Assistant Professor and Canada Research Chair in Synthetic Biology and Biomanufacturing

Position description

The Department of Biology in the Faculty of Arts and Science at Concordia University invites applications for a Tier II Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Synthetic Biology and Biomanufacturing. The CRC will support and expand upon Concordia University’s research programs in synthetic biology, bioengineering and bioprocessing with an applied focus on sustainability, food security, and/or human health. The successful candidate will have a strong track record in the design and engineering of microbial, plant, and/or mammalian cells to produce valuable natural products in areas such as (but not limited to) renewable energies, biomaterials, foods, or medical therapeutics. The successful candidate will establish a research program that will benefit from, and foster growth of, our state-of-the-art Centre for Applied Synthetic Biology, Centre for Structural and Functional Genomics, Genome Foundry, and Bioprocessing Facility.

Qualifications and assets

Candidates must have a PhD in a field related to the life sciences and postdoctoral experience in areas including cell biology, synthetic and systems biology, genome editing technologies, high throughput methodologies, and bioprocessing technologies. Qualified candidates will have a demonstrated potential to 1) secure substantial external research funding, 2) attract high quality research students and trainees, 3) demonstrate leadership in their field of research, and 4) achieve international recognition as required by the Tier II CRC program. While extensive teaching experience is not required, candidates are expected to demonstrate aptitude for excellent teaching and mentoring at the undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral levels.

Candidates eligible for Tier II chair positions must be excellent emerging scholars within 10 years of their highest degree at the time of nomination (exclusive of career interruptions). Potential Tier II candidates who are more than 10 years from their highest degree should take note that certain career interruptions may still make them eligible for nomination. Potential candidates are encouraged to submit a formal justification by means of the Tier II Justification Assessment Form, which will be considered in the review of applications. Please consult the Canada Research Chairs website for full program information, including further details on eligibility criteria and acceptable justifications to the extension of the eligibility term.

Notwithstanding the above and irrespective of their submission of a formal justification, candidates are encouraged to share any career interruptions or personal circumstances that may have had an impact on their career goals (such as the decision to have a family, eldercare, illness, and so forth) in their letter of application. These will be carefully considered in the assessment process. The Department values diversity among its faculty and strongly encourages applications from those who will contribute to that profile. Concordia University is an English-language institution of higher learning at which the primary language of instruction and research is English. Since this position supports academic functions of the university, proficiency in English is required. Working knowledge of French, including reading and grading student work in French, is an asset.

How to Apply

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; Canadians and Permanent Residents will be given priority. To comply with the Government of Canada’s reporting requirements, the University is obliged to gather information about applicants’ status as either Permanent Residents of Canada or Canadian citizens. While applicants need not identify their country of origin or current citizenship, all applicants must include one of the following statements:

1. Yes, I am a citizen or permanent resident of Canada
2. No, I am not a citizen or permanent resident of Canada

Application packages should be addressed to Dr. Michael Sacher, Chair of the Department of Biology, and must include a cover letter clearly identifying the title and position code (24-C-BIOL-O), the name and complete contact information (phone and email) of three references in the cover letter, a detailed curriculum vitae, copies of three representative publications, a statement of research achievements and plans, including explanations of the three most important research contributions to date, and a statement of teaching philosophy/interests, including evidence of teaching interests and effectiveness. Applications should be submitted electronically to crc-biomanufacturing@concordia.ca, with the subject heading CRC Application, by March 31^st, 2025, but will continue to be reviewed until the position is filled. Only short-listed candidates will be notified. The appointment can commence as early as August 2025, but a later start date is possible. All inquiries regarding this position can be directed to David Walsh at david.walsh@concordia.ca.

Concordia University is strongly committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community, and recognizes the importance of inclusion in achieving excellence in teaching and research. As part of this commitment to providing our students with the dynamic, innovative, and inclusive educational environment of a Next‐Generation University, we require all applicants to articulate in their cover letter how their background, as well as lived and professional experiences and expertise have prepared them to teach in ways that are relevant for a diverse, multicultural contemporary Canadian society.

Possible examples to demonstrate a diverse experience may include, but are not limited to:

• teaching about underrepresented populations
• mentoring students from underrepresented backgrounds
• committee work
• offering or organizing educational programming
• participation in training and workshops

All applicants will receive an email invitation to complete a short equity survey. Participation in the survey is voluntary and no identifying information about candidates will be shared with hiring committees. Candidates who wish to self-identify as a member of an underrepresented group to the hiring committee may do so in their cover letter or by writing directly to the contact person indicated in this posting.

Adaptive Measures

Applicants who anticipate requiring adaptive measures throughout any stage of the recruitment process may contact, in confidence, the equity office at: equity@concordia.ca.