Tier II Canada Research Chair in Immunology (Tenure track Assistant/Associate Professor)

Simon Fraser University

At the intersection of innovative education, cutting-edge research, and community outreach lies Simon Fraser University (SFU), Canada’s top-ranked comprehensive university. With three campuses located in beautiful British Columbia’s largest municipalities – Vancouver, Burnaby and Surrey – our students, faculty and staff are privileged to live, work and play on the traditional unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), q̓íc̓əy̓ (Katzie), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), Qayqayt, Kwantlen, Semiahmoo and Tsawwassen Peoples.
Consistently ranked as one of Canada’s top employers, SFU is an institution whose strength is based on our shared commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion, and the pursuit of decolonization, indigenization and reconciliation. Diversity is an underlying principle of our Strategic Vision, which pledges SFU to foster a culture of inclusion and mutual respect, celebrating the diversity reflected among its students, faculty, staff and our community.

The Opportunity

The Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) at SFU invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position and Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Immunology with an anticipated start date of Spring 2025 or later. This position is contingent upon the applicant receiving a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair prior to being appointed to a tenure-track faculty position at SFU.

This Tier 2 CRC appointment opportunity is intended for exceptional emerging scholars in the field of Immunology, at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor (or those who possess the necessary qualifications to be appointed at these levels). Normally, the candidate must have been an active researcher in their field for fewer than 10 years at the time of CRC nomination. Applicants may still be eligible when more than 10 years from their highest degree (and where career breaks exist such as parental, extended sick leave, clinical training, or research delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, etc.) may have their eligibility for a Tier 2 CRC assessed through the program’s Tier 2 justification process; please see the CRC website for eligibility details. The candidate’s research area should primarily align with the mandate of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) as outlined in the Guidelines for Selecting the Appropriate Federal Granting Agency.

The Faculty of Health Sciences

FHS was created in 2005 with a mission to improve the health of individuals and populations and to reduce health inequities through excellence in interdisciplinary research and education, in partnership with local, national and global communities and with a commitment to social justice. FHS is committed to improving our understanding of racism as an independent and fundamental determinant of health.

The successful candidate will be supported by collegial interdisciplinary faculty who employ a range of approaches to understand complex biological and societal relationships that contribute to health. The successful candidate will join a diverse and dynamic team of more than 50 multidisciplinary faculty members and will have the opportunity to engage with and teach outstanding students in the PhD, MSc, MPH and BA/BSc programs.

FHS is committed to creating an inclusive educational environment with supportive student-focused mentorship and learning. We maintain collaborative agreements and partnerships with the BC government, regional health authorities, research centres, and provincial, national and international health and research agencies. Our community engaged research and teaching is exciting, inclusive, and at the cutting edge of interdisciplinary work in health and health equity. Faculty members actively collaborate to develop interdisciplinary research initiatives in six Research Challenge Areas and three cross-cutting Core Themes.

The Successful Applicant

We are searching for an individual of outstanding promise who will contribute to the diversity and excellence of scholars at SFU. The candidate will be expected to maintain an outstanding program of research and a strong record of grant funding within the broad field of Immunology. Knowledge mobilization to the scholarly community, professional groups, the general public, and other stakeholders, as appropriate, is also expected. The candidate must hold a PhD or equivalent doctoral degree and have a proven ability to conduct innovative research. The candidate will show a strong commitment to undergraduate and graduate teaching and will be expected to contribute to teaching and mentorship in Immunology at all levels. The successful candidate will also demonstrate a strong commitment to the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion, consistent with SFU’s active leadership in this area.

