them. • To be responsible for the management of staff workloads. In the case of academic staff, this includes operating a workload allocation model, seeking to equitably balance teaching, research, administrative and other duties.
Resource Management and Planning
To work with the Executive Dean, Vice Deans, Director of Operations, and professional services support: • To ensure the Department operates within the financial regulations and procedures of the University and to ensure that all financial and academic performance targets are met. • To be responsible for the formulation and development of Departmental plans, consistent with the integrated planning requirements of the Faculty and University. • To be responsible for performance in the Department overall so that it aligns with Key Performance Indicators and targets set by the Faculty and University. This will encompass all key performance areas beyond financial performance, including but not limited to NSS, PTES and student recruitment. • To ensure appropriate usage of space within the space envelope made available to the Department, working with the Faculty to ensure compliance with the space management policy. • To work closely with faculty academic and professional services leads in a cross-faculty manner to ensure that the Department has effective resource management plans in place for business continuity in the event of disruption to buildings, processes, systems, or staffing which are aligned with other departments and the faculty.
Education
To work with the Vice-Dean Education, Deputy Head Education, and professional services support: • To ensure that the Department continues to deliver high-quality teaching and learning within a suite of outstanding degree programmes at all levels. • To ensure that the Department provides an appropriate learning environment to fully optimise the student experience. • To ensure appropriate levels of support in accordance with Faculty and University policies for the academic progression and welfare of students registered within the Department. • To provide leadership in the preparation for audit and other quality assurance activities including professional accreditation.
Research
To work with the Vice-Dean Research, Deputy Head Research, and professional services support: • To ensure that the Department promotes and fosters a culture of research excellence with appropriate research governance and the associated procedures including peer review and monitoring research performance. • To advise and lead on strategic research initiatives (increasing research funding bids, winning larger grants, preparing for fellowships, multidisciplinary research, Research Excellence Framework (REF) submissions etc.) • To champion a research culture that attracts, develops, and retains our academics, researchers and post-graduate students.
Enterprise and Engagement
To work with the Vice-Dean Enterprise & Engagement, Department Leads, and professional services support: • To develop an impact and innovation strategy for the Department, which reflects the Faculty and College strategies, including Knowledge with purpose: Service and Impact and the One King’s Impact Challenges • To promote and embed an effective culture of E&E and provide an environment that stimulates and supports entrepreneurial thinking, external engagement and innovation. • To be responsible for optimising impact and knowledge exchange performance and submissions for the Department in REF and KEF evaluations.
Safety and Environmental Sustainability
To work with the Chair of the Faculty H&S Committee, Director of Operations, and professional services support: • To ensure that Health, Safety, Welfare and Environmental Sustainability practice in the Department complies with University policy and regulations, taking professional advice where appropriate from within the Faculty and the University. • To be responsible for ensuring the University Regulations, Rules and Codes of Practice are always observed by staff and students. • To ensure that the Departmental arrangements will be implemented to meet University requirements for Health, Safety, Welfare and Environmental Sustainability.
Other Duties
To carry out other duties as may reasonably be required by the Executive Dean. Please note this job description reflects the core activities of the post of Head of Department. There may be changes in the emphasis of duties and it is expected that the post holder recognises this, adopting a flexible approach to work and willingness to participate in training. If changes to the post become significant, the job description will be reviewed by the post holder and line manager(s), providing the Human Resources with the revised job description.
Department of Chemistry
We provide a vibrant environment to study and research chemistry in the heart of London
Chemistry Research Groups
Our research groups are part of five cross-cutting themes.
Chemistry
Discover our Chemistry undergraduate courses
Chemistry postgraduate courses
Chemistry postgraduate taught and research courses at King's
The ideal candidate should have:
• An outstanding academic profile and the necessary academic credibility to lead the Department of Chemistry with a demonstrable record of education innovation and research success. • Experience of working with Research Councils and /or other funding bodies. • A demonstrable track record of attracting, supporting and retaining world-class researchers and educators. • A strong track record of fostering collaboration and teamwork whilst empowering others by creating a collegiate and effective working environment. • Experience of delivering diversity, equality and inclusion within the workplace. • Experience of engaging with external partners and international activities.
