Canada Research Chair Tier 2 in Cancer Biotherapeutics Probationary/Tenured (Assistant or Associate)

hiringnearme.org

The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at The University of Western Ontario invites applications for a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Cancer Biotherapeutics. The successful candidate will be appointed to a full-time probationary (tenure-track) appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor or Associate Professor, probationary or tenured. The rank and tenure status will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. The successful candidate will be appointed to the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology with potential cross appointment(s) in other relevant departments.

We are seeking an innovative, ambitious, and collaborative early career researcher who will apply integrative approaches to develop novel cancer biotherapeutics, with the goal of translating discoveries into products and interventions that improve the survival and quality of life of cancer patients. Applicants should have demonstrated expertise in any emerging area of translational cancer research including but not limited to: (1) the analysis of patient-derived models using high-throughput technologies to elucidate oncogenic mechanisms and/or develop novel therapies; (2) the design of next-generation immunotherapeutics; or (3) nanomedicine and theranostics.

The successful candidate will hold a PhD or equivalent, have completed postdoctoral or equivalent training in a discipline relevant to cancer research, exhibit a strong record of peer-reviewed publications as assessed by the principles of DORA (https://sfdora.org/read/), and have high potential to acquire independent and collaborative grant support. The successful candidate should have an emerging track record of: (1) interdisciplinary collaborative research; (2) teaching and mentorship; and (3) the ability to establish working relationships with clinicians and other health professionals to develop research initiatives. They should be a recognized early career national or international leader as exemplified by invited lectures and/or conference symposia as appropriate for their discipline and career stage. Demonstrated ability to secure career-stage appropriate external peer-reviewed funding (e.g., CIHR, NIH) would be an asset. Successful candidates are expected to have a strong commitment to EDID principles and incorporate these into their research, teaching and/or mentorship.

The candidate will join a diverse cancer research community in London, including established multidisciplinary and translational cancer research groups in areas such as breast, prostate, ovarian, pancreatic, and head and neck cancer; as well as metastasis and immuno-oncology. These groups include researchers at Western’s main campus and those within the Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre, which also houses a patient-derived tumour organoid facility and living biobank, and a centralized Clinical Research Unit that manages high impact cancer clinical trials. The successful candidate would have access to all these facilities and be expected to interact with fundamental, translational, and clinical researchers at both sites.

This position is part of a larger initiative by Western University and the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry to build a cross-departmental, world-class program in molecular biotherapeutics and diagnostics that spans the continuum from discovery to first-in-human trials. Successful candidates will join recent faculty hires across multiple departments with expertise in bioinformatics, biotherapeutics, imaging, inflammation, and public and Indigenous health. They will have access to professionally-managed core facilities and research infrastructure that reflect a recent major investment and support research activities such as multimodal and single-cell imaging, translational neuroimaging, high-throughput metabolomics, proteomics and genomics, pre-clinical biotherapeutic production, pre-clinical modeling and animal facilities, CL2 and 3 facilities, and GMP production. In addition, our researchers are supported by the computational capacity in SHARCNET (www.sharcnet.ca). It is anticipated that successful candidates will participate in this initiative by providing their critical expertise in this continuum and contribute to large-scale funding proposals in collaboration with clinician-scientists, basic scientists and facility directors to advance these research priorities.

In accordance with the regulations set for Tier 2 Canada Research Chairs (www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca), Tier 2 chairs are intended for exceptional emerging scholars (i.e., candidates must have less than 10 years of experience as an active researcher in their field at the time of nomination). Applicants who are more than 10 years from having earned their highest degree (and where career breaks exist, such as maternity, parental or extended sick leave, clinical training, etc.) may have their eligibility for a Tier 2 Chair assessed through the program’s Tier 2 justification process; please contact Research Development at The University of Western Ontario at ResearchWesternCRC@uwo.ca for more information. Please consult the Canada Research Chair website for full information, including further details on eligibility criteria. http://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/program-programme/nomination-mise_en_candidature-eng.aspx

The University of Western Ontario recognizes the potential impact that career interruptions can have on a candidate’s record of research achievement. Potential candidates are encouraged to explain within their application the impact that career interruptions have had on their record, and to submit a full career or extended CV.

The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry has emerging and established research foci in cancer research, sustainable healthy aging, infection and immunity, and neurobiology. Within this context there is a special emphasis on biomedical research and teaching with a focus on human health and disease. Relevant to this CRC position, the Basic Medical Science and Clinical Departments within Schulich and Hospital Research Institutes provide key support and expertise in basic, clinical, and applied aspects related to the biochemistry, cellular physiology and molecular biology of cells, microorganisms, and systems. The Faculty supports excellence in: Research and scholarship; Training and mentorship of undergraduate students, graduate students, and post-doctoral/clinical fellows by providing hands-on, technical laboratory and research experience; and Teaching of undergraduate Bachelor of Medical Science (BMSc) students, graduate students and professional students in Medicine and Dentistry.

The Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology (https://www.schulich.uwo.ca/anatomy/index.html) is a multidisciplinary basic science department within the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University. The Department fosters world-class research and teaching in cell biology, neurobiology, and clinical anatomy. These foundational research strengths are applied to multiple disease areas, including cancer, through productive academic and research collaborations with the other basic science and clinical departments at Western, affiliated hospitals, research institutes and industry partners in London and worldwide. The Department offers high-quality undergraduate and graduate training programs with a strong emphasis on experiential learning, intimate class sizes, and development of critical thinking/research skills. In addition, the Department provides teaching to medical, dental, science and health science students through undergraduate programs in the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry and the Faculties of Science and Health Sciences.

