Faculty Positions
Position Title / Rank: Assistant or Associate Professor in Aquatic Ecosystems and Global Change
College: College of Biological Science
Department: Integrative Biology
Date Posted: December 8, 2023
Deadline: January 31, 2024
Please reference AD #23-62
Position Description:
The Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Guelph invites applications for a tenure-track faculty member at the Assistant or Associate Professor level in the area of Aquatic Ecosystems and Global Change.
The position is a key addition to the new Centre for Ecosystem Management (CEM; ecosystemscience.ca at the University of Guelph, in partnership with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC), Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Michigan State University (MSU), and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (OMNRF).
The ideal candidate is expected to advance the CEM’s research capacity in one or more priority growth areas which include the topics below, though strong applications addressing related areas not explicitly stated below will also be considered.
- Aquatic food web ecology applying leading-edge modelling or empirical methods to reveal the dynamics and responses of Great Lakes food webs with the goal of understanding their implications for ecosystem services (e.g., productivity, resilience) under global change.
- Socio-ecological research addressing human-fisheries interactions or coupled human-natural systems more generally, with application to the management of ecosystem level challenges related to global change in the Great Lakes basin.
Significant service activity in support of the CEM mandate is expected, including potential membership on external research boards and committees within the Great Lakes basin, preparation of research and technical reports, and active participation in the development and delivery of symposia, workshops, and outreach activities of interest to CEM’s partners.
A Ph.D. in a discipline broadly related to environmental science, stewardship and/or global change will be required, along with evidence of strong potential to establish a productive research program of internationally significant stature. The successful candidate will be expected to engage in significant leadership and collaborative initiatives, for example by leading multi-disciplinary academic research teams or a collaborative research initiative with governmental scientists, policy makers and/or Indigenous communities, organizations and governments. Applicants must also demonstrate a strong ability to communicate complex scientific ideas and findings to resource managers, policy makers, and the public. Applicants should also demonstrate a commitment to effective and innovative teaching at the undergraduate level. Teaching responsibilities will be reduced commensurate with service needs beyond the norm for the Department of Integrative Biology.
The successful candidate will join a dynamic, multidisciplinary department of ~35 faculty. The department has research excellence in ecology, evolution, physiology, conservation biology, and biodiversity. That research includes a wide range of taxa from diverse habitats. It also spans levels of organization from molecules to biomes. The successful candidate will have access to research facilities on and off-campus. Facilities on campus include the Hagen Aqualab, the Biodiversity Institute for Conservation Science, Phytotron and the Limnotron. Facilities off campus include research stations with access to freshwater and marine habitats, and facilities operated by the CEM partners.
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 Indigenization, 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.
Application Process
Assessment of applications will begin January 31, 2024 and will continue until the position is filled. Interested applicants should submit the following materials: (1) cover letter; (2) curriculum vitae; (3) overview of a proposed research program, including plans for leadership and collaboration; (4) a teaching statement; (5) diversity statement; (6) names and contact information of three references; and (7) three publications (preferably first-authored) representive of your prior research.
The overview of proposed research program should be a maximum of three (3) pages and include two (2) pages that describe a research vision including long-term goals of your research program (>10-yr timeframe); several short-term goals (5-yr timeframe); 1-2 example graduate student projects; demonstrated relevance of the research program to ecosystem stewardship in the Great Lakes region; and up to one (1) page addressing leadership vision and experience, proposed collaborations within and outside of the Centre for Ecosystem Management, and how the proposed research will contribute to the goals of the partnership agencies. The proposed research program should include a collaborative element for a significant part of the program, involving partners in the Centre for Ecosystem Management (GLFC, DFO, MSU, and OMNRF), as well as researchers from other academic institutions, government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, or Indigenous communities.
The teaching/mentorship statement should be a maximum of two (2) pages and include: a paragraph articulating your overarching teaching or training philosophy, examples of 2-3 specific teaching strategies you would plan to use in your undergraduate teaching, and an example of a topic and/or courses in Integrative Biology you would be most interested in teaching.
The diversity statement of one (1) page maximum should demonstrate your understanding and commitment to supporting and enhancing EDI. This might include past contributions, lived experience, personal reflection, and/or proposed strategies for moving forward.
Applications should be sent by email to ibsearch@uoguelph.ca, to the attention of:
Dr. Amy Newman Professor and Department 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's campuses are located on the lands of the Dish with One Spoon Wampum and the traditional lands and territory of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee and Huron Wendat. These lands are now home to a rich diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people. We offer our respect and gratitude to the land and its Indigenous relations and affirm our responsibility to realize our commitments to reconciliation through ongoing action. We are guided in this work by Bi-Naagward | It Comes into View, the Indigenous Initiatives Strategy.
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.