Assistant / Associate Professor (Tenure Track), Dept of Biomedical Engineering and Biochemistry

Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences – Department of Biomedical Engineering and Biochemistry (L001339)

Position description:

The McGill University Departments of Biomedical Engineering (BME) and of Biochemistry within the School of Biomedical Sciences (SBMS) invite applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the Assistant Professor or Associate Professor level in RNA engineering. We are seeking outstanding candidates with expertise and research interests in Biomedical Engineering and Biochemistry defined broadly, and with collaborative interests to build a creative, high impact research program bridging BME, Biochemistry and other units at McGill and the affiliated hospitals. Areas of special interest are RNA design, RNA bioprocessing, RNA therapeutics including vaccines, RNA-drug manufacturing (incl microfluidics), RNA delivery and targeting, in vivo engineering, and related therapeutic modes of action. The professorial rank of the candidate will be determined according to their qualifications and experience.

The new faculty member will be appointed jointly in BME and Biochemistry at the heart of the University’s Life Science Complex, where over 200 biomedical researchers form a dynamic and highly collaborative research community. The candidate is expected to contribute to the development and expansion of the RNA bioprocessing and therapeutic platforms at McGill and to leverage and enable the McGill DNA-to-RNA (D2R) research initiative (https://dossiers.mcgill.ca/d2r/), recently funded for $165M.

The McGill University Department of Biomedical Engineering (https://www.mcgill.ca/bme/), the first Department of its kind in Canada, is part of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at McGill University. It covers a wide range of research themes categorized as Devices & Sensors, Modeling & AI, Imaging, Molecules & Materials, Living Systems Engineering, from basic research to clinical translation and innovation via IP licensing and spin-offs.

Research in the Department of Biochemistry (https://www.mcgill.ca/biochemistry/) is multidisciplinary and builds upon a long tradition of excellence in RNA biochemistry, molecular and biological functions. Other specializations including the regulation of gene expression, protein structure and function, pathways critical to human health and disease, systems biology and genomics, single molecule imaging, and other areas central to biological sciences. The Department is also a key partner to the McGill Centre for RNA Sciences (https://www.mcgill.ca/rna/.

McGill University was founded in 1821 and is consistently ranked among the top 40 public universities in the world and among the top three in Canada, while its medical school is consistently ranked first in Canada. McGill is located in Montreal (http://www.montrealinternational.com/en/), a multicultural, multilingual city with a sparkling cultural life. Montreal has been selected numerous times as the best city for students in North America. Montreal is safe, housing costs are among the lowest for cities of comparable size, and the overall quality of life is outstanding (https://mcgill.ca/undergraduate-admissions/mcgill-experience/our-city-montreal-canada).

At McGill, we strongly encourage collaboration with colleagues across Faculties of Engineering, Medicine, Science, and partnerships with Industry and Government.

Job Duties:

The new faculty member will be expected to build a multidisciplinary research team in RNA engineering encompassing a diversity of lived experiences, identities, and career stages.

The successful applicant will be expected to:

• Develop an independent, externally funded research program of the highest international standards in their own areas of expertise, aligned with the priorities of BME and Biochemistry, and that align with one or more strategic research priorities of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences https://www.mcgill.ca/medhealthsci/research/new-strategic-research-plan). The research program is expected to include interdisciplinary collaboration with relevant partner units within the University and its affiliates, as well as in Canada and internationally;
• Contribute to the development and expansion of RNA bioprocessing and therapeutic platforms at McGill;
• Successfully compete for research funding;
• Supervise a diverse body of graduate students;
• Serve in administrative roles within their units, the university, and the wider scholarly community;
• Contribute to formal classroom teaching at both undergraduate and graduate levels, towards an equivalent to at least one graduate course;
• Disseminate research findings through peer-reviewed publications and other knowledge translation and exchange activities;
• Integrate equity, diversity and inclusiveness (EDI) considerations into research design and practices and create an equitable and inclusive research environment

Qualifications and Education Requirements

• Applicants must have a PhD and post-doctoral training in relevant areas of Engineering or Science;
• An outstanding record of research/scholarly activity in relevant areas;
• A commitment to and evidence according to career stage of high-quality teaching, inclusive pedagogy, and effective supervision;
• A commitment to, and evidence according to career stage, of EDI considerations;
• Ability to attract competitive funding;
• Industry experience and interest in innovation and translation are an asset;
• Fluency in English is essential, and knowledge of French or a willingness to learn it, is considered an asset.

JOB DETAILS

Job Type: Tenure-track

Rank: Assistant/Associate Professor

Job status: Full-time

Salary: Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience

Posting deadline: April 12th, 2024

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applications must be submitted on Workday at:

https://mcgill.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/McGill_Careers/job/Duff-Medical-Bldg/Assistant-orAssociate-Professor--Tenure-Track---Departments-of-Biomedical-Engineering-and-Biochemistry--L001339- _JR0000051686

Use a personal email address when creating an account in Workday to submit your application. Do not use @mail.mcgill.ca or @mcgill.ca email accounts to apply.

Knowledge Base Guide on how to apply for external applicants: https://www.mcgill.ca/hr/files/hr/workday_guide_for_candidates_extenal_eng.pdf

Knowledge Base Guide on how to apply for internal applicants: https://www.mcgill.ca/hr/files/hr/workday_guide_for_candidates_internal_eng.pdf

The following supporting documents are required:

• Cover letter
• curriculum vitae
• Statement of future research
• One-page executive summary
• Names and contact information of three referees

Use a personal email address when creating an account in Workday to submit your application. Do not use @mail.mcgill.ca or @mcgill.ca email accounts to apply.

McGill University is an English-language university where most teaching and research activities are conducted in the English language, thereby requiring English communication both verbally and in writing.

L’Université McGill est une institution de langue anglaise dans laquelle la majorité des activités d’enseignement et de recherche s’effectuent en langue anglaise, rendant essentielle l’utilisation de l’anglais pour la communication orale et écrite.

McGill University is committed to equity and diversity within its community and values academic rigour and excellence. We welcome and encourage applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well asfrom all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to engage productively with diverse communities.

At McGill, research that reflects diverse intellectual traditions, methodologies, and modes of dissemination and translation is valued and encouraged. Candidates are invited to demonstrate their research impact both within and across academic disciplines and in other sectors, such as government, communities, or industry.

McGill further recognizes and fairly considers the impact of leaves (e.g., family care or health-related) that may contribute to career interruptions or slowdowns. Candidates are encouraged to signal any leave that affected productivity, or that may have had an effect on their career path. This information will be considered to ensure the equitable assessment of the candidate’s record.

McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated equity groups to self-identify. It further seeks to ensure the equitable treatment and full inclusion of persons with disabilities by striving for the implementation of universal design principles transversally, across all facets of the University community, and through accommodation policies and procedures. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, [email protected].

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.