MERTON COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
STIPENDIARY LECTURESHIP IN MATHEMATICS
1. OVERVIEW
Merton College proposes to appoint a one-term Stipendiary Lecturer in Mathematics to teach undergraduates for an average of 6 hours per week in full term. The appointment will be for the period 5 January 2026 until 31 March 2026. This is a fixed-term appointment to provide teaching and other duties during the period of Professor Alex Scott’s sabbatical leave.
2. MERTON COLLEGE
Merton College was founded in 1264 by Walter de Merton, and is one of the oldest colleges within the University of Oxford. It was the first fully self-governing college in the University and was originally founded for twenty fellows, with undergraduates being formally admitted in the early 1380s. Over the centuries, many eminent scholars and cultural leaders have called Merton home including four Nobel Prize winners and an Abel Prize winner (Professor Sir Andrew Wiles). Merton College has a strong commitment to excellence in research and teaching across a range of subjects in the Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences. The College community currently comprises around 620 students (320 undergraduates and 300 postgraduates), some 70 Fellows, 50 other academic staff and over 100 members of support staff. The College strives to create a diverse, welcoming, inclusive and supportive community in which its students can thrive.
3. MATHEMATICS AT MERTON
Merton College currently aims to admit a total of 10 students per year for Mathematics and the joint Schools, including Mathematics and Statistics, Mathematics & Computer Science and Mathematics & Philosophy. Merton College also has a sizeable and lively community of postgraduates, including 18 students currently reading for higher degrees in Mathematics and Statistics. Information about the undergraduate degrees involving Mathematics at the University and at Merton College can be found at the following links: University of Oxford Undergraduate Courses: Mathematical Institute Undergraduate Study: Merton College – Mathematics and Joint Schools: The postholder will work closely with the College’s two other Tutors in Mathematics (Professor Radek Erban and Professor James Newton) in addition to Tutors in Joint Degree subjects (Professor Standa Živný, Computer Science and Professor Sam Fletcher, Philosophy) and a number of college lecturers. Information about the Fellows of Merton can be found at:
4. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE LECTURER
Working with the College’s Tutors in Mathematics, the main responsibilities of the Lecturer will be as follows:
* a) To share in the organisational responsibility for the undergraduate degree of Mathematics and its joint Schools, including organising and overseeing external tutorial provision in areas of Mathematics not covered by Merton personnel.
* b) To plan and deliver an average of 6 weighted hours1of tutorial teaching in each week of full term and to mark and provide feedback on students’ tutorial work. Teaching will be required for the following courses:
* i) Prelims (first-year) Analysis
* ii) Part A (second-year) options, including Integration
* c) To take on the role of Director of Studies for a number of undergraduates studying Mathematics and the joint Schools, as required.
* d) To ensure that the students taught receive timely feedback on their work during term, both week by week and in termly reports on the reporting database, and to attend Warden’s progress meetings at the end of term for undergraduates reading Mathematics and joint Schools, as required. Concerns regarding under-performance should be conveyed to the relevant Director of Studies and the Senior Tutor.
* e) To set and mark internal examinations (‘Collections’).
* f) To undertake academic administration (e.g. the planning and organisation of students’ options; the endorsement of applications made by students for travel grants and other College assistance; the writing of references; the selection of books for the College Library etc.).
* g) To provide study skills and examination preparation support for undergraduates in all years, as required.
1The weighting system means that hours spent teaching groups larger than one person count for more than one hour.3 (h) To undertake pastoral responsibilities in liaison with other Directors of Studies and the College Welfare Team, as appropriate. Attendance is strongly encouraged at College events to which Lecturers are invited. A more detailed guide to tutorial responsibilities and other information, entitled a Handbook for Fellows and Lecturers, will be communicated to the successful candidate by the Senior Tutor following appointment. The Lecturer will be subject to the College’s Statutes and Bylaws in force from time to time.
5. CRITERIA FOR THE APPOINTMENT
To be successful, candidates will need to show that they meet the following selection criteria:
* i) To have completed, or be about to complete, a doctorate in Mathematics.
* ii) To be willing and able to successfully teach the papers outlined in 4(b) above.
* iii) To demonstrate the ability to be an effective and inspiring teacher, particularly to undergraduates of high ability in a tutorial (small group) system.
* iv) To have the potential to discharge competently the full range of academic administrative duties, besides teaching, upon which the effective operation of the Mathematics and joint Schools within the College depends.
* v) To be able to contribute to the work of the team of academic staff in subjects involving Mathematics at Merton College.
6. REMUNERATION AND CONDITIONS OF THE STIPENDIARY LECTURERSHIP The stipend for the lecturership will be £6,223 (current rate) for the period of the appointment, i.e. 5 January 2026 until 31 March 2026. A 6-hour lecturer will also be entitled during the appointment to: Enrolment in the Universities Superannuation Scheme. Free meals at the Common Table of the College when the kitchens are open (with certain designated exceptions) for the period of the appointment. Membership of the Senior Common Room, for which a charge is payable. A teaching room, although not necessarily for the lecturer’s exclusive use. 7. RIGHT TO WORK IN THE UK4 The appointment will be conditional on satisfactory provision of proof of the right to work in the UK.
8. PROCEDURE FOR APPLICATION AND APPOINTMENT
Applications Those wishing to apply for this post should complete the online application form at and email the following documents as a single PDF document to vacancies@merton.ox.ac.uk named in the format ‘Last Name First Name SL in Maths Application’ and in this exact order: a curriculum vitae incorporating details of any publications; and a statement of teaching range and experience in relation to the selection criteria and needs of the College, as specified above. Please put your last name and SL in Maths in the subject line of the e mail. The closing date for applications is 9.00am (GMT) on Monday 17 November 2025. It is anticipated that interviews will be held in the week commencing 1 December 2025. Applicants should arrange for two referees to write directly to the HR team at vacancies@merton.ox.ac.uk by 9.00am (GMT) on Monday 17 November 2025. Hard copy signed references will be required for the successful candidate. Applicants are responsible for requesting references from their referees and for ensuring that references arrive by 9.00am (GMT)on the closing date of Monday 17 November 2025; they should therefore give referees enough time to write in their support. The College will not request references directly from the referees. Applicants are requested to inform their referees that, under the General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 and the Data Protection Act 2018, the references they provide will be regarded as disclosable to the subject of the reference unless it is clear that the reference has been given in confidence. The College asks that a reference given in confidence should be marked “strictly confidential” on the letter of reference itself. Referees should also be asked to note that even where a reference is marked “strictly confidential” it could still be disclosed to the subject of the reference if that subject so requested and the College’s Data Protection Officer deemed it appropriate. Candidates are encouraged to complete the Equal Opportunities Recruitment Monitoring form at the end of the Application form. The information collected on the Equal Opportunities Recruitment Monitoring form does not form part of the selection process and will not be circulated to the selection panel. It will be used solely to monitor the effectiveness of the College’s equality policy which is published at Any enquiries related to these Further Particulars should be directed in the first instance to the Senior Tutor, Dr Jane Gover (e-mail: vacancies@merton.ox.ac.uk). To view our Privacy notice please see here 9. Equal Opportunities Merton College is an equal opportunities employer. The policy and practice of Merton College require that all staff are afforded equal opportunities within employment. Entry into employment with the College and progression within employment will be determined only by personal merit and the application of criteria which are related to the duties of each particular post and the relevant salary structure. In all cases, ability to perform the job will be the primary consideration. Subject to statutory provisions, no applicant or member of staff will be treated less favourably than another because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.