Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Synthetic Biology

The University of Ottawa invites applications for a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Synthetic Biology. The selected candidate will hold a tenure-track faculty position in the Faculty of Science.  Candidates are expected to establish a strong, extramurally funded, and collaborative research program in Synthetic Biology that complements the chemical biology expertise of the Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences and its 41 professors, which includes two winners of the Herzberg Canada Gold Medal, six Canada Research Chairs, and five University Research Chairs. The faculty has extensive research facilities including core facilities in mass spectrometry and proteomics, NMR, and imaging, and a recent $10M investment in automation and analytical infrastructure.

Tier 2 Chairs, tenable for five years and renewable once, are for exceptional emerging researchers, acknowledged by their peers as having the potential to lead in their field. For each Tier 2 Chair, the institution receives $100,000 annually for five years, with an additional $20,000 annual research stipend for first-term Tier 2 Chairs.

Candidates should, at a minimum, be assistant or associate professors, or possess the necessary qualifications to be appointed to these levels. Postdoctoral Fellows paid in whole or in part by funds administered by the University of Ottawa are not eligible to apply. Candidates who are more than 10 years from their highest degree must contact the University of Ottawa for questions related to their potential eligibility for a Tier 2 Chair. The institution may nominate a professor or a researcher who is more than 10 years from their highest degree at the time of nomination and has experienced legitimate career interruptions (see acceptable justifications). In such cases, the institution must submit to the Secretariat a formal justification (using the Tier 2 Justification Screening Form), explaining why the nominee is still considered to be an emerging scholar.

The University recognizes the legitimate impact that leaves (e.g., parental leave, leave due to illness) can have on a candidate’s record of research achievement and that these leaves will be taken into careful consideration during the assessment process. New CRC nominees are also eligible for infrastructure support from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to help acquire state-of-the-art equipment essential to their work. 

Required qualifications: PhD in Biochemistry, Chemistry, or a related discipline.  Postdoctoral experience is mandatory. A demonstrated excellent research track record in biochemistry or synthetic biology. A commitment to teaching and graduate training, a strong track record in and a commitment to interdisciplinary collaborations, and the ability to obtain external research funds. The candidate must be able to teach in both French and English, the two official languages of the University.

Rank and salary: Regular tenure-track academic appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Science. Applications for higher ranks will also be considered. This position is governed by a collective agreement between the University of Ottawa and the Association of Professors of the University of Ottawa.

Application Package:

• A cover letter;
• An up-to-date curriculum vitae (please include career interruptions such as parental or sick leaves that may have impacted your record of research. These will be taken into consideration in the selection process);
• A detailed research plan demonstrating a strong commitment to research excellence (5 pages maximum);
• A statement of teaching interests (1 to 2 pages); and
• The names of three people who may be contacted by the University for letters of reference which will follow the Canada Research Chairs guidelines (i.e. one arm’s length, and two who are not affiliated to the University of Ottawa unless they are the candidate’s PhD or postdoctoral supervisor);
• Self-Identification Form: The University of Ottawa strongly supports a workplace environment that removes disparities experienced by the designated groups in Canada:  women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities, as defined in the Employment Equity Act. We encourage all applicants from the four designated groups to fill the following form:   https://research.uottawa.ca/sites/research.uottawa.ca/files/edi_questionnaire_ovpr_for_prizes_en_24-oct-2018-converted_fillable.pdf.

Application deadline: September 30^th, 2019

The selection process will begin in October and will continue until the position is filled. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Please send the application package to the following address by email to:

Dr. Sylvain Charbonneau, Vice-President, Research

University of Ottawa

550 Cumberland St., room 246

Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5 CANADA

rcca-coord@uOttawa.ca

If you are invited to continue the selection process, please notify us of any particular adaptive measures you might require by contacting the Office of the Associate Vice-President, Faculty Affairs at 613-562-5958. The Canada Research Chairs Program imposes no restrictions on nominees with regard to nationality or country of residence. Procedures to allow non-Canadian chairholders to work in Canada have been established by Employment and Social Development Canada and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

The University of Ottawa is justly proud of its 160-year tradition of bilingualism.  Through its Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute, the University provides training to staff members and their spouses in their second official language.  At the time of tenure, professors are expected to be able to function in a bilingual setting.  In certain cases, professors must have the ability to teach in both official languages to be granted tenure.