Essential criteria:
• PhD in a relevant area of chemistry or related subject • To have developed a strong and distinctive research vision and record within the field, which complements existing research in the Department • Evidence of significant impact in the field • Ability to think strategically and contribute at a senior level to the Department, NMES and King’s • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to listen • Ability to provide inclusive academic leadership • Ability to both lead and work within a team • Ability to plan and prioritise workload • To understand institutional management systems and the wider higher education environment • Highly effective oral and written communication skills, to convey conceptual and complex ideas and information • Creative problem solver • To have developed a strong and distinctive research vision within the field, which complements existing research in the Department and consistent with the future strategic research direction of King’s • An outstanding and inspiring record of achievement in research and publication recognised as internationally leading • Proven ability to attract substantial research funding over a sustained period • Proven ability to build an internationally leading research group and successfully manage and promote that group’s research within an international arena
Desirable criteria:
• Established external links including with industry, academic societies, government and/or charted/professional bodies
King’s Quantum
Transformative technology for healthcare, life sciences, and industry
Net Zero Centre
The Net Zero Centre serves to highlight, nurture and facilitate discovery and applied research to address the challenges for...
Centre for the Physical Science of Life
The goal of our unique physical science centre is to achieve a whole-scale quantitative understanding of life using physical and...
Our vision
We come together with a shared purpose and vision: To advance and promote academic excellence and impact in Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences (NMES) for the benefit of our students, staff, knowledge, and society. To deliver academic excellence and impact, future prosperity in a digital and sustainable world relies on our education and research drawing on strong core disciplines and designed collaboration between disciplines to enhance student learning and speed up discovery and innovation. Interdisciplinarity is at the centre of our academic activities and will be based on key identified themes. We are promoting an inclusive environment for staff and students alike and building a culture of thriving enterprise and innovation, working together with a range of industrial and international academic partners and organisations.
Education and research
For students, we offer a wide-ranging portfolio of undergraduate, MSc and PhD programmes. Studying with us enables students to work with, and learn from, world-leading academics while benefiting from an open-door policy and a wealth of support. With nearly 5,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students and around 350 academic and research staff, our ambition is to inspire, educate and innovate - fostering the next generation of scientists and future leaders. We count Nobel Laureates among our distinguished former staff and students, and we are committed to promoting the careers of women working in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Our Departments
• Department of Chemistry • Department of Engineering • Department of Informatics • Department of Mathematics • Department of Physics
London
Our unrivalled central London location has enabled us to foster close ties with tech, business and science industries, and we are within easy reach of major research libraries and leading scientific societies such as the Royal Society, Royal Society of Chemistry, BCS - The Chartered Institute for IT, the Institute of Physics, the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and the London Mathematical Society.
Our future
Supported by significant university investment, the faculty is embarking on a period of ambitious growth and investment, which aims to build upon current strengths in natural and mathematical sciences and establish King’s as an outstanding global institution in science and technology.
King’s Interdisciplinary Science
King’s is investing £45.5 million in science talent, research, education and infrastructure to accelerate growth, interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation across our nine faculties. This investment in education, research and state-of-the-art facilities at King's is advancing knowledge, strengthening skills and powering exploration across the sciences. This new transformational investment will expand King’s future-facing science education offer and advance synergies that connect the sciences, leveraging the breadth of the University’s expertise across health, the arts, law, technology, engineering and beyond to enhance teaching and drive research breakthroughs. King’s has a rich history of scientific breakthroughs, from discovering the structure of DNA at the intersection of biology and physics, to developing the theory of electromagnetism by bringing together theories of magnetism, electricity and light and conducting the world’s first human-to-human blood transfusion by applying scientific knowledge to medical interventions. The Department of Chemistry will play a key role in the delivery and success of king’s interdisciplinary Science, ensuring the department will work closely with academic colleagues across the University. Key strategic areas of focus currently include Net Zero, Physical Sciences of Life, and Quantum Technologies.
