Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Experimental Cellular and Systems Biophysics

Biophysical Society; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A research-intensive university in Ottawa seeks a candidate for a Tier 2 Chair in Biophysics, emphasizing exceptional research in cellular mechanisms related to the brain and heart. Responsibilities include teaching, conducting research, providing academic service, and supervising graduate students. Candidates should possess a Ph.D. in Physics or a related field and demonstrate outstanding communication skills in English or French. The position supports equity, diversity, and inclusion, prioritizing applications from underrepresented groups.

Benefits

Access to local facilities for advanced research

Research funding opportunities

Support for equity and inclusion initiatives

Qualifications

• Exceptional research achievements in CRC's identified areas.
• Proof of interdisciplinary collaborations.
• Promising record of teaching and training of graduate students.
• Ability to obtain external research funding.
• Excellent communication skills in English or French.

Responsibilities

• Teach in physics.
• Conduct research.
• Provide academic service.
• Supervise graduate students.

Skills

Research achievements in identified biophysics areas

Interdisciplinary collaborations

Teaching and training of graduate students

Communication skills in English or French

Bilingualism (English-French)

Education

Ph.D. in Physics or closely related field, or MD-PhD

Job description

The candidate will conduct experimental work in quantitative cellular and/or systems level biophysics, seeking insight into the physical mechanisms underpinning the complex nature of biological systems. The ideal candidate has an internationally competitive research program on neural and cardiac cells and their interconnection, with possible links to other cell-types and the cellular connectome. Candidates whose program lies more in one area will also be considered, especially if planning to explore brain and heart interactions through a biophysical lens. The scope of the search spans from cellular mechanics and molecular dynamics, excitability and energy transduction in single cells, circuits, and tissues, to biophysical interactions between organoids and associated regulatory mechanisms. The Chair will open new in vitro or in vivo avenues for groundbreaking discoveries and act as a focal point for novel collaborations along the brain-heart axis. Insights into intercellular mechanisms (brain/heart; brain/gut microbiome; immune system; etc...) hold immense potential for advances in disease diagnostics, therapeutics and mental health, all key strategic areas at uOttawa.

The Physics department has a critical mass of biophysics researchers in areas ranging from nano-fluidics to soft matter, molecular biophysics, bio-photonics and nonlinear microscopy. There is also a strong complement of brain and heart theoretical biophysicists. The successful candidate will be part of the rich ecosystem consisting of the Brain and Mind Research Institute, Heart Institute, Centre for Neural Dynamics and AI, and Nexus for Quantum Technologies (photonics research) that span Science, Medicine, Health Sciences and Engineering. The candidate will also be a member of the Brain-Heart Interconnectome (BHI). The BHI is a ground-breaking interdisciplinary research program designed to accelerate prevention, detection, treatment, and care of health conditions linked to the brain and the heart through research co-produced with patients and other knowledge users.

They can access local facilities for cell culture, confocal microscopy, atomic force and electron microscopy and microfabrication. The University is situated near the laboratories of the National Research Council and other governments laboratories and fosters links with the Kanata North high-tech park.

Located on the unceded territory of the Anishinaabe-Algonquin people, in the heart of the nation`s capital near multiple national agencies, the University of Ottawa is one of Canada`s top ten research intensive universities. It is recognised as the first and largest bilingual university in North America and offers strong connections to organisational, government and policy interest holders.

Tier 2 Chairs, tenable for five years and renewable once, are for exceptional emerging researchers, acknowledged by their peers as having the potential to lead in their field. For each Tier 2 Chair, the Canada Research Chairs (CRC) Program allocates to institutions $100,000 annually for five years, with an additional $20,000 annual research stipend for first-term Tier 2 Chairs. Candidates should, at a minimum, be assistant or associate professors, or possess the necessary qualifications to be appointed to these levels. New CRC nominees are also eligible for infrastructure support from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to help acquire state-of-the-art equipment essential to their work.

The University of Ottawa is committed to ensuring equity, diversity and inclusion in the scholarly and leadership environments of our students, staff, and faculty. Accordingly, we strongly encourage applications from members of the four designated groups such as Indigenous Peoples, racialized individuals, persons with disabilities, women and gender equity-seeking groups, as defined in the CRC Program method for establishing equity targets and the Employment Equity Act, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively implement equity measures that ensure and retain diverse teams and promote inclusive practices for research team members. As part of a preferential hiring process, applications from members of the four designated groups will be prioritized and assessed first for the vacancy.

Skills requirements

• Education: Ph.D. in Physics or closely related field, or MD-PhD
• Required Qualifications: superior research achievements in the CRC’s identified area(s) and proof of interdisciplinary collaborations, a promising record of teaching and training of students at the graduate level, the ability to obtain external research funds. Excellent communication skills in either English or French. Passive (or active) knowledge of one’s second official language (French or English) is a requirement for tenure. English-French bilingualism is an asset.

Duties

• Teaching in physics
• Research
• Academic service
• Graduate student supervision