Associate or Full Professor for the Stephen A. Jarislowsky Chair in Climate Smart Soils

The School of Environmental Sciences (SES) at the University of Guelph (UoG) invites applications for a tenured position at the Associate or full Professor level for the Stephen A. Jarislowsky Chair (herein Jarislowsky Chair) in Climate Smart Soils. The anticipated start date for this appointment is July 1, 2025, or another mutually agreed-upon date in 2025.

The Jarislowsky Chair in Climate-Smart Soils will be a national leader in advancing regenerative agricultural practices through groundbreaking research, knowledge mobilization, and outreach. Funded through a $2 million endowment sponsored by the Jarislowsky Foundation and matched by a $2 million donation from the University of Guelph ($4 million total gift), the Chair will develop soil-centric solutions and drive practical innovations that empower both current and next generation farmers to champion and adopt climate-smart agricultural methods in support of sustainable agriculture. At the core of this initiative lies the pivotal role of the Chair in harnessing the University’s existing strengths to develop approaches that enhance soil quality. This includes spearheading the development of new methodologies to measure and monitor greenhouse gas emissions and develop practices to reduce these emissions and enhance carbon sequestration in agricultural lands. The Chair’s efforts will be instrumental in positioning agriculture as a cornerstone of Canada’s response to climate change, while simultaneously enhancing the security and productivity of our food production systems.

The successful candidate will hold a PhD in soil science with emphasis in one or more areas such as climate change science, regenerative agriculture, soil health and fertility, soil and water conservation, agronomy, food production systems, biogeosciences, or related interdisciplinary fields. The successful candidate will be an exceptional, established scholar and leading researcher in their field who has demonstrated research excellence through a strong publication record in internationally recognized, peer-reviewed journals. The SES is a multi-disciplinary academic unit with researchers in a range of fields (soil science, geology, agricultural meteorology, forest and ecosystem science, environmental microbiology, environmental toxicology, and plant pathology) and has an outstanding international reputation in the fields of soil science, ecology, microbiology, entomology, pest management and pollinator conservation, and toxicology. The SES fosters interdisciplinary research and cross-sector partnerships addressing climate resilience in agroecosystems.

The position will require the development of a strong extramurally funded research program involving the mentoring of graduate and undergraduate students. The successful candidate will have responsibility for teaching existing and/or new courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels in climate impacts on soil health, regenerative agriculture or related subjects. Strong communication skills are essential, and applicants will provide clear evidence of effective teaching. Collaboration in research and graduate training is encouraged with others in SES, the Ontario Agricultural College, the UoG, and other universities, as well as with federal and provincial ministries. Faculty in SES are expected to provide service to the University, to the scientific community, and to society at large. Knowledge Translation and Transfer (KTT), especially in the form of direct outreach to Ontario’s agricultural community, will constitute an important and expected criterion for the Chair holder. This will provide much needed support for farmers with respect to the understanding and management of soil health, especially in relation to the potential to adapt climate-smart farming approaches in a changing Canadian climate.

Researchers in the SES have links to many units and institutes across campus, including Geography, Environment and Geomatics, The School of Engineering, Integrative Biology, Animal Biosciences, Food Science, Ridgetown Campus, Plant Agriculture, the One Health Institute (with which several SES faculty are affiliated), the Morwick G360 Groundwater Research Institute, and the Arrell Institute, as well as with producer and industrial organizations and members of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The Chair will be expected to leverage these relationships to foster innovation at the intersection of climate science, soil sustainability, and agricultural technology. In addition, it has advanced analytical facilities in-house, and access to research stations across the province, including the nearby Elora Research Station. The school sits within the Ontario Agriculture College and is located on the main campus in the city of Guelph, 80 km west of Toronto, Ontario. More information about the School, the College and the University can be found on their respective websites (https://www.uoguelph.ca/ses, https://www.uoguelph.ca/oac, https://www.uoguelph.ca).

The UoG is the third largest employer in Guelph (https://guelph.ca/), 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 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: 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. The University actively promotes research that addresses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those focused on climate action, life on land, and zero hunger.

The University of Guelph resides on 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 our Indigenous neighbours 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 (https://www.uoguelph.ca/indigenous-initiatives/), the Indigenous Initiatives Strategy.

The University of Guelph is the third largest employer in Guelph, a city of over 144,000 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 more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students across more than 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
If you are a current employee of the UoG you must apply on the internal Career Page to be considered as an internal applicant.

Interested external applicants should create an account on https://careers.uoguelph.ca/ and apply for the advertised faculty position (Requisition ID #1387) by submitting the following materials (in an integrated single PDF file):

1. A maximum one-page cover letter
2. A full curriculum vitae
3. A five-page (maximum) statement that includes:
1. A maximum 2-page research statement, including evidence of effective consideration of Equity, Diversity, Inclusivity (EDI) in research.
2. A maximum 2-page teaching statement, including teaching philosophy and evidence of effective teaching (e.g., course syllabi, teaching plans), and evidence of effective consideration of EDI in teaching.
3. An optional 1-page statement to address any career interruptions or personal circumstances the committee should consider (optional). If such a statement is not needed, this space can be used to expand on 1 or 2 above.
4. Names and contact information for three external references.

Applications should be addressed to the attention of:

Dr. Paul Sibley
Director and Professor
School of Environmental Sciences
University of Guelph
Guelph, ON N1G 2W1

Questions about the position may be directed to directorasst.ses@uoguelph.ca. All applications must be submitted through the online career portal.

Evaluation of applicants will commence shortly after May 30, 2025, and will continue until the position is filled.

APPLY ONLINE – Associate or Full Professor for the Stephen A. Jarislowsky Chair in Climate Smart Soils (https://bit.ly/3GmZQRn)

This position is represented by the University of Guelph Faculty Association (UGFA – https://ugfa.ca/).

The University of Guelph commits to fostering inclusive excellence through promoting Indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. Inclusion is a core pillar of Our Time (https://www.uoguelph.ca/president/strategic-plan/#strategic-priorities-2), our strategic plan, which pledges to “transform our human resources, governance and student services and practices across the University to enable us to recruit a diverse student, faculty and staff body and support them in achieving their personal, professional and scholarly goals.” The University commits to creating and maintaining “equitable work environments that empower us in our pursuit of student, faculty and staff success, research excellence, innovation and impact.”

The University of Guelph invites applications from all qualified individuals; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. We strongly welcome and encourage applications from members of designated groups in employment, including Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, racialized persons, women, and 2SLGBTQIA+ persons.

The University of Guelph recognizes that career paths can be diverse and career interruptions may occur. We encourage applicants to note in their applications whether they would like considerations given to the impact of any circumstances, such as (but not limited to) those due to health and/or family reasons, that may have affected an applicant’s record of achievement. You are not required to disclose these circumstances in the hiring process. If you choose to do so, the University will ensure that these circumstances do not negatively impact the assessment of your qualifications for the position.

The University of Guelph is committed to ensuring all applicants have fair and equitable participation in the hiring process. If you anticipate needing accommodations during the recruitment or selection processes, confidential assistance is available on request by contacting Occupational Health and Wellness at 519-824-4120 x52674. If you have any questions regarding accommodations or accessibility during the hiring process or for more information and support, please visit the University’s Occupational Health and Wellness (https://www.uoguelph.ca/hr/about-hr/occupational-health-and-wellness) or contact OHW at ohw@uoguelph.

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Source: https://www.academicwork.ca/jobs/1387-associate-or-full-professor-for-the-stephen-a-jarislowsky-chair-in-climate-smart-soils-university-of-guelph