Faculty Positions

Position Title / Rank: Associate or Full Professor and Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Infectious Disease Biomonitoring, Biosurveillance and Biosecurity

College: Ontario Veterinary College

Department: Department of Pathobiology or Department of Population Medicine

Date Reposted: March 24, 2022
Deadline: April 30, 2022
Please reference AD #22-14

Position Description:

The University of Guelph (U of G) invites outstanding applications for a Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Infectious Disease Biomonitoring, Biosurveillance and Biosecurity (B3) with a focus on emerging zoonotic and animal infectious disease, dependent on approval of funding.

The appointment will be a full-time tenured position at the rank of Associate or Full Professor at the Ontario Veterinary College.

The CERC program is Canada’s most prestigious Research Chair program. It is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. The program is designed to attract leading scientists and scholars who are poised to make ground-breaking social and economic contributions to the benefit of Canadians. A CERC Chair attracts funding of $8M over eight years, with most of this funding allocated to support the Chair and the Chair’s program of research. For more details, visit the CERC program.

This CERC-B3 position is part of a cluster of hires supporting One Health, and one of two CERC positions proposed by the U of G. This cluster of hires is targeted towards candidates whose country of residence and current employment is outside of Canada. This Chair will have a focus on emerging zoonotic and animal infectious disease (ID), particularly those with the potential to become pandemic, disrupt food systems and the Canadian economy. The candidate will develop an innovative research program that will build on U of G’s existing strengths in emerging animal, foodborne, waterborne, and zoonotic diseases. The Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) is a pillar of the new U of G Global Centre of Excellence in Biomonitoring, Biosurveillance and Biosecurity, and is recognized for disciplinary strengths in veterinary infectious diseases, epidemiology, population and public health, microbiology and immunology, and mammalian and comparative pathology. If the CERC is awarded, the Chair is expected to work collaboratively with faculty from across campus to establish U of G as a leader in research aimed at mitigating harm to the health and welfare of humans and animals, preventing damage to the economy associated with ID-induced disruptions in Canada’s health systems, labour, productivity, food security, and international trade.

The CERC holder should be an internationally recognized researcher with expertise in microbial threat identification and prioritization and/or the prevention and control of microbial threats. Research areas may include but are not limited to microbiology and immunology of emerging animal and zoonotic pathogens with epidemic and pandemic potential; genomics and bioinformatics of host-pathogen interactions; modeling disease transmission between hosts and vectors and within populations; climate change impacts on emergence of microbial threats; early response and models for surge capacity for testing and response; practical field-deployable sampling methods for early detection and monitoring; molecular diagnostic tool development for early and rapid disease detection; development, testing, and validation of preventive and therapeutic strategies; or predictive modeling and decision support systems using data science and artificial intelligence.

The CERC holder should have a track record of establishing equitable and inclusive research environments. The Chair is expected to establish a diverse research team and create an inclusive environment that enables all members to reach their full research potential. Candidates must have a PhD and be full professors or associate professors at their home institutions. If an associate professor, there should be an expectation of promotion within 1-2 years of the nomination. Alternatively, if they come from outside the academic sector, candidates must possess the qualifications necessary to be appointed at these levels.

While this is a research-intensive appointment, the successful candidate is expected to contribute to the undergraduate and graduate education in the Department of Pathobiology or Population Medicine. A reduced teaching assignment will be in place during the 8-year term of the Chair.

Positions are subject to review and final approval by the CERC program. The nominee must hold a full-time academic appointment at the nominating institution as of the start date of the Chair award. Awardees will have up to 12 months to take up the award after the notice of award and acceptance has been signed by all parties. The University of Guelph will only nominate individuals whose country of residence and current appointment/employment at the time of nomination is outside of Canada.

Please consult the CERC website for full program information, including details on eligibility.

More details about this position can be found in the brochure for Canada Excellence Research Chair in Infectious Disease Biomonitoring, Biosurveillance and Biosecurity.

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 about 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.

Application Process

Assessment of applications will begin on April 30, 2022 and will continue until the position is filled. Interested applicants should submit the following materials (preferably as a single PDF file) to: OVC Dean, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1. Email: ovcdean@uoguelph.ca

  1. A cover letter that identifies:
    • The alignment of the applicant’s research with the Biomonitoring, Biosurveillance and Biosecurity focus
  2. A full curriculum vitae (include details of research and teaching, scholarly record, funding, collaborations/partnerships and leadership experience).
  3. An Equity, Diversity & Inclusion statement (one-page maximum) that describes the applicant’s past experience with attracting and mentoring a diverse group of students, trainees and research personnel, and establishing an equitable and inclusive research environment.
  4. A four-page (maximum) statement that includes:
    • An overview of the applicant’s research proposal, including knowledge mobilization and any innovation activities
    • Alignment with UofG’s existing or emerging areas of research strength
    • Potential to collaborate with other researchers at UofG, in Ontario and Canada
    • Contribution and fit to the research ecosystem in Canada and internationally
    • An explanation of how EDI is considered in the research approach
  5. The names and email addresses of 3 potential arm’s length referees who are prepared to submit a letter of recommendation.

The CERC program is committed to excellence in research and research training and is promoting exemplary practices with respect to equity and diversity. The goals of research excellence can only be met when equity and diversity are integrated into the research initiative. The CERC program reflects the federal government’s commitment to equity and diversity in employment. It aims to ensure the appropriate representation of women, persons with disabilities, Aboriginal Peoples and members of visible minorities.

At the University of Guelph, fostering a culture of inclusion (https://uoguel.ph/ox2p9 ) is an institutional imperative. Acknowledging the University’s diverse population and ensuring that every member of an inclusive campus is a valued contributor is a foundational pillar of a successful post-secondary institution. The University of Guelph is committed to an Employment Equity Program . The university especially seeks and prioritizes qualified applications from all underrepresented groups, including members of racialized minorities, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, women, and individuals from the LGBTQ2+ community.

Collection of self-identification data is a requirement of the Canada Research Chairs Program, and all applicants to CRC and CERC positions are required to complete the University’s self-identification form, the Applicant Tracking Questionnaire. However, providing self-identification is optional; applicants may select “prefer not to answer.”

The information is collected by the Office of Diversity and Human Rights in support of the University's employment equity program. Aggregate anonymous data is provided to the chair of the search committee. The search committee uses the information to determine if qualified designated group members have been included among the short-listed candidates.

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.

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