Assistant Professor in Circularity and Sustainable Design Methodologies, Schulich School of Engineering

Position Description

The Sustainable Systems Engineering program in the Schulich School of Engineering at the University of Calgary is pleased to invite applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor in Circularity and Sustainable Design Methodologies. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2024, or a mutually agreed upon date.   

Sustainable Systems Engineering is a technical, life-centered, transdisciplinary field focusing on how to design, integrate, and manage complex systems over their life cycles with the goal of environmental, economic, and social sustainability. The program will train engineers who will have the knowledge, awareness and competencies needed to design, develop, and implement engineering solutions that prioritize circularity and sustainability, aiming to minimize negative impacts while striving for net-neutral outcomes, while focusing on people and the planet.

The successful applicant will align with the University of Calgary's Ahead of Tomorrow strategic vision and support its strategic academic and research priorities of transdisciplinary scholarship, future-focused program delivery, and deeper community integration.  

This position offers an unparalleled opportunity to spearhead transformative transdisciplinary research, foster impactful collaborations, and inspire the next generation of engineers to champion sustainability. The position is focused on advancing research in one or more of the following critical areas: Sustainable Engineering Design, Sustainable Engineering Policy and Education, System Engineering, Renewable Sustainable Systems, and Environmental Justice and Design for Circularity. Evidence of interdisciplinary collaboration in support of the scoping, development, evaluation, and implementation of solutions is desirable. Recognizing the interconnectedness of the issues related to sustainable systems and development, our program endeavours aim to pioneer solutions that address the complex challenges of our time. By melding engineering design principles with sustainable and circular systems thinking, we strive to develop innovative strategies that not only optimize resource utilization but also prioritize environmental justice considerations.

Our commitment extends to shaping engineering policy and education to foster a new generation of practitioners equipped to navigate the intricate landscape of circular economy practices. Through this interdisciplinary lens, our research program seeks to bridge theory and application, contributing actionable insights that promote holistic sustainability in engineering practices while championing environmental justice on local and global scales. We invite candidates who share this vision to join us in advancing transformative research at the intersection of sustainable systems engineering, circular economy, sound energy and environmental policy.

Within the broad topic of Circularity and Sustainable Design, knowledge and past teaching experiences in one or more of these areas is required:

• Design and integration of Sustainable Systems
• Development of policy for Sustainable Engineering and renewables systems
• Development of curriculum for integration of sustainability in Engineering
• Design for mitigation and gap analysis for adaption and equity
• Renewable energy systems
• Optimization of resource utilization for Environmental Justice
• Development and Design for Circularity

The successful candidate must demonstrate the ability to develop and teach a range of undergraduate and graduate courses core to engineering and on topics related to Sustainability Systems Engineering.  The candidate will actively contribute to teaching, curriculum development, graduate student supervision and mentoring and is expected to provide service supporting SUSE, School, University and Profession.  Design experience is an asset, as is the demonstrated ability and interest to teach in open-ended, problem-driven course formats.

As a University of Calgary community member, the successful candidate will support and contribute to equity, diversity, inclusion, and a positive working and learning environment.

Position Requirements:

• B.Sc. in an engineering discipline
• Doctoral degree specializing in research on sustainable development
• Possess a strong research track record
• Provide evidence of excellence in teaching
• Relevant industrial experience is an asset
• Strong oral and written English communication skills
• Must be eligible for registration as a professional engineer with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA)

The successful candidate will benefit from a rich ecosystem that includes world-class engineering scholars, a focus on entrepreneurship and innovation, and a university community that supports transdisciplinary research, partnerships, and collaborations and supports research and teaching excellence. The University of Calgary is a national leader in sustainability systems, with research activities and programs spanning departments, schools, universities, and communities.  
 

Interested individuals are encouraged to submit an application online via the `Apply Now’ link and include in one PDF file (which may require you to merge documents):

• Cover letter and curriculum vitae, including the name and contact information of three referees
• Statement of research interests, accomplishments, and vision (3 pages)
• Statement of teaching philosophy (2 pages)
• Statement on equity, diversity and inclusion, and indigenous engagement (2 pages)
• Statement on sustainability and the role it plays in your research (2 pages)

Questions may be addressed to:
Dr. Marjan Eggermont
Interim Associate Dean Sustainability, Schulich School of Engineering
Email: [email protected]

Application Deadline: March 1, 2024

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy 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.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, 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 academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion ([email protected]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources ([email protected]).

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. In this connection, at the time of your application, please answer the following question: Are you a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada? (Yes/No)

The University of Calgary recognizes that candidates have varying career paths and that career interruptions can be part of an excellent academic record. Candidates are encouraged but not required to provide any relevant information about their experience and/or career interruptions to allow for a fair assessment of their application. Selection committees have been instructed to give careful consideration to and be sensitive to the impact of career interruptions when assessing the candidate’s research productivity.

Additional Information

For a listing of all academic opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Academic Careers website. For more information about the Schulich School of Engineering, click here.

About the University of Calgary
 
UCalgary is Canada’s entrepreneurial university, located in Canada’s most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada’s leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.
 
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 a growing number of world-class dining and cultural events and enjoy more days of sunshine per year than any other major Canadian city. Calgary is less than an hour's drive from the majestic Rocky Mountains and boasts the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway network in North America.