Faculty Positions

Position Title / Rank: Associate or Full Professor and Canada Research Chair Tier 1 in Experimental Physics

College: College of Engineering and Physical Sciences

Department: Physics

Date Posted: July 27, 2022
Deadline: September 21, 2022 or until a suitable candidate is found
Please reference AD #22-61

Position Description:

The Department of Physics at the University of Guelph invites applications for a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Experimental Physics. The Department of Physics is a research-intensive academic unit with a broad and well-balanced spectrum of research activities in astrophysics and gravitation, biophysics and medical physics, condensed matter physics and materials science, physics education, planetary surface exploration, and subatomic physics. Many of the Department’s faculty members are internationally recognized research leaders. The graduate and research programs of the Department are enhanced by participation in the Guelph-Waterloo Physics Institute (GWPI) and the Biophysics Interdepartmental Group (BIG), and through collaborations at facilities such as the Canadian Light Source, TRIUMF and the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics.

The successful candidate will be an outstanding and innovative world-class researcher in experimental physics whose accomplishments have made a major impact in their field. They will also have a superior record of attracting and supervising graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. The successful candidate is expected to establish a diverse research team, to create an inclusive environment that enables all members to reach their full research potential, and have a track record of providing opportunities for equity-deserving groups. It is also expected that the successful candidate will add to the Department’s rich history of interdisciplinary collaborations, with emphasis placed on the potential for collaborations and synergy between the candidate, the Department’s research strengths, and the University’s research strengths. Candidates with research programs in the following areas are encouraged to apply: Biophysics, Medical Physics, Subatomic Physics, and Condensed Matter Physics.

Candidates must have a PhD and be full professors or associate professors that are expected to be promoted to full professor within one or two 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. Candidates must be from one or more of the following equity-seeking groups to apply: women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, and racialized groups . Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. Salary is negotiable and commensurate with experience and qualifications. Positions are subject to review and final approval by the CRC Secretariat. Review of applications and nominations will begin on September 21, 2022 and will continue until the position is filled.

The CRC Program is one of Canada’s most prestigious Research Chair programs. This CRC position is associated with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) which is the major federal agency responsible for funding natural sciences and engineering research in Canada. The program is designed to attract leading scientists and scholars. A CRC Tier I Chair attracts funding of $1.4M over seven years (renewable once), with most of this funding allocated to support the Chair and the Chair’s program of research. Please consult the CRC program website for full program information, including details on eligibility.

The University of Guelph is the third largest employer in Guelph, a city of approximately 140,000 people, located about an hour drive west of Toronto, Ontario and resides on the treaty lands and territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit. The University of Guelph is a top-ranked comprehensive university in Canada with an enrolment of more than 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: 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 September 21, 2022 and will continue until the position is filled. Interested applicants should submit the following materials (preferably as a single PDF file):

  1. A 1-2 page cover letter that identifies:
    • The alignment of the applicant's research with the thematic area of Experimental Physics.
    • The size of the applicant's planned research team.
    • The applicant's start-up funding, infrastructure and space requirements.
  2. A full curriculum vitae.
  3. An Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion statement (one-page)that describes the applicant's experience with attracting and mentoring a diverse group of students, trainees and research personnel, and establishing an equitable and inclusive research environment.
  4. A statement (one page) of teaching philosophy, interests and experience.
  5. A five-page (maximum) statement that includes:
    • An overview of the applicant's research proposal, including knowledge mobilization and any innovation activities and research funding plans.
    • How the proposed research embeds EDI considerations at each stage of the research process.
    • Alignment with U of G's existing or emerging areas of research strength.
    • Potential to collaborate with other researchers at the U of G.
    • Social and economic benefits for Canada that will result from the research program and contribution and fit to the research ecosystem in Canada and internationally.
  6. The names and contact information for three references. These references may be in conflict of interest (eg. collaborators, former supervisors). Referees of short-listed candidates will be asked for letters of reference that meet the CRC letters of reference criteria for organization and follow the CRC program best practices to avoid bias.

The committee will consider the CRC selection criteria related to the “quality of the nominee” in its evaluation of candidates. Short-listed candidates will be invited to interview and provide a research presentation open to the Department of Physics and greater University community.

All application materials should be addressed to the Hiring Committee and submitted by email to Email: physicshiring@uoguelph.cawith the subject line “Physics CRC Tier 1”.

The CRC 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 CRC 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, Indigenous Peoples and racialized persons. The University supports the Canada Research Chairs Program’s commitment to EDI. Learn more about the University’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Action Plan for the CRC Program.

At the University of Guelph, fostering a culture of inclusion (https://uoguel.ph/ox2p9) is an institutional imperative. The University of Guelph is committed to an Employment Equity Program that includes special measures to address the underrepresentation of individuals from four designated groups (women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, and members of visible minorities/racialized groups) within its allocation of Canada Research Chairs. For this position, the University accepts applications from qualified applicants from these four groups only. Collection of self-identification data is a requirement of the CRC Program, and all applicants to CRC 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 (ODHR) in support of the University’s employment equity program. All self-identification specifics of candidates will be kept confidential by the ODHR. 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.