The Department of Chemistry
With a pedigree as one of the oldest Chemistry departments in England, and continuing an illustrious tradition at the University epitomised by the discoveries of Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins in the structure of DNA, the Department of Chemistry has a distinct focus on understanding the chemistry of life and the interface with biology. Our imaginative, interdisciplinary research provides the foundations for innovations in chemical biology, biomaterials science, synthetic biology and nanomedicine. The Chemistry Department of King’s College London has been in existence since 2012. The department has witnessed an extraordinary period of development from a zero base to 19 permanent Principal Investigators. We are a growing, dynamic department that is smaller, dynamic and more gender diverse than Chemistry norms --- for instance, our open, inclusive working environment has helped us achieve gender representation above national averages for chemistry, e.g. 50% female professors (w.r.t. 9% nationally). In 2014 we became a cornerstone of a strategic expansion of physical sciences in the university. King’s acquired and fully refurbished a stand-alone, 4-storey chemistry research building, “Britannia House”, and the department moved into the Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences. Our success presaged further large-scale development of science at King’s alongside the re-start of an Engineering Department. We profit from our position in central London and opportunities afforded by King’s partnerships with the Francis Crick Institute (the Crick), Rosalind Franklin Institute (RFI) and London Centre for Nanotechnology (LCN). The research excellence and vibrancy of Chemistry at King's was reflected in our 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF) results, which saw the subject ranked 5th on Grade Point Average, with 98 % of research assessed as internationally excellent and 63 % as world-leading 4*. Our vision is to become an international centre of excellence that transcends the boundaries of chemistry to explore new frontiers at discipline interfaces and provide fundamental solutions for a sustainable and healthy society. We have exploited our inherent positioning at the physical and life science interface to instil a clear identity and have become renowned for the chemistry of life. In the past years, we have brought a group of outstanding early career researchers who came to reinforce our interdisciplinary character by expanding our chemistry portfolio into synthesis of materials with unique sustainable applications in biotechnology and bioelectronics. As the department expands and matures, we are building a vibrant team of research whose interdisciplinary chemistry skills cover the whole landscape of chemical biology, going from engineering natural biological systems, synthesizing biomimetic materials all the way to exploring hybrid biochemical interfaces for biotechnology applications. We are building a team who blends both experimentation with theoretical approaches. Our unconventional chemistry character places us in a unique position to connect with the vast biological and biomedical research that makes King’s distinct from other universities in the UK. We currently have strong links with the faculties of Life Sciences and Dentistry, with strong collaborations in pharmacy, biomedical imaging, biophysics and biomaterials for medicine applications. We provide a vibrant environment in which to study 21st century undergraduate and postgraduate chemistry in the heart of London. Our approach enshrines the rigour of the discipline in a progressive interdisciplinary context, designed to produce a new generation of scientists fluent across traditional subject boundaries. The cross-fertilisation of physical and biological sciences enables our graduates to harness the transformative power of chemistry and tackle emerging challenges in modern society and medicine.
Vision 2029
King’s Vision 2029 sets out our ambition to make the world a better place
The Francis Crick Institute
King’s is one of three founding universities in the Francis Crick Institute
King’s Interdisciplinary Science
A major multi-million-pound investment in education, research and state-of-the-art facilities at King's
Please quote the vacancy id: 103065 in all correspondence.
Closing date for applications: 13 February 2025 23:59
Application process
To apply for this post you will need to register on the King’s College London jobs page and submit the application form, along with the following: • a concise statement setting out your reasons for applying for the post and highlighting the particular skills and experience which you feel you would bring to the role (two pages maximum) • a curriculum vitae Applications must be made electronically in Word or PDF format.
King’s College London is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion and through this appointment process it is the university’s clear stated aim to develop candidate pools that include applicants from all backgrounds and communities. We particularly encourage applications from women, people from black and minority ethnic communities, the LGBT+ community and from disabled people.
Contact the team
For an informal discussion or to find out more about the role please contact the King’s Search Team.
Selection process
Applications will be shortlisted by a selection committee drawn from across the Faculty. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a two stage interview process and stakeholder engagement. The final interview panel will take place in late March 2025.
The Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences is committed to ensuring an inclusive interview process and will reimburse up to £250 towards any additional care costs (for a dependent child or adult) incurred as a result of attending an interview for this position.
Jobs at King's
Current vacancies and career opportunities
Role purpose
King’s College London is seeking to appoint an exceptional academic to the role of Head of Department of Chemistry. We are looking for an academic leader, with a strong commitment to excellence in research and teaching. With King’s embarking on a major programme to build a leading presence in Science and Technology, this presents an exciting opportunity for an inspirational leader with the drive and vision to build further on the Department’s strong profile, and to continue towards creating an internationally-leading Department of Chemistry. The Head of Department will provide academic leadership and display a substantial track record in research, teaching and professional achievement within chemistry. You will be an excellent communicator, capable of inspiring staff and students and driving forward the Department’s ambitions and strategic aims across its full range of activities. The person appointed will also play a full part in the senior management team of the Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences. It is imperative that the Head of Department works closely with the Executive Dean, fellow department heads, vice deans, and other appropriate managers to represent the interests of the Department and ensure strategic goals are achieved. As Professor of Chemistry, it is expected that you will undertake internationally leading research in a field, complementary to the current research in the Department.
