Position Title / Rank: Assistant or Associate Professor in Aquatic Ecosystems and Global Change
College: College of Biological Science
Department: Integrative Biology
Date Posted: April 23, 2021
Deadline: June 1, 2021 or until a suitable candidate is found
Please reference AD #21-20
Position Description:
The Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Guelph invites applications for a tenure-track faculty member at the Assistant or Associate Professor level in the area of Aquatic Ecosystems and Global Change.
The position is a key element of the new Centre for Ecosystem Management (CEM) at the University of Guelph, in partnership with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC), Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Michigan State University (MSU), and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (OMNRF). The successful candidate is expected to develop significant capacity for quantitative analysis of aquatic ecosystem processes at broad spatial and temporal scales using cutting edge analytical and/or empirical approaches involving computer simulation modeling, remote sensing, and/or field mensuration. Significant service activity in support of the CEM mandate is expected, through meaningful participation in symposia, workshops, report preparation, committee work, and outreach activities of interest to partner organizations (GLFC, DFO, MSU, and OMNRF).
A Ph.D. and relevant postdoctoral or work experience in aquatic ecosystem ecology will be required, along with evidence of strong potential to establish a productive research program of internationally significant stature, including effective mentorship of graduate students. We are especially interested in candidates with experience using one or more creative, cutting-edge technologies in research, for example “–omics” technologies, modeling or other theoretical advances, advanced data syntheses, isotope or fatty acid analyses, remote sensing, bioinformatics, or other approaches. The successful candidate will have a demonstrated history of significant leadership and/or collaboration experience, for example in a leading multi-disciplinary academic research team or a collaborative research initiative with governmental scientists or policy makers. Applicants must also demonstrate a strong ability to communicate complex scientific ideas and findings to resource managers, policy makers, and the public. Applicants should also demonstrate a commitment to effective and innovative teaching at the undergraduate level. Teaching responsibilities will be reduced commensurate with service needs beyond the norm for the Department of Integrative Biology.
The successful candidate will be joining a dynamic, multidisciplinary department with ~35 faculty and an excellent research record in ecology, evolutionary biology, physiology, conservation biology, and biodiversity, that encompasses a wide range of taxa and levels of biological organization from molecules to ecosystems across a diverse array of habitats. The successful candidate will have access to a number of facilities and resources, including the Hagen Aqualab, Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, the Limnotron, several research stations with access to freshwater and marine habitats, plus opportunities to connect with facilities at partner organizations, such as the Quantitative Fisheries Center at Michigan State University.
In the Department of Integrative Biology, we value diversity and inclusivity because we know that diversity in experiences and perspectives is vital to advancing innovation, critical thinking, complex problem solving, and the creation of a modern, representative academic community. The Department is committed to developing and maintaining a culture that is positive, collegial, and respectful of all members, and in which wellness and healthy work-life balance are valued along with (and indeed, contribute to) excellence in research and teaching. To develop an inclusive and vibrant departmental culture, the Department maintains standing committees focused on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and Mental Health and Wellness and has developed specific recommendations for faculty hiring that incorporate these important issues. Department of Integrative Biology’s EDI statement.
The University of Guelph is the third largest employer in Guelph, a city of approximately 130,000 people, located about an hour drive west of Toronto, Ontario. University of Guelph is a top-ranked comprehensive university in Canada with an enrolment of over 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students across over 40 academic units. The University is known for its commitment to student learning, innovative research, and collaboration with world-class partners. It is a unique place, with transformative research and teaching and a distinctive campus culture. People who learn and work here are shaped and inspired by a shared purpose: To Improve Life. Reflecting that shared purpose in every experience connected to our university positions us to create positive change, here and around the world. Our University community shares a profound sense of social responsibility, a drive for international development, and an obligation to address global issues.
This position is one of several positions being advertised simultaneously in the Integrative Biology department and across the university.
Application Process
Assessment of applications will begin June 1, 2021 and will continue until the position is filled. Interested applicants should submit the following materials: (1) cover letter; (2) curriculum vitae; (3) overview of a proposed research program, including plans for leadership and collaboration; (4) teaching statement; (5) diversity statement; (6) names and contact information for three references; and (7) three publications (preferably first-authored) representative of your prior research..
The overview of proposed research program should be a maximum of four (4) pages and include: a vision including long-term goals of your research program (>10-yr timeframe); several short-term goals (5-yr timeframe); 1-2 example graduate student projects; demonstrated relevance to ecosystem management in the Great Lakes region; and up to one (1) page addressing leadership, proposed collaborations within and outside of the Centre for Ecosystem Management, and how the proposed research will contribute to the goals of the partnership agencies. The proposed research program should include a collaborative element for a significant part of the program, involving partners in the Centre for Ecosystem Management (GLFC, DFO, MSU, and OMNRF), as well as researchers from other academic institutions, government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, or indigenous communities.
The teaching statement should be a maximum of two (2) pages and include: a paragraph articulating your overarching teaching philosophy, examples of 2-3 specific teaching strategies you would plan to use in your undergraduate teaching, and an example of a topic you would be most interested in teaching.
The diversity statement (1 page max) should describe the strategies you plan to use to ensure your research, teaching, and mentorship activities provide equitable opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds and to foster a welcoming and inclusive environment in your courses and research group.
Applications should be sent by email to ibsearch@uoguelph.ca , to the attention of:
Dr. Rob McLaughlin
Search Committee Chair
Department of Integrative Biology
College of Biological Science
University of Guelph
Guelph, ON N1G 2W1
All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
The University recognizes that applicants may have had obligations outside of work that have negatively impacted their record of achievements (e.g., parental, elder care, and/or medical). You are not required to disclose these obligations in the hiring process. If you choose to do so, the University will ensure that these obligations do not negatively impact the assessment of your qualifications for the position.
The University of Guelph resides on the ancestral lands of the Attawandaron people and the treaty lands and territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit and we offer our respect to our Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee and Métis neighbours as we strive to strengthen our relationships with them.
At the University of Guelph, fostering a culture of inclusion is an institutional imperative. The University invites and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in employment, who may contribute to further diversification of our Institution.
If you require a medical accommodation during the recruitment or selection process, please contact Occupational Health and Wellness at 519-824-4120 x52674.