We encourage applications from candidates studying any aspect of Immunology that complements current research in FHS and other related programs at SFU. Existing areas of research strength at SFU include infectious diseases immunology, vaccinology, immunogenomics, transplantation immunology, cancer immunology/immunotherapy and immunology related to non-communicable diseases of the cardiovascular system. Emerging areas of research include interdisciplinary immunology related to developmental biology and ageing, neurobiology, environmental biology, Indigenous health and global health. SFU houses outstanding core facilities to support the research of the successful candidate. We particularly encourage applications from investigators who will benefit from access to SFU’s biocontainment level 3 laboratory, flow cytometry and cell sorting facility, confocal and super-resolution microscopy facility, animal research centre or supercomputing infrastructure. Building upon SFU’s strong partnerships with regional hospitals and health authorities (including Vancouver Coastal Health, Fraser Health, Provincial Health Services and First Nations Health), applications that incorporate clinical or translational research objectives will be considered favorably.

How To Apply

Applicants should submit a single PDF containing:
● A cover letter that addresses the full scope of the job requirements, including how the candidate would contribute to SFU’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion
● A curriculum vitae that includes details of research and teaching, scholarly record, funding and list of key collaborations/partnerships
● A statement of research plans for the next five years (max. two pages)
● A statement of teaching and mentorship experience and philosophy (max. two pages)
● The names and email address of 4-5 references

SFU recognizes that alternative career paths and/or career interruptions (e.g. parental leave, leave due to illness, research delays due to COVID-19) can impact research achievements and commits to ensuring that leaves are taken into careful consideration. Candidates are encouraged to highlight in their application how alternative paths and/or interruptions have had an impact on their career. SFU also recognizes the value of mentoring and research training, outreach, professional service, and non-traditional areas of research and/or research outputs; demonstrated experience in increasing diversity in the previous institutional environment, and in curriculum, is also an asset.

Faculty salaries at SFU are based on the salary scales bargained between the University and the SFU Faculty Association. A reasonable estimate of the salary range for this role at the Assistant Professor rank is $104,652 - $129,866, (dependent on experience and inclusive of a CRC salary stipend, available only for the term of the CRC appointment). Candidates with experience commensurate with higher ranks may also be considered for appointment at the Associate Professor rank. A reasonable estimate of the salary range for this role at the Associate Professor rank is $127,065 - $149,478, (dependent on experience and inclusive of a CRC salary stipend, available only for the term of the CRC appointment).

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.

All applications should be submitted to:

Dr. Mark Brockman
Chair, Immunology Recruitment Committee
Faculty of Health Sciences
Simon Fraser University
8888 University Drive
Burnaby, BC, Canada, V5A 1S6
Email: fhs_recruit@sfu.ca

Applications received by April 17, 2024 will be given full consideration. Applications received after this date may be considered until the position is filled. Any general inquiries regarding this posting may be directed to fhs_recruit@sfu.ca.

This position is contingent upon the applicant receiving a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair prior to being appointed to a tenure-track faculty position at SFU and thus alignment with the CRC nomination criteria will be part of the overall selection process. The position is subject to the availability of funding and to final approval by the University Board of Governors and the Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat (TIPS). The CRC is tenable for five years and is renewable once, which is subject to the Chairholder demonstrating that they have achieved their objectives from their first term. Interested applicants are invited to review the initial appointment and chair renewal details of the CRC Program.

SFU is an equity employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including women, persons with disabilities, racialized persons, Indigenous Peoples, people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of the University. SFU is committed to ensuring that no individual is denied access to employment opportunities for reasons unrelated to ability or qualifications. Consistent with this principle, SFU will advance the interests of underrepresented members of the work force, ensure that equal opportunity is afforded to all who seek employment at the University, and treat all employees equitably. Candidates who belong to equity-deserving groups are particularly encouraged to apply.

SFU offers several benefits and services aimed at creating a more inclusive and accessible campus community for faculty; please see the Faculty Relations, Benefits and Services page for more details. SFU is also committed to ensuring that the application and interview process is accessible to all applicants. If you require accommodations or have questions about SFU benefits, services, accommodations policies, or equity considerations, please contact the Specialist, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Faculty Relations.

Under the authority of the University Act, personal information that is required by the University for academic appointment competitions will be collected. For further details see the Collection Notice on the Academic Careers webpage: https://www.sfu.ca/vpacademic/academic-careers.html.