Main duties and responsibilities:
Academic Leadership and Staff Management
• To participate in the strategic management of the Faculty as a member of the Faculty Executive Board. • To be responsible for the recruitment, induction, management, performance, and welfare of Departmental academic staff, ensuring that probation, performance development reviews, disciplinary, career development and other responsibilities are undertaken in accordance with agreed University policies and guidelines, and to support those whose performance is assessed as requiring it. • To support and develop academic leadership in the department and provide appropriate opportunities for accruing experience in leadership roles, to ensure that staff are suitably prepared to take on more senior leadership roles in the future, including succession planning for key leadership positions within the Department. • To take responsibility for the organisational structure and governance of the Department, implementing changes as appropriate to align with Faculty and University governance, policy, and regulatory frameworks. This includes operating a Department leadership team and holding regular staff meetings. • To ensure that staff and students are appropriately advised to ensure compliance with Faculty and University policies and procedures affecting them. • To be responsible for the management of staff workloads. In the case of academic staff, this includes operating a workload allocation model, seeking to equitably balance teaching, research, administrative and other duties.
Resource Management and Planning
To work with the Executive Dean, Vice Deans, Director of Operations, and professional services support: • To ensure the Department operates within the financial regulations and procedures of the University and to ensure that all financial and academic performance targets are met. • To be responsible for the formulation and development of Departmental plans, consistent with the integrated planning requirements of the Faculty and University. • To be responsible for performance in the Department overall so that it aligns with Key Performance Indicators and targets set by the Faculty and University. This will encompass all key performance areas beyond financial performance, including but not limited to NSS, PTES and student recruitment. • To ensure appropriate usage of space within the space envelope made available to the Department, working with the Faculty to ensure compliance with the space management policy. • To work closely with faculty academic and professional services leads in a cross-faculty manner to ensure that the Department has effective resource management plans in place for business continuity in the event of disruption to buildings, processes, systems, or staffing which are aligned with other departments and the faculty.
Education
To work with the Vice-Dean Education, Deputy Head Education, and professional services support: • To ensure that the Department continues to deliver high-quality teaching and learning within a suite of outstanding degree programmes at all levels. • To ensure that the Department provides an appropriate learning environment to fully optimise the student experience. • To ensure appropriate levels of support in accordance with Faculty and University policies for the academic progression and welfare of students registered within the Department. • To provide leadership in the preparation for audit and other quality assurance activities including professional accreditation.
Research
To work with the Vice-Dean Research, Deputy Head Research, and professional services support: • To ensure that the Department promotes and fosters a culture of research excellence with appropriate research governance and the associated procedures including peer review and monitoring research performance. • To advise and lead on strategic research initiatives (increasing research funding bids, winning larger grants, preparing for fellowships, multidisciplinary research, Research Excellence Framework (REF) submissions etc.) • To champion a research culture that attracts, develops, and retains our academics, researchers and post-graduate students.
Enterprise and Engagement
To work with the Vice-Dean Enterprise & Engagement, Department Leads, and professional services support: • To develop an impact and innovation strategy for the Department, which reflects the Faculty and College strategies, including Knowledge with purpose: Service and Impact and the One King’s Impact Challenges • To promote and embed an effective culture of E&E and provide an environment that stimulates and supports entrepreneurial thinking, external engagement and innovation. • To be responsible for optimising impact and knowledge exchange performance and submissions for the Department in REF and KEF evaluations.
Safety and Environmental Sustainability
To work with the Chair of the Faculty H&S Committee, Director of Operations, and professional services support: • To ensure that Health, Safety, Welfare and Environmental Sustainability practice in the Department complies with University policy and regulations, taking professional advice where appropriate from within the Faculty and the University. • To be responsible for ensuring the University Regulations, Rules and Codes of Practice are always observed by staff and students. • To ensure that the Departmental arrangements will be implemented to meet University requirements for Health, Safety, Welfare and Environmental Sustainability.
Other Duties
To carry out other duties as may reasonably be required by the Executive Dean. Please note this job description reflects the core activities of the post of Head of Department. There may be changes in the emphasis of duties and it is expected that the post holder recognises this, adopting a flexible approach to work and willingness to participate in training. If changes to the post become significant, the job description will be reviewed by the post holder and line manager(s), providing the Human Resources with the revised job description.
Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences
The Faculty Office is based in the heart of London at Strand Campus
Department of Chemistry
We provide a vibrant environment to study and research chemistry in the heart of London
Chemistry Research Groups
Our research groups are part of five cross-cutting themes.
