Canada Excellence Research Chair – Living Medicines – Microbes

Canada Excellence Research Chair – Living Medicines – Microbes

University of Calgary

Description

The University of Calgary (UCalgary), located in the heart of Southern Alberta, both acknowledges and pays tribute to the traditional territories of the peoples of Treaty 7, which include the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprised of the Siksika, the Piikani, and the Kainai First Nations) as well as the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (including Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Wesley First Nations). The university recognizes that the City of Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta (Districts 5 & 6). By virtue of the signing of Treaty 7 in 1877, the University recognizes that we are all treaty people. The City of Calgary is home to a culturally diverse community. Together, we share this land, strive to live together, learn together, walk together, and grow together in a good way.

The University of Calgary invites applications from world-leading researchers for the prestigious Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC) Competition. The CERC program is designed to attract world-renowned researchers to launch ambitious and impactful research programs at Canadian universities. The successful candidate will be appointed at either the rank of Associate Professor (With Tenure) or Full Professor (With Tenure).

The University of Calgary (UCalgary) is a global and innovative intellectual hub for teaching and learning, research and scholarship, and community engagement. UCalgary is one of Canada’s top comprehensive research universities, with more than 8,000 graduate students and 29,000 undergraduate students, more than 1,800 academic staff (continuing, contingent term or limited term appointment), more than 1,300 sessionals, and more than 2,900 non-academic staff, in 14 Faculties, across five campuses. The vibrant and research-intensive environment at UCalgary is home to 146 research chairs (with 99 Canada Research Chair allocations), and more than 50 research institutes and centres. UCalgary has the fastest growth rate in attracting research funding among the 10 largest universities in Canada and in 2024 ranked sixth among Canada’s top research universities in Research Infosource Inc.’s latest Top 50 Research Universities.

Ahead of Tomorrow

The University of Calgary’s remarkable trajectory reflects audacious growth and entrepreneurial spirit. Our students, postdocs, faculty, staff, and community have built a bold university in less than 60 years. What is next? How do we look beyond tomorrow? We face universal challenges. But we are confident we can achieve global impact while remaining true to our Calgary community and values. Ahead of Tomorrow: UCalgary’s 2023-30 Strategic Plan shapes our journey toward 2030, considered through long-term, foundational commitments to: Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility; Indigenous Engagement; Mental Health; Global Engagement; and Sustainability.

The Opportunity

The University of Calgary invites applications from world renowned researchers for the prestigious Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC) 2026 Competition. The CERC program stands at the centre of a national strategy to foster research excellence in Canada and improve our depth of knowledge and quality of life, strengthen Canada’s international competitiveness, and help train the next generation of highly skilled people. The program offers an avenue for Canadian institutions to recruit the best global talent and brand Canada as a location of choice for world-leading research. CERCs are one of the largest and most prestigious awards available globally, providing the world’s top researchers and their teams with funding support over eight years to support their research programs and teams.

The CERC recruitment uses a two staged process where interested applicants must first apply to the open job posting at the University. The successful applicant from that first stage will then enter a second stage, for which they co-develop an application with the University to the federal government funding program. The University of Calgary will provide substantial institutional support in the preparation and development of the program application. Appointment to one of these positions is contingent upon the applicant being awarded a Canada Excellence Research Chair and is subject to the availability of funding and to final approval by the University Board of Governors and the Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat (TIPS). Interested applicants are invited to review the full program details.

• CERC Chair 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.
• CERC Chair awardees are appointed for a term of eight years, with awards valued at either $8 million or $4 million (throughout the duration of the award).
• Candidates who are unsuccessful in a CERC chair application at the national competition may be considered as a nominee for a Canada Research Chair (Tier I) in the areas identified below.

This program provides an opportunity for international researchers, including Canadian expatriates wishing to relocate to Canada, to lead a prestigious research program at the University of Calgary and to contribute to Canada’s excellence in research and innovation. Applicants must be full professors or associate professors expected to be promoted to full professor within one to two years of the nomination. As per University of Calgary requirements, successful applicants will have a doctoral degree (or equivalent) in the relevant discipline and will have a globally competitive track record of research contributions in their field including a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion within their research ecosystems, and demonstrated leadership/mentorship within research teams.

Appointment at the rank of Associate Professor requires evidence of an established academic program, with the individual being an internationally recognized scholar and senior associate professor, expected to be promoted to full professor within one to two years. It is expected that a record of high-quality research and scholarship suitable to the discipline or field has been achieved.

Appointment at the rank of Full Professor is reserved for those whose academic achievements would normally be recognized by their peers within the University and beyond to be of a caliber equivalent to international standing and as outstanding in their community, discipline, or field.

