Shannon Family Research Chair in Aging Transitions
University of New Brunswick Saint John
The position will commence on a January 1, 2026 or a mutually acceptable date, thereafter. This position is subject to budgetary approval. UNB's Integrated Health Initiative (IHI) is a comprehensive program that focuses on health education and research, social innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration (https://unb.ca/integrated-health/). The Bachelor of Health offers core interdisciplinary courses and three majors: Biomedical Sciences and Health, Society and Health, and Management in Health (https://www.unb.ca/saintjohn/health/). Health focused graduate programs, including a Master of Public Health, are being developed. IHI Faculty regularly collaborate with researchers at Horizon Health Network (including the Saint John Regional Hospital and St. Joseph’s Hospital), Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick, and New Brunswick Community College Allied Health programs. In addition to these interdisciplinary collaborations, the Chair will have the capacity to work with the Shannex team and other partners in the private, public and community health sectors. There is capacity to work with Research NB to gather and assess new streams of data and existing streams of data that have been underutilized; propose new models of care, including virtual models, as well as the potential for engagement in high-level conversations with policy makers to inform public conversations about aging.
The mandate of the Chair will be broad, with an overall focus on aging as a series of transitions across the continuum of wellness and social life, focusing on evidence-based research designed to inform the conceptualization and translation of best practices, innovative methodologies, and the impact of aging transitions through a variety of lenses. The Chair will conduct research on specific qualities, concepts, processes, and structures that contribute to healthy aging, such as the development of age-friendly communities, the impact of frailty on healthy aging, quality of life throughout the aging process, and examination of impediments to the growth of healthy intergenerational communities that exist in New Brunswick. Specific research could focus on societal and public health issues that inform the development of policy initiatives with the capacity to improve quality of life, including poverty, lack of affordable housing, and limited public transportation.
Qualifications for this position include a Ph.D., or equivalent, in any discipline with a focus on interdisciplinary perspectives on aging, including but not limited to health, neuroscience/neurobiology of aging, sociology, psychology, gerontology, and public health. Candidates who have conducted interdisciplinary research focused social, psychological, and biological impacts of transitions during aging are encouraged to apply. The successful candidate will have a record of excellence in research including peer-reviewed publications, knowledge transfer, research assistant supervision, and collaborative, applied research. The successful candidate will be expected to maintain an externally funded program of research.
The successful candidate will be responsible for establishing Shannon Aging Lab in the new, state of the art, Health and Social Innovation Centre at UNB Saint John. The lab will be the centre of aging research on campus and the proximity to other interdisciplinary health research chairs will support the development of collaborative interdisciplinary research. The successful candidate will teach two courses a year, in Integrated Health Initiative educational programs, including the Bachelor of Health and the anticipated Master of Public Health.
We are committed to advancing applications from Indigenous and racialized scholars within equity-deserving groups. Please consult UNB’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion webpage for information about the supports and resources UNB offers. You may also consult UNB’s Strategic Plan: Toward 2030 and UNB’s Strategic Research Plan.
UNB recognizes the legitimate impact that life circumstances such as illness, disability, family, and community responsibilities may have on a candidate’s record of research achievement (e.g., maternity leave, parental leave, leaves due to illness, leaves due to caring for family members, or slowdowns due to chronic illness or disability). These impacts will be taken into careful consideration during the assessment process.
The University of New Brunswick is situated on unceded and unsurrendered Wəlastəkwey territory and is covered by the Peace and Friendship Treaties. Saint John is a small and vibrant city, known for its arts and entertainment community, historic harbourfront, and coastal landscapes. There are ample opportunities for outdoor activities at Rockwood Park and Irving Nature Park, as well as a variety of events at Market Square on the Saint John Boardwalk.
Applicants should electronically submit a cover letter describing their research and other relevant community expertise and goals, and CV, in a single pdf file, to Dr. Lisa Best, Acting Dean of Integrated Health at lisa.best@unb.ca. Applicants should indicate current citizenship status in their cover letter. Short-listed candidates will be asked for 3 academic reference letters and other relevant supporting material, including a teaching dossier.
The salary range and fringe benefits for this position is defined in the Association of University of New Brunswick Teachers (AUNBT) 2022-2025 Collective Agreement sections 35 and 36B.
UNB ensures that employment opportunities are accessible to all applicants. To request accommodations at any stage in the recruitment and hiring process, please contact UNB’s Recruitment & Employee Experience Specialist at people@unb.ca.
Short-listed candidates will be required to provide satisfactory proof of credentials including appropriately certified translations of credentials into English, as applicable. The University of New Brunswick is committed to employment equity and promoting diversity within our community. We strive to create an inclusive workplace that reflects the richness of the broader community we serve. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals who can help us achieve our goals, including women, visible minorities, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities and persons of any sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.