Name : Philip Vickerman. Age: 37. Job: Centre leader for sport and dance studies, Liverpool John Moores University.

Salary : £44,000

Background : BSc (Hons), MEd, PhD. I trained in physical education and sports studies, and worked with adults with learning disabilities. I then worked as regional disability sports development officer before moving into higher education ten years ago.

Working hours : About 50 hours a week, but I often find myself in e-mail contact with students at weekends.

Number of students you teach/staff you manage : I teach 25 to 90 students on undergraduate and postgraduate physical education teacher training and sport development courses. I also supervise PhD students, and the faculty has started running professional doctorates. I manage about 20 staff.

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Biggest challenge this year : The restructuring of my faculty of education, community and leisure; living up to being recognised as a National Teaching Fellow; and getting used to being a Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.

How you deal with it : By keeping an open mind, staying positive and consuming the odd bottle of good red wine.

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Worst moment in university life : My PhD upgrading viva.

What is your office like? Out of the window I can see the River Mersey and on a clear day the distant Welsh mountains.

Which university facilities do you use? I should say the library and on-site gym. The reality is the student canteen.

Do you socialise with people at the university? Colleagues in learning development call my team "the Duracell bunnies" - they are very energetic and committed to teaching and learning. They are a great bunch, and we have the occasional meal out and game of tenpin bowling.

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Who are the most difficult people you deal with professionally and how do you cope? Students who e-mail essays at 3am in the morning, then, at 8.30am, ask if you have read their work. I tell them that I didn't get in from partying myself until 7am.

Best excuses for bad behaviour? "I wasn't sleeping; I was trying to pick up my contact lens without my hands; and I have issues - back off!"

Do you interact with other parts of the university? Yes, both in my National Teaching Fellow role and as a leader of a Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.