Canada Excellence Research Chair, Cell & Systems Biology

The Hospital for Sick Children; Toronto; On-site; CAD 100,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

The Hospital for Sick Children seeks a Canada Excellence Research Chair in Cell & Systems Biology. This full-time position involves leading a world-class research team and contributing to groundbreaking work in pediatric healthcare. Candidates should possess a PhD or MD and have a proven record in impactful research and leadership.

Qualifications

• Established international reputation in research.
• Demonstrated record of high-impact contributions.
• Mentoring diverse groups of students and research staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Cell & Systems Biology Program and its team of researchers.
• Sustain innovative research advancing knowledge in Cell & Systems Biology.
• Contribute to a diverse and inclusive research environment.

Skills

Leadership

Research Excellence

Diversity and Inclusion Advocacy

Education

PhD or MD

Job description

Canada Excellence Research Chair, Cell & Systems Biology

Join to apply for the Canada Excellence Research Chair, Cell & Systems Biology role at The Hospital for Sick Children

Canada Excellence Research Chair, Cell & Systems Biology

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Join to apply for the Canada Excellence Research Chair, Cell & Systems Biology role at The Hospital for Sick Children

Dedicated exclusively to children and their families, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is one of the largest and most respected paediatric healthcare centres in the world. As innovators in child health, we lead and partner to improve the health of children through the integration of healthcare, leading-edge research and education. Our reputation would not have been built - nor could it be maintained - without the skills, knowledge and experience of the extraordinary people who come to work here every day. SickKids is committed to ongoing learning and development, and features a caring and supportive work environment that combines exceptionally high standards of practice.

When you join SickKids, you become part of our community. We share a commitment and determination to fulfill our vision of Healthier Children. A Better World.

Don't miss out on the opportunity to work alongside the world's best in paediatric healthcare.

The Hospital for Sick Children invites applications for a full-time research leader to be Head of the Program in Cell & Systems Biology. The successful candidate will be appointed as a Senior Scientist in the Research Institute and is expected to qualify for an appointment at the Associate or Full Professor level (status only) in an appropriate department at the University of Toronto. The appointment will start, at the earliest, March 19, 2026 and no later than January 1, 2028.

The Cell & Systems Biology Program is one of seven highly productive flagship research programs. The Program Head leads 30 independent investigators and approximately 200 graduate and postdoctoral trainees and staff. Research in this program has a strong focus on both discovery and translational research in multiple areas to advance precision medicine including cancer and infectious diseases. Visit our site to learn more about the Cell & Systems Biology Research Program. Broadly, researchers in the Program use cutting-edge methods in cell and molecular biology, biochemistry, and multimodal imaging, combined with proteomics, combinatorial chemistry, high through-put robotics and deep learning to examine cell physiology and metabolism, inter- and intracellular signaling, organelle function and connectivity, protein traffic, and cell death and inflammation. It is expected that a candidate will have already established an international reputation as a researcher in one of these areas.

Successful candidates, upon formally accepting the offer of a full-time position, may also be nominated for a Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Cell & Systems Biology. The Canada Excellence Research Chairs Program is intended to support world'class researchers and their teams in establishing ambitious research programs at Canadian institutions. Nominees to the Canada Excellence Research Chairs opportunity will be internationally leading researchers whose proposed research program aligns with one or more of the Government of Canada's Science, Technology and Innovation priority areas. Canada Excellence Research Chairs are appointed for eight years, with award values of either $1 million or $500,000 per year; these two award values recognize the varying costs of research within different disciplines.

The Hospital for Sick Children requires that applicants have a PhD, MD or equivalent, and a demonstrated track record of increasing leadership experience in research. To practice as an MD, the successful candidate will have to obtain an appropriate Certificate of Registration from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (license to practice), and appropriate Visa (if applicable), by the job start date. We seek candidates whose research and teaching interests complement and enhance our existing strengths https://www.sickkids.ca/. The successful candidate will be an internationally recognized research leader in Cell & Systems Biology whose accomplishments have made a major impact on the field and/or societal impact. Candidates will be expected to sustain and lead innovative research that will advance the global frontiers of knowledge in the field, and to maintain an outstanding, competitive, and externally funded research program, with a particular focus on the Canadian federal Tri-Agencies.