Chemistry
Discover our Chemistry undergraduate courses
Chemistry postgraduate courses
Chemistry postgraduate taught and research courses at King's
The ideal candidate should have:
• An outstanding academic profile and the necessary academic credibility to lead the Department of Chemistry with a demonstrable record of education innovation and research success. • Experience of working with Research Councils and /or other funding bodies. • A demonstrable track record of attracting, supporting and retaining world-class researchers and educators. • A strong track record of fostering collaboration and teamwork whilst empowering others by creating a collegiate and effective working environment. • Experience of delivering diversity, equality and inclusion within the workplace. • Experience of engaging with external partners and international activities.
Essential criteria:
• PhD in a relevant area of chemistry or related subject • To have developed a strong and distinctive research vision and record within the field, which complements existing research in the Department • Evidence of significant impact in the field • Ability to think strategically and contribute at a senior level to the Department, NMES and King’s • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to listen • Ability to provide inclusive academic leadership • Ability to both lead and work within a team • Ability to plan and prioritise workload • To understand institutional management systems and the wider higher education environment • Highly effective oral and written communication skills, to convey conceptual and complex ideas and information • Creative problem solver • To have developed a strong and distinctive research vision within the field, which complements existing research in the Department and consistent with the future strategic research direction of King’s • An outstanding and inspiring record of achievement in research and publication recognised as internationally leading • Proven ability to attract substantial research funding over a sustained period • Proven ability to build an internationally leading research group and successfully manage and promote that group’s research within an international arena
Desirable criteria:
• Established external links including with industry, academic societies, government and/or charted/professional bodies
King’s Quantum
Transformative technology for healthcare, life sciences, and industry
Net Zero Centre
The Net Zero Centre serves to highlight, nurture and facilitate discovery and applied research to address the challenges for...
Centre for the Physical Science of Life
The goal of our unique physical science centre is to achieve a whole-scale quantitative understanding of life using physical and...
Our vision
We come together with a shared purpose and vision: To advance and promote academic excellence and impact in Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences (NMES) for the benefit of our students, staff, knowledge, and society. To deliver academic excellence and impact, future prosperity in a digital and sustainable world relies on our education and research drawing on strong core disciplines and designed collaboration between disciplines to enhance student learning and speed up discovery and innovation. Interdisciplinarity is at the centre of our academic activities and will be based on key identified themes. We are promoting an inclusive environment for staff and students alike and building a culture of thriving enterprise and innovation, working together with a range of industrial and international academic partners and organisations.
Education and research
For students, we offer a wide-ranging portfolio of undergraduate, MSc and PhD programmes. Studying with us enables students to work with, and learn from, world-leading academics while benefiting from an open-door policy and a wealth of support. With nearly 5,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students and around 350 academic and research staff, our ambition is to inspire, educate and innovate - fostering the next generation of scientists and future leaders. We count Nobel Laureates among our distinguished former staff and students, and we are committed to promoting the careers of women working in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Our Departments
• Department of Chemistry • Department of Engineering • Department of Informatics • Department of Mathematics • Department of Physics
London
Our unrivalled central London location has enabled us to foster close ties with tech, business and science industries, and we are within easy reach of major research libraries and leading scientific societies such as the Royal Society, Royal Society of Chemistry, BCS - The Chartered Institute for IT, the Institute of Physics, the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and the London Mathematical Society.
Our future
Supported by significant university investment, the faculty is embarking on a period of ambitious growth and investment, which aims to build upon current strengths in natural and mathematical sciences and establish King’s as an outstanding global institution in science and technology.
King’s Interdisciplinary Science
King’s is investing £45.5 million in science talent, research, education and infrastructure to accelerate growth, interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation across our nine faculties. This investment in education, research and state-of-the-art facilities at King's is advancing knowledge, strengthening skills and powering exploration across the sciences. This new transformational investment will expand King’s future-facing science education offer and advance synergies that connect the sciences, leveraging the breadth of the University’s expertise across health, the arts, law, technology, engineering and beyond to enhance teaching and drive research breakthroughs. King’s has a rich history of scientific breakthroughs, from discovering the structure of DNA at the intersection of biology and physics, to developing the theory of electromagnetism by bringing together theories of magnetism, electricity and light and conducting the world’s first human-to-human blood transfusion by applying scientific knowledge to medical interventions. The Department of Chemistry will play a key role in the delivery and success of king’s interdisciplinary Science, ensuring the department will work closely with academic colleagues across the University. Key strategic areas of focus currently include Net Zero, Physical Sciences of Life, and Quantum Technologies.
