Brains of university lecturer catching fire (10)

I believe the answer is:

ringleader

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'brains' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'university lecturer catching fire' is the wordplay.
'university lecturer' becomes 'reader' (type of academic).
'catching' is an insertion indicator.
'fire' becomes 'ingl' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'reader' placed around 'ingl' is 'RINGLEADER'.

'of' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for ringleader that I've seen before include "Mastermind" , "Chief troublemaker" , "firebrand" , "Chief mischief-maker" , "Chief mischief maker" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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