The University of Calgary is seeking CERC candidates in these research themes:

• Hydrogen Energy
• Living Medicines – Microbes
• Mountain Water Security
• Neuromorphic Computing Systems
• Quantum Computer Architecture

University of Calgary CERC Theme – Living Medicines – Microbes

Living Medicines – Microbes uses native or gene-edited bacteria to treat disease – a radical departure from other therapeutic platforms and the reliance on pharmaceuticals. By better understanding and constructing microbial medicines, we can treat disease with higher precision, customizing the microbial therapeutic to the patient. With substantial prior and ongoing investment in microbiome research, the University of Calgary has established itself as a leader in the elucidation of mechanisms by which microbes can promote health, and in the identification of bacteria and microbe-derived molecules that have the potential to treat disease in humans and animals. As Canada’s leading Institution in this area, the University of Calgary has a critical mass of investigators with extensive expertise in microbiome research and provides cutting-edge technologies and facilities to support their work: the International Microbiome Center and associated Wild Microbiome & Immunology Center are unparalleled world-wide; the Calgary Metabolomic Research Facility; the Human Organoid Innovation Hub; and, the internationally renowned Live Cell Imaging Suite. These facilities will be enhanced by development of a GMP-facility to produce Microbial Therapeutics, taking discovery to clinical practice in the associated Microbial Therapeutics Clinic at the Foothills Hospital and the new, state-of-the-art Cancer Care Clinic.

The University of Calgary is seeking an internationally recognized and accomplished leader in the use of Microbes as Living Medicines. The successful candidate will have an established leading research program in fundamental and/or translation research on microbe biology, manipulation, and therapeutics, such as in one or more of the following areas: the development of Live Biotherapeutic Products (LBPs; single microbes or bacterial consortia), bacterial engineering, microbial gene-editing, or bacteriophage biology for application to health and disease management. The successful candidate will lead and be visionary in the next generation of approaches to develop microbe-based medicines, cutting-edge delivery systems and microbe manipulation to enhance living medicine efficacy while minimizing side effects. They will join and be expected to take a leadership role in an established and growing cadre of investigators with expertise in the development and application of Microbes as Living Medicines.

To Apply

Interested individuals are encouraged to submit an application online via University of Calgary Careers site at https://apptrkr.com/6157201.

Complete applications should include:

• Cover letter that identifies (maximum two pages):
• the CERC theme aligned to the applicant’s research.
• description of the societal impact of the candidate’s most significant contributions.
• Curriculum vitae including names and contact information of three referees.
• Brief description of the candidate’s research plan, including a description of how equity, diversity and inclusion has been incorporated into research design and research team (maximum three pages)

Janet Soles and Associates Executive Search has been retained to support the University of Calgary for the prestigious Canada Excellence Research Chairs competition. Questions regarding this opportunity may be directed to: UCalgaryCERC@jssearch.ca

The University of Calgary recognizes that candidates have varying career paths and that career interruptions can be part of an excellent academic record. Candidates are encouraged but not required to provide any relevant information about their experience and/or career interruptions to allow for a fair assessment of their application. Selection committees have been instructed to give careful consideration to, and be sensitive to the impact of career interruptions, when assessing the candidate’s research productivity.

The University of Calgary adheres to the principles of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) and strives to evaluate research impact responsibly and inclusively by explicitly considering discipline-appropriate methods for demonstrating the quality, significance, and societal impact of a broad range of research contributions.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

The University of Calgary’s comprehensive benefits and pension program is designed to promote a productive level of health and well-being to staff members. To learn about our comprehensive benefits package, please visit: https://www.ucalgary.ca/hr/benefits-pension/perks/benefits-ucalgary.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at UCalgary

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities.

Questions regarding diversity at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments (oicteam@ucalgary.ca) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Carley L’Hirondelle, People & Culture (hrhire@ucalgary.ca).

About the University of Calgary

UCalgary is Canada’s entrepreneurial university, located in Canada’s most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada’s leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

About Calgary, Alberta

Calgary is one of the world’s cleanest cities and has been named one of the world’s most livable cities for years. Calgary is a city of leaders – in business, community, philanthropy and volunteerism. Calgarians benefit from a growing number of world-class dining and cultural events and enjoy more days of sunshine per year than any other major Canadian city. Calgary is less than an hour’s drive from the majestic Rocky Mountains and boasts the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway network in North America.

Recently ranked the most liveable city in North America and 5th in the world (2024) by The Economist Intelligence Unit, and possessing one of the youngest populations of major cities in Canada, Calgary is home to world-class attractions, sporting amenities and public infrastructure that supports a healthy lifestyle, making it a great place to raise a family (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnh-WugziiiHwMT44-sVwrA). Situated where the Canadian plains reach the sunny foothills of Canada’s majestic Rocky Mountains, Calgary is a major urban centre surrounded by an area of profound beauty with an awe-inspiring mountains, lakes, rivers and gorgeous prairie.

Eligibility of Nominees

The CERC program aims to help Canadian institutions attract world-leading researchers and imposes no restrictions on nominees with regard to nationality or country of residence. Employment and Social Development Canada (http://www.esdc.gc.ca/eng/home.shtml) and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship.html) have established procedures to allow non-Canadian chairholders to work in Canada.

As in some instances, appointments may commence prior to decisions on the CERC nominations being received, the following should be noted in accordance with Service Canada requirements: All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. In this connection, at the time of your application, please answer the following question: Are you a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada?

Posting Date: April 17, 2025

Closing Date: Posted for a minimum of 30 days with the possibility of extension until positions are filled

To help us track our recruitment effort, please indicate in your email/cover letter where (theacademicjob.com) you saw this job posting.

Source: https://www.academicwork.ca/jobs/canada-excellence-research-chair-living-medicines-microbes-university-of-calgary