Faculty Positions

Position Title / Rank: Assistant Professor in Plant Ecology or Plant Evolution

College: College of Biological Science

Department: Integrative Biology

Date Posted: April 27, 2021
Deadline: June 1, 2021 or until a suitable candidate is found
Please reference AD #21-22

Position Description:

The Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Guelph invites applications for a tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor level in the area of Plant Ecology and/or Plant Evolution.

A Ph.D. and relevant postdoctoral experience in plant ecology or evolution will be required, along with evidence of strong potential to establish a productive, externally-funded research program, including effective mentorship of graduate students. The successful candidate will pursue mechanistic, hypothesis-driven research in plant biology and may employ any number of research approaches, ranging from comparative to experimental studies in natural or human-managed field environments and in controlled-environment or lab settings. We welcome applications from candidates doing research in any area of plant ecology, plant evolutionary biology, and plant systematics, including, but not limited to, ecological and evolutionary responses to climate change and/or other anthropogenic effects on the environment, evolutionary processes responsible for the origins and diversification of plant biodiversity, the conservation and function of plant biodiversity, causes and consequences of plant invasions, and the ecology and/or evolution of plant interactions with competitors, herbivores and mutualists. The successful candidate will also demonstrate a commitment to effective and evidence-based teaching at the undergraduate level. The successful candidate will contribute to teaching in the Department’s organismal plant biology curriculum, which includes courses in plant diversity and systematics, plant evolution, and plant ecology, and contribute to teaching other ecology- and/or evolution-themed courses.

The successful candidate will be joining a dynamic, multidisciplinary department with ~35 faculty and an excellent record in research in physiology, evolutionary biology, ecology, conservation biology, and biodiversity, encompassing a wide range of taxa and levels of biological organization from molecules to ecosystems. The successful candidate will have access to facilities and resources unique to the University of Guelph, including the Phytotron, the Herbarium, the Arboretum, and multiple field research sites.

In the Department of Integrative Biology, we value diversity and inclusivity because we know that diversity in experiences and perspectives is vital to advancing innovation, critical thinking, complex problem solving, and the creation of a modern, representative academic community. The Department is committed to developing and maintaining a culture that is positive, collegial, and respectful of all members, and in which wellness and healthy work-life balance are valued along with (and indeed, contribute to) excellence in research and teaching. To develop an inclusive and vibrant departmental culture, the Department maintains standing committees focused on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and Mental Health and Wellness and has developed specific recommendations for faculty hiring that incorporate these important issues. Department of Integrative Biology’s EDI statement.

The University of Guelph is the third largest employer in Guelph, a city of approximately 130,000 people, located about an hour drive west of Toronto, Ontario. University of Guelph is a top-ranked comprehensive university in Canada with an enrolment of over 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students across over 40 academic units. The University is known for its commitment to student learning, innovative research, and collaboration with world-class partners. It is a unique place, with transformative research and teaching and a distinctive campus culture. People who learn and work here are shaped and inspired by a shared purpose: To Improve Life. Reflecting that shared purpose in every experience connected to our university positions us to create positive change, here and around the world. Our University community shares a profound sense of social responsibility, a drive for international development, and an obligation to address global issues.

This position is one of several positions being advertised simultaneously in the Integrative Biology department and across the university. All open faculty searches.

Application Process

Assessment of applications will begin June 1, 2021 and will continue until the position is filled. Interested applicants should submit the following materials: (1) cover letter; (2) curriculum vitae; (3) research statement; (4) teaching statement; (5) diversity statement, (6) three publications (preferably first-authored) that are representative of prior work, and (7) names and contact information of three references.

The research statement (2 pages max) should present a vision of the long-term goals of the research program as well as several short-term goals (e.g., 1-2 examples of graduate students projects that could be completed within a five-year time frame). The teaching statement (2 pages max) should describe an overall teaching philosophy, provide examples of specific teaching strategies that have been used effectively in previous courses, and summarize potential teaching contributions in the department. The diversity statement (1 page max) should describe the strategies you plan to use to ensure your research, teaching, and mentorship activities provide equitable opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds and to foster a welcoming and inclusive environment in your courses and research group.

Applications should be sent by email to ibsearch@uoguelph.ca, to the attention of:

Dr. Hafiz Maherali
Search Committee Chair
Department of Integrative Biology
College of Biological Science
University of Guelph
Guelph, ON N1G 2W1

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

The University recognizes that applicants may have had obligations outside of work that have negatively impacted their record of achievements (e.g., parental, elder care, and/or medical). You are not required to disclose these obligations in the hiring process. If you choose to do so, the University will ensure that these obligations do not negatively impact the assessment of your qualifications for the position.

The University of Guelph resides on the ancestral lands of the Attawandaron people and the treaty lands and territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit and we offer our respect to our Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee and Métis neighbours as we strive to strengthen our relationships with them.

At the University of Guelph, fostering a culture of inclusion (https://uoguel.ph/ox2p9) is an institutional imperative. The University invites and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in employment, who may contribute to further diversification of our Institution.

If you require a medical accommodation during the recruitment or selection process, please contact Occupational Health and Wellness at 519-824-4120 x52674.