Position Description

Area:          Health Equity and Homelessness Prevention

Duration:   Two years

Start Date:   2023

Salary:       $60,000

The Department of Community Health Sciences in the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary is accepting applications for a Postdoctoral Scholar. 

Job Description:

Applications are invited for a postdoctoral scholar in Health Equity and Homelessness Prevention (HEHP) in the Department of Community Health Sciences.  Applicants will specialize in community-based approaches, the social determinants of health, knowledge mobilization, policy change, and demonstrate aptitude in applying social theory to population and public health.

The successful applicant will join an intensive program of research, training, and knowledge mobilization in the Health Equity program housed within the O’Brien Institute for Public Health. The Health Equity Program generates and translates knowledge to address social and health inequities. The Program is led by Dr. Katrina Milaney and includes the Health Equity HUB to support innovative knowledge mobilization strategies to translate research into system, program and policy change.

The successful applicant will also design, conduct, and apply for funding for public health and health equity research and action projects. Considerable latitude exists to tailor projects to the successful applicant’s strengths and interests within the field of Health Equity, however, knowledge of Canada’s social structures and systems including the varied aspects of homelessness in Canada is an asset.  Additional assets for a competitive application would include familiarity with a wide range of literature, including population health, housing & homelessness, domestic violence, newcomer issues, disability studies, harm reduction, social policy, and Indigenous health.  The applicant should have experience with a range of research methods and approaches, including participatory action research, community-engaged scholarship, community-based research, and qualitative and mixed methods.  Experience in community outreach, network building, government relations, advocacy, and policy change are also assets.

The primary project will be to lead a national homelessness prevention project meant to support emergency shelters to prioritize shelter diversion and housing as their primary mandate. This position will also involve oversight for several other projects and may include literature reviews, data collection and analysis and translation activities as needed in the HEHP program. 

Both independent work and collaboration with colleagues in a range of organizations, including academic institutions, public health, health services, governments, and community organizations.  The successful applicant will work with the Program’s existing human resources, including the HEHP Research Assistants and project coordinators.  Undergraduate and graduate student trainees are also involved in the HEHP Program.

The HEHP Program provides learning opportunities through interdisciplinary collaborations and funding from diverse sources, including the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), and philanthropic donations through the O’Brien Institute for Public Health.

Commitment to a Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Reconciliation

Authentic Reconciliation benefits everyone; we believe in a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment. We ensure equal opportunity for all applicants and encourage people of all identities and backgrounds, including Indigenous applicants, and those of any race, religion, sex, age, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression to apply for our job opportunities.

• Two-year position beginning in 2023.
• Annual stipend of $60,000/year, plus an extended health benefit plan. 
• Limited funds towards other expenses (travel, professional development, conference and publication fees) may be negotiated, and the successful applicant will receive support in applying for additional awards.
• As a full-time position for research training, the successful applicant will devote no more than 200 hours per year on activities other than research and knowledge exchange.
• The scholar will become part of an active postdoctoral community at the University of Calgary (http://www.ucalgary.ca/research/postdoc).
• Postdoctoral scholars have access to services of the Staff Wellness Centre and the Employee Family Assistance Program (EFAP) offered through the University of Calgary.

This opportunity is contingent on final approval of the successful applicant within the O’Brien Institute for Public Health and the Cumming School of Medicine (see: http://obrieniph.ucalgary.ca/research/internal-trainee-funding-opps). As a condition of funding from internal sources, the postdoctoral scholar must apply for competitive awards from provincial, national, and international funders, notably CIHR. Citizens of countries other than Canada are eligible to apply for CIHR Fellowships (http://www.cihr- irsc.gc.ca).

Qualifications:

• Applicants must possess a PhD or equivalent.
• Applicants must bring an excellent academic record (e.g., awards, publications), experience in research design and implementation and strong writing skills. 
• Applicants must have experience translating research into program and policy and a passion for knowledge mobilization. 
• Applicants must have been awarded a PhD or equivalent within the five years immediately preceding the appointment. The date of degree completion is considered to be the date on which all requirements for the degree have been met, including successful defense and submission of the final corrected thesis. It is not the conferred or convocation date.

* Please review the Postdoc Eligibility Guidelines for more information prior to applying for this position.

Application Details:

For more information, please contact Dr. Katrina Milaney, Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2N 4Z6, [email protected]

To apply:
Please submit the following components as a single .pdf file via email to [email protected] and copy Valerie Martin, administrative assistant, at [email protected]

• Cover letter outlining training, research expertise, and research interests as they pertain to this advertisement.
• Two samples of academic writing, preferably peer-reviewed publications with the applicant as the lead author. 
• Contact information for three references, at least one of whom must be a researcher.
• Curriculum vitae.

Review of applications will continue until the position is filled. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only complete applications will be considered and only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Only those applicants selected for interviews will be contacted further. In accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.

Additional Information

To learn more about postdoctoral scholar opportunities at the University of Calgary and all we have to offer, view our Postdoc Careers website. For more information about the Cumming School of Medicine visit Careers in the Cumming School of Medicine.

The University strongly recommends all faculty and staff are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

About the University of Calgary

The University of Calgary is Canada’s leading next-generation university – a living, growing and youthful institution that embraces change and opportunity with a can-do attitude. Located in the nation’s most enterprising city, the university is making tremendous progress on its Eyes High journey to be recognized as one of Canada’s top five research universities, grounded in innovative learning and teaching and fully integrated with the community it both serves and leads. The University of Calgary inspires and supports discovery, creativity and innovation across all disciplines. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

To succeed as one of Canada’s top universities, where new ideas are created, tested and applied through first-class teaching and research, the University of Calgary needs more of the best minds in our classrooms and labs. We’re increasing our scholarly capacity by investing in people who want to change the world, bringing the best and brightest to Calgary to form a global intellectual hub and achieve advances that matter to everyone. For more information visit research.ucalgary.ca/postdocs.

About Calgary, Alberta

Calgary is one of the world's cleanest cities and has been named one of the world's most livable cities for years. Calgary is a city of leaders – in business, community, philanthropy and volunteerism. Calgarians benefit from the strongest economy in the nation and enjoy more days of sunshine per year than any other major Canadian city. Calgary is less than an hour’s drive from the Rocky Mountains and boasts the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway network in North America.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy in line with the foundational goals of Eyes High, committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

The University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their professional success while they are here.