Physiology and Pharmacology – Tier I Canada Research Chair in Brain Circuits

University 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. 

The Department of Physiology and Pharmacology (https://cumming.ucalgary.ca/departments/physiology-pharmacology/) and the Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI; https://hbi.ucalgary.ca/) with the support of the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI; https://research4kids.ucalgary.ca/) invite applications for an appointment with Tenure at the Professor level. The selected candidate will be nominated for a Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) Tier I Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Brain Circuits. Further information about the Canada Research Chairs Program can be found on the Government of Canada’s CRC website (https://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/home-accueil-eng.aspx) including eligibility criteria. A competitive salary and an attractive start-up package will be available through the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM), the HBI and ACHRI.

Applicants must have a PhD (or equivalent), be a Professor (or eligible for promotion to this rank) and have an outstanding record of 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 requirements outlined for the Canada Research Chair at the Tier I level. Demonstrated leadership ability through research program development and implementation is essential. A documented series of progressively advancing contributions to trainee supervision, mentorship and teaching is expected. A proven ability to initiate partnerships and to work in multidisciplinary teams is essential. Candidates must show evidence of productive, externally funded research programs, and demonstrate a fit with at least one of the nine Brain and Mental Health Teams of the HBI (https://hbi.ucalgary.ca/research/brain-and-mental-health-teams), or within ACHRI’s Child Brain and Mental Health Program (https://research4kids.ucalgary.ca/research/programs).

The successful candidate will join an established, multidisciplinary, and cross-faculty group of scientists and clinician-scientists. They will develop a program in foundational or translational neuroscience. More specifically, we seek an individual with leading expertise in understanding the brain in health and disease. The successful candidate will be expected to work collaboratively with the team of basic scientists, clinician investigators and clinicians conducting a broad spectrum of research in the brain research environment, as well as other institutes and departments in the Cumming School of Medicine to develop a world-class research program.

The position provides 75% protected time for research with the expectation that the candidate establish a vigorous, sustainable, externally funded research program. The successful candidate will contribute to teaching and graduate student supervision within a dynamic and collaborative environment. The appointee will have access to state-of-the-art core infrastructure including key neurotechnologies located at the HBI advanced microscopy and CSM optogenetic facilities and strong pre-clinical and human neuroimaging, bioinformatics, genomics, non-invasive neuromodulation, and MR-guided focused ultrasound programs. These world-class facilities are partially supported through a recent $12M 5-year investment by the CSM through the Cumming Medical Research Fund. Outstanding opportunities for collaboration are also available with established research programs within the HBI and ACHRI.

Located in Canada’s most enterprising city, the traditional territory of the peoples of Treaty 7 and Region 3 of the Métis Nation of Alberta, the University of Calgary (UCalgary) is a global and innovative intellectual hub for teaching and learning, research and scholarship, and community engagement. UCalgary ranks fifth among Canada’s top research universities in Research Infosource Inc.’s Top 50 Research Universities list released on Jan. 25, 2022. UCalgary is the youngest university to have reached the top five.

UCalgary has more than 6,500 graduate students and 28,500 undergraduate students, more than 1,800 academic staff (continuing, contingent term or limited term appointment), more than 1,300 sessionals, and more than 3,200 non-academic staff, in 14 Faculties, across five campuses. The vibrant and research-intensive environment at UCalgary is home to 146 research chairs (75 Canada Research Chairs), and more than 50 research institutes and centres. UCalgary has the fastest growth rate in attracting research funding among the 10 largest universities in Canada.

The university’s new Framework for Growth establishes principles and focus areas for the University of Calgary over the coming decade. It will ignite our entrepreneurial spirit to turn challenges into opportunities to improve the world around us. It will help to meet our academic and research ambitions and strengthen our community engagement in one of Canada’s most diverse cities, whose exciting future is unfolding rapidly, and where scientific disciplines will play a major role. Built around three big ideas (transdisciplinary scholarship, integration with our community and future-focused program delivery), the Framework will distinguish the university and drive growth.

To learn more about this vision please see: https://www.ucalgary.ca/president/growth

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.

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.

Interested individuals are encouraged to submit an application 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 four application attachments should be organized to contain the following (you are encouraged to merge documents to reduce the number of attachments):

• Cover letter
• Curriculum vitae
• Research interest statement (not to exceed 2 pages)
• Leadership statement including equity, diversity and inclusion considerations (not to exceed 2 pages)
• The names and contact information for three (3) referees. Reference letters will not be required unless the applicant is short-listed for a visit/interview.

View full posting and apply: https://medicine.careers.ucalgary.ca/jobs/13263435-canada-research-chair-tier-i-in-brain-circuits-department-of-physiology-and-pharmacology-cumming-school-of-medicine

For more information, please contact:

Robert Newton, PhD
Head, Physiology and Pharmacology
c/o Chloe Fowler (jonec@ucalgary.ca)

Application deadline: October 31, 2023

To learn more about academic opportunities at the University of Calgary and all we have to offer, view our Academic Careers website (http://careers.ucalgary.ca/).  For more information about the Cumming School of Medicine visit Careers in the Cumming School of Medicine (http://medicine.careers.ucalgary.ca/)

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

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)