Position Description
The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (https://cumming.ucalgary.ca/departments/bmb/home), in partnership with the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute (https://research4kids.ucalgary.ca), the Owerko Centre (https://research4kids.ucalgary.ca/owerko) and Hotchkiss Brain Institute (https://hbi.ucalgary.ca/), Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, invite applications for an appointment with Tenure at the Professor level. The selected candidate will also be nominated for a Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) Tier I Canada Research Chair (CRC) in ‘Translational Research in Childhood Neurodevelopmental Diseases’. Further information about the Canada Research Chairs Program, including eligibility criteria, can be found on the Government of Canada’s CRC website. A competitive salary and an attractive start-up package will be available through the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM), ACHRI and the HBI.
Applicants must have a PhD (or equivalent), be a Full Professor (or eligible for promotion to this rank), with demonstrated research leadership and outstanding research productivity with publications in high impact journals and demonstrated success in the acquisition of external research funding and awards. The applicant must also meet the criteria for a Canada Research Chair at the Tier I level. Contributions to trainee supervision, mentorship and teaching are expected. Candidates must show evidence of productive, externally funded research programs, that fit within established teams within ACHRI (http://www.hbi.ucalgary.ca/our-research) and HBI (http://www.hbi.ucalgary.ca/our-research).
The Chairholder will join an established, multidisciplinary, and cross-faculty group of scientists and clinician-scientists. The goal of this CRC opportunity is to build upon the University of Calgary’s existing strengths in neuroscience and developmental biology by recruiting a candidate who will develop a program to advance our understanding of the mechanistic basis for neurodevelopmental disorders using an invertebrate, vertebrate, and/or human brain organoid model system. Examples of potential candidates include those who: (1) use -omic technologies (e.g., single-cell RNA and ATAC sequencing, proteomics) to stratify neural cellular populations to open new avenues of research in neurodevelopmental disorders; (2) explore the interplay between neural progenitors and glial cells in the onset of neurodevelopmental disorders in the embryonic brain; (3) apply new tools to the study of myelination and pruning in neurodevelopmental disease etiology in the postnatal brain.
The candidate will be expected to develop an internationally recognized extramurally funded research program (for which 75% time will be protected), as well as contribute to teaching and graduate student supervision. The successful candidate will join a collaborative and vibrant research environment within ACHRI and HBI. This Chair is strongly aligned with the established Brain and Mental Health (BMH) research strategy, led by HBI, and the recently launched Child Health and Wellness (CHW) research strategy, led by ACHRI, both of which are UCalgary-wide cross-cutting themes. The chair will join leading developmental biology, genetics and genomics research within the ACHRI Precision Medicine & Disease Mechanisms program, the HBI Neurodevelopment BMH Team and also be integrated into the Owerko Centre, which focuses on child neurodevelopment and mental health.
The University of Calgary, through its Cumming School of Medicine, its health research institutes, and its academic departments seeks to recruit and retain a diverse and inclusive workforce that will contribute to creating the future of health. We are committed to fostering diversity through cultivating an environment where people with a variety of backgrounds, genders, interests, and talents feel welcome and supported.
The University 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 consider, and be sensitive to, the impact of career interruptions, when assessing the candidate’s research productivity.
Interested individuals are encouraged to apply online via University of Calgary Careers webpage using the “Apply Now’ link. Please be aware that the application process allows for a maximum of four attachments. Your application attachments should be organized to contain the following (which may require you to merge documents):
• Cover letter and Curriculum vitae including the names and contact information for three referees
• Statement of research interests and a description of a proposed 5-year research plan for the Chair
• Statement of teaching interests
Questions about this position may be directed to:
Dr. Sarah Childs
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
c/o Leslie McGill ([email protected])
The closing date for applications is January 31, 2022.
Posting Date: December 17, 2021
Closing Date: January 31, 2022
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 academic and professional success while they are here; in particular, we encourage members of equity-deserving groups (women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding diversity or requests for accommodation can be sent to Human Resources ([email protected]).
Additional Information
To learn more about academic opportunities at the University of Calgary and all we have to offer, view our Academic Careers website. For more information about the Cumming School of Medicine visit Careers in the Cumming School of Medicine.
COVIDSafe Campus Strategy
The University has implemented a new Vaccination Directive that requires all faculty and staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by January 1, 2022. You will be required to upload proof of vaccination prior to commencing your duties. Please review the COVIDSafe Campus website for further information and access to additional resources.
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.
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.