Canada Research Chair (CRC) Tier 2 Position in Molecular Imaging and Theranostics

Position Profile: The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at The University of Western Ontario invites applications for a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Molecular Imaging and Theranostics. The successful candidate will be appointed to a full-time tenure track appointment at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor. The rank will be commensurate with qualifications and experience and current rank at the time of hiring. The successful candidate will be appointed to the Department of Medical Biophysics, within the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry. This position is part of a larger initiative by Western University to build a cross-Faculty, 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.

The selected candidate will be nominated by The University of Western Ontario to apply for the Tier 2 CRC in Molecular Imaging and Theranostics. This academic appointment is conditional upon the successful award of the CRC Tier 2 to the candidate.

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 (https://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/program-programme/nomination-mise_en_candidature-eng.aspx) for full information, including further details on eligibility criteria.

Western University 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 to a chairholder position in cases where they have had career interruptions.

Qualifications, Experience and Skills Required: The successful candidate must be an exceptional emerging researcher, acknowledged by their peers as having the potential to lead in their field. They will have a PhD or equivalent in a relevant discipline, and have demonstrated excellence in research, a record of significant external research funding, research impact, leadership in collaborative research environments, and high-quality training of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. While this is a research-intensive position, the successful applicant should demonstrate enthusiasm for excellence in education, as contributions to graduate and undergraduate education are valued. The successful candidate will demonstrate a knowledge of the importance of EDID principles in research, teaching and/or mentorship. Evidence of research leadership potential is required.

Candidates will have a substantial and increasing profile of research into the identification and creation of novel probes for multimodal imaging and therapeutics. The Chairholder will be expected to engage in active collaboration with colleagues at the Lawson Research Institute at St. Joseph’s Health Care London (https://www.sjhc.london.on.ca/) and the London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute (https://www.lhscri.ca/), leveraging the strong partnerships and shared expertise across organizations to build synergies that enhance research impact and innovation.

The successful candidate will have demonstrated ability to lead an independent, competitive research program in multimodal molecular imaging and theranostics that will attract excellent trainees, strong external research support, and develop collaborative partnerships across the University and affiliated hospital partners and their respective research institutes. The position provides excellent opportunities to expand established collaborations in basic science and clinical departments, including Biochemistry, Chemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Medical Imaging, Medical Biophysics, Oncology, Clinical Neurological Sciences, and Biomedical Engineering. Expertise in conjugation of probes to macromolecules and/or nanoparticle manufacturing for advanced molecular imaging is highly desirable. Candidates with a research focus directed toward imaging or theranostic translational applications in neurobiology (including degenerative brain disease), cancer, or infectious disease are preferred.

Compensation Details: The salary for this position will be $120,000 to $150,000 annually, commensurate with qualifications and experience. This position includes a comprehensive benefits package. Further details can be accessed at: http://www.uwo.ca/hr/benefits/your_benefits/faculty.html.

Affirmation Policy Statement: 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)

Department/School: The Department of Medical Biophysics website describes the broader department’s collaborative research-intensive environment, which involves over 80 graduate students and approximately 100 researchers from the University and its affiliated research institutes and hospitals across the city of London. Students and faculty in Medical Biophysics are eligible to participate in multiple Collaborative Specializations, including the Collaborative Specialization in Molecular Imaging. This specialization provides advanced, practice-oriented graduate training in the non-invasive detection of changes in the expression of genes, molecules and cells in vivo over time. As an add-on to select participating graduate programs— including Medical Biophysics— the specialization helps attract top-tier students eager to develop and apply molecular imaging approaches to complex biomedical challenges.

London, Ontario has a proud history as a leading destination for research in medical imaging and is home to several state-of-the-art research & core facilities that have been revitalized through recent major investments. These include but are not limited to: a new Biomedical Research Facility for animal housing, an Animal Cognition and Behavioural Neuroscience Core, a Western Advanced Microscopy Core, a Translational Imaging Research Facility, and an Imaging Pathogens for Knowledge Translation (ImPaKT) Facility with Containment Level 2+ and 3 cell culture laboratories and animal housing. We have world-class facilities in genomics, proteomics and transcriptomics at the single cell level, flow cytometry, synthetic biology and molecular pathology. A partnership between GE Health Care and St. Joseph’s Health Care has established a National Centre of Excellence in Molecular Imaging and Theranostics which houses a Health Canada licensed Cyclotron and Radiopharmaceutical GMP manufacturing facility, a new PET/CT Omni 2 Legend system with 50% protected research time, a research Siemens dedicated Biograph One PET/MR, and a suite of preclinical imaging equipment for small and large animals. In addition, state-of-the-art clinical PET and basic science radiochemistry facilities are available at Victoria Hospital and Victoria Research Laboratories (at London Health Sciences Center). More information on facilities can be obtained at: Schulich Core Facilities and Lawson Imaging Facilities

The Faculty: The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry and Western University recognize that our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion is central to the University’s mandate as a research-intensive institution of higher learning and a community leader.

The University: 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.

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 11 Faculties and Schools and 2 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 and Indigenous Strategic Plan and for information on Western’s research areas please visit Research Western.

Western recognizes that our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion is central to the University’s mandate as a research intensive institution of higher learning and a community leader. Western understands that our pursuit of research excellence and our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion are mutually supporting. As such, Western is committed to achieving and maintaining an equitable representation amongst our Canada Research Chair holders, as well as within Western’s broader research enterprise.

Western’s Recruitment and Retention Office is available to assist in the transition of successful applicants and their families.

The City: Western’s campus is in London, Ontario, a city of approximately 400,000 located on the traditional territories of the Anishnabeg, Haudenosaunee, Lunaapeewak and Attawondaron peoples, on lands connected with the Dish with One Spoon Convenant Wampum and the London Township and Sombra Treaties of 1796, and is 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, sporting events, and excellent restaurants and is Canada’s first UNESCO City of Music.

To Apply: Interested applicants should submit a complete application and must include the following:
1. 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).
2. A cover letter addressing how your expertise fits this position and complements existing strengths at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, St. Joseph’s Health Care London and the London Health Sciences Centre.
3. A detailed curriculum vitae.
4. A plan identifying your proposed research program and most significant contributions to the field of molecular imaging and theranostics. In your statement, describe how your past contributions connect with your research plan and how your research plan connects to molecular imaging and theranostics at Western (up to five single -spaced pages, 1” margins and font size 12).
5. 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.
6. A statement on how your track record and plans create an equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment for research, teaching, and service (up to two single-spaced pages, 1” margins, font size 12).
7. The names and email addresses of 3 academic referees. Referees will only be contacted for shortlisted applicants.

The application package should be assembled into a single PDF document for submission via email to:
Charles McKenzie, PhD
Acting Chair, Department of Medical Biophysics
Medical Sciences Building, MSB 443
Western University
London, Ontario Canada N6A 5C1
Email: medbio@schulich.uwo.ca

Western reserves the right to review applicant 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 recruitment process. If you require accommodations for interviews or other meetings, please contact medbio@schulich.uwo.ca.

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