Candidates must provide evidence of research excellence, which can be demonstrated by a record of sustained high-impact contributions and publications in top-ranked and field relevant journals, the submitted research statement, presentations at significant conferences, distinguished awards and accolades, evidence of impact on the field and/or societal impact, and other noteworthy activities that contribute to the visibility and prominence of the discipline, as well as strong endorsements from referees of high standing.

Candidates must also possess a strong demonstrated record of service to the research community (e.g., service on peer review committees, faculty recruitment committees, advisory committees) and a demonstrated record of attracting and mentoring a diverse group of students, trainees, and research personnel, and establishing an equitable and inclusive research environment. Nominees to the Canada Excellence Research Chairs Program will be expected to develop and implement a plan for establishing and maintaining a diverse team and an inclusive research and training environment.

Salary and rank will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The Hospital for Sick Children recognizes the legitimate impact that leaves (e.g., parental leaves, slowdowns due to illness or disability, impacts of COVID-19) can have on a nominee's record of research achievement. These leaves will be taken into careful consideration during the review and assessment of application materials. The Cell & Systems Biology Research Program is in the state-of-the-art Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, located in the Discovery District in the heart of downtown Toronto. The Program leads 30 independent investigators and approximately 200 graduate and postdoctoral trainees and staff. The Program offers a unique environment for medical science discoveries with nine teaching and research hospitals and the University of Toronto, Canada's largest university, in proximity. SickKids is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, and SickKids researchers benefit from the extensive research facilities of the University and other affiliated institutions.

Application Process

All qualified candidates are invited to apply online by clicking the link in this posting. Applicants must submit their Curriculum Vitae, detailed research plan, leadership experience and vision, and equity, diversity and inclusion statement) in PDF format. A separate process will follow to solicit reference letters, for qualified applicants. All application materials must be received by Wednesday, July 9th.

If you have any questions about this position, please contact the Faculty Office at [e-mail].

In order to meet the Canada Excellence Research Chairs Program timelines, The Hospital for Sick Children must select and confirm the nominee in advance of November 2025, register the candidate by January 21, 2026, and submit a full nomination package to the Program by March 18, 2026.

The Canada Excellence Research Chairs Program does not impose any restrictions regarding nationality or country of residence of the nominee. However, given the Program's focus on the attraction of outstanding researchers to Canada, The Hospital for Sick Children will prioritize the nomination of those candidates who currently hold an academic appointment outside of Canada.

Our Commitment to Diversity

SickKids is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons, persons of colour, women, Indigenous/Aboriginal Peoples of North America, persons with disability, 2SLGBTQIA+persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. If requested, SickKids is proud to make available accommodations to support applicants with disabilities during the interview and assessment process. Informed by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), the Ontario Human Rights Code, and our Access and Accommodation Policy, we will accommodate the needs of applicants. Please email [e-mail] of your accessibility needs during the recruitment process. Information received relating to accommodation will be addressed confidentially. The Hospital for Sick Children also recognizes that scholars have varying career paths. Candidates are encouraged to explain any personal circumstances to allow for a fair assessment of their application. As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a brief voluntary diversity survey. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by either the search committee or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. The self-identification information is collected, used, disclosed, retained and disposed of in accordance with the Privacy Act and the Access to Information Act.

For further information on the Canada Excellence Research Chairs Program, including eligibility criteria, please consult the Program website.

SickKids is committed to championing equity, diversity and inclusion in all that we do, fostering an intentionally inclusive and culturally safe environment that reflects the diversity of the patients, families and communities we serve. Learn more about workplace inclusion.

If you require accommodation during the application process, please reach out to our aSKHR team. SickKids can provide access and inclusion supports to eligible candidates to support their full engagement during the interview and selection process as well as to ensure candidates are able to perform their duties once successfully hired. If you are invited for an interview and require accommodation, please let us know at the time of your invitation to interview. Information received related to access, inclusion or accommodation will be addressed confidentially.

Technical difficulties? Email [e-mail] with a short description of the issues you are experiencing. We will not accept resumes sent to this inbox but we are happy to respond to requests for technical assistance.

Tip: Combine your cover letter and resume into ONE document of 20 pages or less as you cannot upload multiple documents as part of your application.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Director

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Research, Analyst, and Information Technology

• Industries

  Hospitals and Health Care

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