Sawin-Baldwin Chair in Ovarian Cancer

The Department of Oncology in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta, in collaboration with the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and the Women and Children’s Health Research Institute (WCHRI) invite applications for a full-time tenure-track associate professor or professor to direct a discovery and translational research program in ovarian cancer. The selected candidate will hold The Sawin-Baldwin Chair in Ovarian Cancer and will be supported by an annual operating grant to further develop a world-leading team in this research area. The Sawin-Baldwin Chair in Ovarian Cancer represents an institutional strategic direction aimed at advancing ovarian cancer research and innovation to enhance diagnosis, treatment and patient care. Responsibilities of the Chair include:

• Conduct a world-class oncology research program, with a primary focus in ovarian cancer.
• Provide visionary and entrepreneurial leadership in the advancement of an internationally recognized research program.
• Promote interdisciplinary and collaborative research across disciplines. Provide mentorship that will promote the development of junior faculty in ovarian cancer research, build on strengths and utilize the existing resources available at the University of Alberta, Cross Cancer Institute and the Royal Alexandra Hospital/Lois Hole Hospital for Women.
• Attract outstanding undergraduate and graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, research associates and faculty members interested in ovarian cancer research. ? Develop successful collaborations in ovarian cancer research across Alberta and with other centres at the national and international levels.
• Successfully compete for external research funding in support of the Chair holder’s research program. ? Participate in ovarian cancer research fundraising and promotional activities conducted by the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, WCHRI, and the Foundations that provide financial support for the Chair (Alberta Cancer Foundation and the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation).
• Establish and maintain relations with health system and community groups that have an interest in ovarian cancer, both as an ambassador and champion for research and in an effort to work collaboratively and actively link research with practice.

Candidates must have an MD/PhD, PhD or equivalent with an excellent record of research accomplishment, including success in competing for external funding at the national and/or international level and the ability to mentor research trainees effectively. The successful candidate will be offered a tenure-track appointment contingent on ongoing government funding in accordance with the University of Alberta Faculty Agreement, which offers a comprehensive benefits package. They will be appointed in the Department of Oncology in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry with an adjunct or cross appointment to the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and academic membership in WCHRI. The successful candidate will have up to 75% protected time for research with the remaining time dedicated to teaching, administration, and patient care (if applicable). They will be provided with research start-up funding, an annual research operating grant, and the opportunity to apply for a Canada Foundation for Innovation John Evans Leadership Fund (CFI JELF) grant to acquire additional research infrastructure.

Once appointed, the Chair will have access to exceptional facilities, which include:

• WCHRI, a partnership between the University of Alberta and Alberta Health Services, with financial support from the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation. WCHRI is the only research institute in Canada and one of the few in the world to focus on women’s, children’s and perinatal health. WCHRI provides access to a range of research support services (e.g. biostatistics, data coordination centre, clinical trials support), opportunities for funding undergraduate and graduate students, bridge funding for researchers to optimize their success at a national level, clinical research funding programs, and an annual competitive operating grant competition.
• The Lois Hole Hospital Women’s Research Centre which is situated at the Lois Hole Hospital for Women at the Royal Alexandra Hospital campus, one of Canada’s premier women’s hospitals. The research centre supports multidisciplinary collaborations in women’s health research and provides access to clinical research facilities.
• The Cross Cancer Institute (CCI), northern Alberta’s leading centre to prevent, research, and treat cancer. The centre provides inpatient and outpatient services, advanced medical care and support, and education for patients and doctors. The CCI’s Clinical Trial Unit (CTU) has an active clinical trial program with state-of-the-art care and equipment. It employs over 60 qualified investigators across multiple health disciplines and more than 50 clinical trial nurses and coordinators to support industry and academic studies.
• The Cancer Research Institute of Northern Alberta (CRINA), which brings expert teams of cancer scientists and clinicians together in one of the largest comprehensive cancer research institutes in Canada. Those associated with this multidisciplinary institute investigate cancer biology, novel therapies and biomarkers, as well as prevention, lifestyle and survivorship after diagnosis. Team members work together on solutions to patient needs and translate research discoveries into treatments more rapidly and comprehensively than they could independently.
• State-of-the-art research laboratory facilities in the cancer research group located in the Katz Group Centre for Pharmacy and Health Research. This 7-storey research and teaching facility includes a lecture theatre, learning centre, public spaces and food services. There is also access to additional core equipment and services through the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, including flow cytometry, mass spectrometry, cell imaging, genomics, transgenics, and more.

The Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry has been internationally recognized among the world’s top medical schools and has a vibrant, world-class community of health researchers. The University of Alberta is one of Canada’s top teaching and research universities, with an international reputation for excellence across the humanities, sciences, creative arts, business, engineering, and health sciences. Home to 39,000 students and 15,000 faculty and staff, the university has an annual budget of $1.8 billion and attracts more than $480 million in sponsored research revenue. It offers close to 400 rigorous undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs in 18 faculties on five campuses—including one rural and one francophone campus. The university has more than 260,000 alumni worldwide. The university and its people remain dedicated to the promise made in 1908 by founding president Henry Marshall Tory that knowledge shall be used for “uplifting the whole people.”

Interested individuals should submit: a cover letter and curriculum vitae, including the names and contact information of three referees; a statement of their research interests and a description of a proposed 5-year research plan for the Chair.

Please direct all inquiries to: Dr. David Eisenstat Professor and Chair, Department of Oncology Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry University of Alberta eisensta@ualberta.ca

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. The University of Alberta is committed to an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from all qualified persons. We encourage women; First Nations, Métis and Inuit persons; members of visible minority groups; persons with disabilities; persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity and expression; and all those who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas and the University to apply.