Biomedical Engineering – Assistant Professor (Azrieli Professorship in Biomedical Engineering Technologies for Neurodevelopment)

Univerity of Calgary

We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the traditional territories of the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta. The City of Calgary is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III.

Position Description

The Schulich School of Engineering, at the University of Calgary invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor in the area of Biomedical Engineering, with an anticipated start date of January 1, 2024. The successful applicant will hold an Azrieli Accelerator Professorship for a period of 5 years, which provides protected time for research-intensive and research-related activities.

The successful candidate will be appointed at the rank of Assistant Professor (tenure-track) in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. The successful candidate will be expected to establish an excellent research program in the area of Neurodevelopment Technologies, with the potential to achieve national and international recognition in the next five to ten years. They will be expected to attract competitive external funding to support their research activities, and to attract excellent trainees and staff. They will also be expected to teach a range of undergraduate and graduate courses, related to their area of expertise and will actively contribute to teaching and curriculum development. In alignment with the University of Calgary’s Ahead of Tomorrow strategic vision, and in support of its strategic priorities of leadership, teaching and research integration, the successful candidate will also provide service to the department, faculty, University, and community and contribute to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces. In time, the successful candidate is expected to grow into a leadership role within the Department, School, and University.

The successful candidate will be an emerging scholar with an original, creative, innovative, and forward-looking research program, acknowledged by their peers as having the potential to become an international leader in the field. Applicants must have earned a Ph.D. in engineering, life sciences, or equivalent. The successful candidate’s research program will focus on Neurodevelopment Technologies. This may be accomplished by research themes including but not limited to:

• Developing innovative technologies and platforms for recording, analysing or interpreting neural activity, particularly during neurodevelopment. (examples include data acquisition, signal processing technologies)
• Integrating technologies for gathering and synthesizing data about neurodevelopment (omics, imaging, sensor-based)
• Designing technologies for users to interface with others when different developmental or neural differences exist (e.g., brain computer interfaces to enable nonverbal communication)
• Use of multi modal inputs and advanced AI/ML for enabling novel technologies to support neurodivergent individuals
• Community-based and participatory design of technologies to improve the quality of life of people with neurodevelopmental differences.

The successful candidate will have a mandate to develop a research program that advances critically required knowledge for developing biomedical engineering tools and technologies that can be applied to research into neurodevelopment, that will attract competitive external funding, and experience in teaching and graduate student supervision at the University level. They are expected to be or become eligible for registration as a professional engineer with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA): https://www.apega.ca/

If any candidates require further information about this criterion, they are encouraged to contact the Department Head.

The research area exemplifies the University of Calgary’s vision of research that is built around areas of excellence, entrepreneurial thinking, innovation, advanced technology, and strong connections to industry and community.

The Schulich School of Engineering is committed to fostering diversity through cultivating an environment where people with a variety of backgrounds, genders, interests and talents feel welcome and included. In 2016, the Schulich School of Engineering was recognized with the KNOVO Award of Distinction to honour the school’s commitment to diversity and equity.

The Azrieli Accelerator Professorships
The Azrieli Accelerator at the University of Calgary seeks to transform neurodevelopment research across the lifespan. With funding from the Azrieli Foundation, this initiative uses strategic investments to strengthen multi-disciplinary collaborations and launches big and bold research in the areas of neurodevelopment, neurodevelopmental conditions, and neurodiversity as they relate to all stages across the life course. The Azrieli Accelerator Professorships will bring new strengths to the University of Calgary, and the successful candidates will join a dynamic group of researchers who are engaged in the university’s transdisciplinary research strategy.

Biomedical Engineering at the University of Calgary
The new Biomedical Engineering Department is the home of undergraduate (BSc) and graduate (MSc, PhD) programming and is an anchor for cross-campus transdisciplinary activities in Biomedical Engineering. Biomedical Engineering at the University of Calgary (ucalgary.ca/bme) involves more than 300 faculty members with current annual research funding exceeding $75M. The university has made significant investments in Biomedical Engineering to date, including the allocation of six Tier 1 and nine Tier 2 Canada Research Chairs. A strong culture of collaboration and cross-disciplinary research excellence is enabled by significant research infrastructure located in multiple centers across campus. The University of Calgary’s multidisciplinary Engineering Solutions for Health: Biomedical Engineering research strategy drives innovations that are saving lives and revolutionizing health care.  Biomedical Engineering is led by the Schulich School of Engineering, with the Cumming School of Medicine, and the faculties of Kinesiology, Nursing, Science, and Veterinary Medicine. With collaborative teams focused on wearable technologies (We-Trac CREATE), human mobility, health monitoring and management including e-health, advanced biomedical imaging, precision bio-diagnostics, regenerative medicine and novel medical technologies, our researchers are transforming health services and quality of life.

The successful candidate will benefit from a rich ecosystem, which includes world-class scholars, a focus on entrepreneurship and innovation, and an equitable, diverse, and inclusive university community that supports transdisciplinary research, partnerships and collaborations, and education excellence. The Schulich School of Engineering Strategic Plan, Schulich Momentum, identifies four pillars: 1) Indigenous Engagement, Inclusivity and Reconciliation; 2) Fostering a Community through Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility; 3) Preparing Tomorrow’s Engineering Changemakers; and 4) Elevating Research and Innovation Impact. The Schulich School of Engineering is a key contributor the University of Calgary Framework for Growth plan, which emphasizes transdisciplinary scholarship, deeper community integration, and future-focused program delivery. For more information, please visit the Schulich School of Engineering website.

Please submit your application online via the ‘Apply Now’ link on the UCalgary careers site at: https://engg.careers.ucalgary.ca/jobs/13292774-assistant-professor-azrieli-professorship-in-biomedical-engineering-technologies-for-neurodevelopment-schulich-school-of-engineering

Please be aware that the application process allows for only four attachments. Your four application attachments should be organized to contain the following (which may require you to merge documents, such as publications:

• Cover letter and curriculum vitae, as well as the name and contact information of three referees
• Statement of research interests, accomplishments and vision (maximum 2 pages)
• Statement of teaching philosophy promoting student learning and success (maximum 2 pages). This can include information on teaching experience, training, and mentoring inside and outside the classroom at the undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral levels
• Statement on equity, diversity and inclusion (maximum 2 pages)

Questions may be addressed to:
Dr. Michael Kallos
Head, Department of Biomedical Engineering
Email: mskallos@ucalgary.ca

Application Deadline: October 16, 2023

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.

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 (equity@ucalgary.ca) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources (hrhire@ucalgary.ca).

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)

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 visit Careers in the Schulich School of Engineering.

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.

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.