The Department of Chemistry
With a pedigree as one of the oldest Chemistry departments in England, and continuing an illustrious tradition at the University epitomised by the discoveries of Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins in the structure of DNA, the Department of Chemistry has a distinct focus on understanding the chemistry of life and the interface with biology. Our imaginative, interdisciplinary research provides the foundations for innovations in chemical biology, biomaterials science, synthetic biology and nanomedicine. The Chemistry Department of King’s College London has been in existence since 2012. The department has witnessed an extraordinary period of development from a zero base to 19 permanent Principal Investigators. We are a growing, dynamic department that is smaller, dynamic and more gender diverse than Chemistry norms --- for instance, our open, inclusive working environment has helped us achieve gender representation above national averages for chemistry, e.g. 50% female professors (w.r.t. 9% nationally). In 2014 we became a cornerstone of a strategic expansion of physical sciences in the university. King’s acquired and fully refurbished a stand-alone, 4-storey chemistry research building, “Britannia House”, and the department moved into the Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences. Our success presaged further large-scale development of science at King’s alongside the re-start of an Engineering Department. We profit from our position in central London and opportunities afforded by King’s partnerships with the Francis Crick Institute (the Crick), Rosalind Franklin Institute (RFI) and London Centre for Nanotechnology (LCN). The research excellence and vibrancy of Chemistry at King's was reflected in our 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF) results, which saw the subject ranked 5th on Grade Point Average, with 98 % of research assessed as internationally excellent and 63 % as world-leading 4*. Our vision is to become an international centre of excellence that transcends the boundaries of chemistry to explore new frontiers at discipline interfaces and provide fundamental solutions for a sustainable and healthy society. We have exploited our inherent positioning at the physical and life science interface to instil a clear identity and have become renowned for the chemistry of life. In the past years, we have brought a group of outstanding early career researchers who came to reinforce our interdisciplinary character by expanding our chemistry portfolio into synthesis of materials with unique sustainable applications in biotechnology and bioelectronics. As the department expands and matures, we are building a vibrant team of research whose interdisciplinary chemistry skills cover the whole landscape of chemical biology, going from engineering natural biological systems, synthesizing biomimetic materials all the way to exploring hybrid biochemical interfaces for biotechnology applications. We are building a team who blends both experimentation with theoretical approaches. Our unconventional chemistry character places us in a unique position to connect with the vast biological and biomedical research that makes King’s distinct from other universities in the UK. We currently have strong links with the faculties of Life Sciences and Dentistry, with strong collaborations in pharmacy, biomedical imaging, biophysics and biomaterials for medicine applications. We provide a vibrant environment in which to study 21st century undergraduate and postgraduate chemistry in the heart of London. Our approach enshrines the rigour of the discipline in a progressive interdisciplinary context, designed to produce a new generation of scientists fluent across traditional subject boundaries. The cross-fertilisation of physical and biological sciences enables our graduates to harness the transformative power of chemistry and tackle emerging challenges in modern society and medicine.
Vision 2029
King’s Vision 2029 sets out our ambition to make the world a better place
The Francis Crick Institute
King’s is one of three founding universities in the Francis Crick Institute
King’s Interdisciplinary Science
A major multi-million-pound investment in education, research and state-of-the-art facilities at King's
Please quote the vacancy id: 103065 in all correspondence.
Closing date for applications: 13 February 2025 23:59
Application process
To apply for this post you will need to register on the King’s College London jobs page and submit the application form, along with the following: • a concise statement setting out your reasons for applying for the post and highlighting the particular skills and experience which you feel you would bring to the role (two pages maximum) • a curriculum vitae Applications must be made electronically in Word or PDF format.
King’s College London is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion and through this appointment process it is the university’s clear stated aim to develop candidate pools that include applicants from all backgrounds and communities. We particularly encourage applications from women, people from black and minority ethnic communities, the LGBT+ community and from disabled people.
Contact the team
For an informal discussion or to find out more about the role please contact the King’s Search Team.
Selection process
Applications will be shortlisted by a selection committee drawn from across the Faculty. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a two stage interview process and stakeholder engagement. The final interview panel will take place in late March 2025.
The Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences is committed to ensuring an inclusive interview process and will reimburse up to £250 towards any additional care costs (for a dependent child or adult) incurred as a result of attending an interview for this position.
Jobs at King's
Current vacancies and career opportunities