Assistant Professor in Emerging Pathogens, Dept of Medical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases

University of Manitoba

Assistant Professor – Probationary (Tenure Track)
Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Position # 34265

The Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (MMID) invites applications for a full-time probationary (tenure-track) Assistant Professor in Emerging Pathogens, commencing September 1, 2024 or on a date mutually agreed upon. Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications, and in accordance with the University of Manitoba Faculty Association collective agreement.

The Department seeks an emerging scholar with a commitment to excellence in teaching and research. Exceptional candidates will be considered with the responsibilities and qualifications outlined below:

Description and responsibilities:
• Enhance the University’s competitiveness in infectious disease research through peer-reviewed national and international grant funding.
• Conduct research that takes advantage of MMID’s newly constructed containment level (CL) 3 in vitro lab and a new animal CL3 lab that has been approved for building.
• The research program of the successful candidate is expected to engage with MMID’s international linkages including clinical cohorts in Nairobi and an enhanced CL3 lab MMID built with our partners at the University of Nairobi.
• Perform research that will ultimately improve the health of Manitobans, Canadians, and global citizens.
• Provide leadership in the operations and management of the UM CL3 labs.
• Provide a learning environment that will attract top research trainees and mentor them to have success in obtaining scholarships and publish in top journals in the field.
• Provide knowledge translation that will inform key stakeholders and the general public about the importance of infectious disease research.
• Respectfully engage with community members in Winnipeg and internationally wherever the work occurs.

The duties of this position include teaching, research, and service:

• Teaching: Will be responsible for teaching courses at the undergraduate and graduate student level and mentoring/supervising research trainees.
• Research: Develop and maintain a rigorous, independent, nationally funded, research program that is highly collaborative involving local, national, and international partners. The program should be highly collaborative with members of MMID, the University and regional partners such as local hospitals, the provincial Cadham Laboratory, the National Microbiology Laboratory and the National Foreign Animal Disease Laboratory. The focus of this position is on containment level 3 emerging pathogens. The program must involve in vitro CL3 work utilizing the new in vitro laboratory built by MMID for this purpose. The possibility of animal CL3 work will be considered, but for the next 3-5 years must involve well defined relationships with external partners until the UM’s new animal CL3 lab is complete.
• Service: Service will be to the department, Max Rady College of Medicine, and University of Manitoba. External service includes outreach activities to the wider community, the external scientific community through manuscript and grant reviews, as well as service in professional societies.

Qualifications:
The successful candidate must have a Ph.D. and/or MD with postdoctoral research experience and a productive track record of peer-reviewed publications. Experience working in high containment labs is a requirement.

Experience in teaching and student mentorship is preferred.

The successful candidate’s research program must involve emerging/re-emerging pathogens and must align with one or more of the department's identified areas of research strength (HIV, viral pathogenesis, host/pathogen interactions and antimicrobial resistance).

About Us:
The Department of MMID currently has ten full-time tenured and tenure-track faculty members and 76 affiliated members and offers MSc and PhD graduate programs in Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases with a current enrollment of over 60 students. Further information about MMID can be obtained from https://umanitoba.ca/medicine/medicine/department-medical-microbiology-and-infectious-diseases.

The University of Manitoba is committed to the principles of equity, diversity & inclusion and to promoting opportunities in hiring, promotion and tenure (where applicable) for systemically marginalized groups who have been excluded from full participation at the University and the larger community including Indigenous Peoples, women, racialized persons, persons with disabilities and those who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, questioning, intersex, asexual and other diverse sexual identities). All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.

The Rady Faculty of Health Sciences is committed to the social justice principles of equity, access & participation and to promoting opportunities in hiring, promotion and tenure (where applicable) for systemically marginalized groups who have been excluded from full participation at the University and the larger community including Indigenous Peoples, Black, racially marginalized communities, disabled persons and those who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, questioning, intersex, asexual and other diverse sexual identities).

An inclusive, open and diverse community is essential to excellence and fosters voices that have been ignored or discouraged. To address the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences commitment to equity, access and participation, and in recognition of the underrepresentation of members of historically and currently excluded groups, we take proactive measures including implicit bias training for all hiring panels. We strive for diversity and cultural safety throughout the hiring process (hiring panels, short-list of candidates, interviews). The University acknowledges the potential impact that Career Interruptions and Personal Circumstances can have on an applicant's record of research achievement. Measures will be taken to ensure that these leaves will be taken into careful consideration during the evaluation process.

We encourage you to self-identity aspects of your identity that position you to bring currently under-represented viewpoints, expertise and forms of excellence to this role.

If you require accommodation supports during the recruitment process, please contact UM.Accommodation@umanitoba.ca or 204-474-7195. Please note this contact information is for accommodation reasons only.

Application materials must include:
• Cover letter indicating why you are applying for this position,
• Curriculum vitae,
• Summary of current and future research interests (one page),
• Research plan for the next five years (up to 3 pages),
• Description of teaching philosophy (1/2 page),
• A personal statement on your contributions to equity, diversity, and inclusion in your teaching, research, service and/or other experiences (1/2 page)
• A description of community engagement experience (1/2 page),
• Contact information for three references.

Send applications to:

Dr. Keith Fowke
Search Committee Chair
545-745 Bannatyne Ave
Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0J9
c/o Leah Buermeyer
Leah.Buermeyer@umanitoba.ca

The closing date for receipt of applications is May 15, 2024.

Application materials, including letters of reference, will be handled in accordance with the protection of privacy provision of The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Manitoba). Please note that curriculum vitae may be provided to participating members of the search process.