The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry is home to several research facilities and state-of-the-art core facilities at Western that have been revitalized through recent major investments. At the molecular level, the School has the London Regional Genomics facility that support genomics and transcriptomics at the single cell level; the BioCORE that contains facilities for Mass Spectrometry for proteomics, NMR facilities for both protein and small molecule characterization and facilities for biophysical characterization of proteins and metabolites; and the Flow Cytometry and Molecular Pathology Cores. At the macroscopic level these facilities include a Biomedical Research Facility for animal housing, an Animal Cognition and Behavioral Neuroscience Core, Translational Imaging Cores including the Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping (CFMM), and an Imaging Pathogens for Knowledge Translation (ImPaKT) Facility with Containment Level 3 cell culture laboratories and animal housing. More information can be obtained at: https://www.schulich.uwo.ca/research/research_excellence/core_facilities.html .

With annual research funding exceeding $220 million, and an international reputation for success, Western ranks as one of Canada’s top research-intensive universities. Our research excellence expands knowledge and drives discovery with real-world application. Western also provides an exceptional employment experience, offering competitive salaries, a wide range of employment opportunities, and one of Canada’s most beautiful campuses.

This position includes a comprehensive benefits package. Further details can be accessed at: http://www.uwo.ca/hr/benefits/your_benefits/faculty.html. Western’s Recruitment and Retention Office is available to assist in the transition of successful applicants and their families.

Western’s campus is in London, Ontario, a city with a population of approximately 400,000, located midway between Toronto and Detroit. With an extensive park system, river valleys, tree-lined streets, and bicycle paths, London is known as the “Forest City”. London has a reasonable cost-of-living and hosts an international airport, galleries, theatre, music, sporting events, and excellent restaurants.

With an enviable national reputation and an international profile that ranks among the top universities world-wide, Western pushes the boundaries of pedagogical and scholarly excellence while setting a national standard for a student experience that is second to none. Western is a founding member of Canada’s U15, serves as a hub for more than 500 international research collaborations, and is recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers. There are more than 38,000 students within Western’s 12 Faculties and Schools and 3 affiliated University Colleges. Approximately 4,000 faculty and staff work in partnership to deliver 400+ specializations, majors, and minors, as well as innovative modular degree programs. For more information about Western’s strategic priorities, visit Western Strategic Plan (https://president.uwo.ca/pdf/strategic-plan/WesternU_Full_StratPlan_2014.pdf) and Indigenous Strategic Plan (https://indigenous.uwo.ca/assets/docs/pdfs/reports/Indigenous-Strat-Plan—Final.pdf) and for information on Western’s research areas please visit Research Western (https://www.uwo.ca/research/).

The University of Western Ontario recognizes the potential impact that legitimate career interruptions can have on a candidate’s record of research achievement. Potential candidates are encouraged to explain within their application the impact that career interruptions have had on their record and to submit a full career or extended CV to a chairholder position in cases where they have had career interruptions.

Western, like many postsecondary institutions in Canada, is moving beyond sole reliance upon Indigenous self-identification in its hiring processes. This is to safeguard against the use of incorrect, incomplete, or misleading information in circumstances in which a candidate has made a declaration of Indigenous citizenship or membership. Candidates who are invited for an interview or who are short-listed, and who have made a declaration of Indigenous citizenship or membership for material advantage at Western, including where required or preferred for the position, will be asked to have their declaration of Indigenous citizenship or membership affirmed through a relational accountability process, led by the Office of Indigenous Initiatives (OII), that is consistent with Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing. Please contact the OII directly for details on the affirmation processes: https://indigenous.uwo.ca/. The policy can be viewed at: POLICY 1.58 – Affirming Declarations of Indigenous Citizenship or Membership at Western University (https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/policies_procedures/section1/mapp158.pdf).

Applications will be reviewed by a multi-disciplinary committee and must include the following:
• A completed regular full-time faculty application form that can be found at the following link:
(https://www.uwo.ca/facultyrelations/pdf/full-time-application-form.pdf).
• A cover letter addressing how your expertise fits this position and complements existing strengths at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry
• A detailed curriculum vitae
• A proposed research plan identifying significant contributions to the field of cancer biotherapeutics. In your statement, describe how your past contributions connect with your research plan and how your research plan will build research capacity at Western (up to five single -spaced pages, 1” margins and font size 12)
• A statement of your overall teaching and mentoring philosophies. This statement should include descriptions of past formal and informal mentorship experience, and plans for mentorship and training at Western (up to two single-spaced pages, 1” margins, font size 12). If available, summaries of teaching evaluations should be provided in addition to these two pages.
• A statement on how your track record and plans create an equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment for research, teaching and/or mentorship (up to one single-spaced page, 1” margins, font size 12)
• The names and email addresses of 3 academic referees.

The application package should be assembled into a single PDF document for submission to Dr. Lauren Flynn via email to anatomy@uwo.ca

The anticipated start date will be July 1, 2026 or as negotiated, and salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. The successful candidate will be expected to apply for a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in the first available competition after their appointment. Consideration of applications will begin on January 9, 2025 and will continue until the position is filled.

Western reserves the right to review applicants to ensure eligibility for funding under applicable research security policies.

Positions are subject to budget approval. Applicants should have fluent written and oral communications skills in English. The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Western is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from women, members of racialized groups, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, and persons of any gender identity or gender expression.

In accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities throughout the application and recruitment process. If you require accommodations for interviews or other meetings, please contact Mila Bojic at mila.bojic@schulich.uwo.ca.

To help us track our recruitment effort, please indicate in your cover/motivation letter where (hiringnearme.org) you saw this job posting.