Assistant or Associate Professor in Indigenous Natural Sciences (Deadline: September 30, 2021)

The Faculty of Forestry (Vancouver Campus, The University of British Columbia – UBC) invites applications for a tenure-track academic position in Indigenous Natural Sciences at the Assistant or Associate Professor level, to commence on July 1, 2022 or when a suitable candidate is found. The position will be nominated for a Canada Research Chair, Tier 2, in Indigenous Natural Sciences. 

The Vancouver Campus of UBC is located on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam).

UBC’s vision is to inspire people, ideas and actions for a better world. Its institutional values of excellence, integrity, respect, academic freedom, and accountability are the driving forces behind its goals to pursue excellence in research, learning and engagement to foster global citizenship and advance a sustainable and just society across British Columbia, Canada, and the world. With campuses in Vancouver and Kelowna, in the Okanagan, UBC has over 66,000 students, over $670 million in research funding, a sophisticated and deeply engaging intellectual environment and an unrivalled quality of life.

The Faculty of Forestry at UBC is one of the largest of its kind globally. Its award-winning, multidisciplinary researchers explore a broad range of human impacts on the natural world, forest resources, ecosystem services, and values that human societies derive from nature. We have strong collaborations with Indigenous communities, governments, industries and other stakeholders and investigate diverse topics spanning forest sciences and management, such as the effects of climate change on forests and salmon; environmentally-friendly novel bioproducts; sustainable forest management; and the effects of urban forests on human and community health.

We are seeking an outstanding emerging Indigenous scholar to lead world-class research in the Natural Sciences, such as wildlife or fish biology / ecology, plant science, ethnobotany, forest sciences / conservation, natural resources, climate and environmental change, and other related natural science disciplines.   We encourage applicants with the ability to apply western and Indigenous knowledge in their research and to transfer knowledge to Indigenous and non- Indigenous communities and collaborators.  The candidate should have a PhD (by the closing date) in a relevant discipline, demonstrated ability to develop an NSERC-funded original research program, evidence of teaching effectiveness, and should meet the criteria for a CRC 2 appointment (see below).

It is expected that the successful candidate will teach one to two undergraduate or graduate courses in their area of expertise, supervise graduate students, and provide service to the Faculty of Forestry and UBC. The successful candidate will join other recent natural science Indigenous faculty hires at UBC in Forest Ecology, Fisheries, and Land Systems with whom they could form research or teaching clusters. It is also envisaged that this position will contribute to the development of teaching and research programs within the recently approved Indigenous Land Stewardship program. 

Tier 2 Chairs are intended for exceptional emerging scholars (i.e., candidates must have been an active researcher in their field for fewer than 10 years at the time of nomination). Applicants who are more than 10 years from having earned their highest degree (and where career breaks exist, such as maternity, parental or extended sick leave, clinical training, etc.) may have their eligibility for a Tier 2 Chair assessed through the program’s Tier 2 justification process. For information on the CRC nomination process, please see Canada Research Chairs’ Nominate a Chair page .

UBC is partnering with the executive search firm Perrett Laver on this appointment process. For further information and details on how to apply, please visit the Perrett Laver website and quote reference 5175 or contact [email protected] . Applications should include the following:

• Up-to-date curriculum vitae
• Statement of research interests, accomplishments and vision, and their relevance to the interests of the position
• Three sample publications, which should be regarded as one’s most influential works
• Statement of teaching interests and teaching philosophy
• Statement on equity, diversity, and inclusion and
• Three letters of reference

Applications should be made by September 30, 2021. The Committee will begin reviewing applications in early September but the position will remain open until a candidate is placed. At this time, all aspects of the selection process will take place via video conferencing.  This may change when provincial and federal guidelines allow for travel and in-person interviews.

We recognize the legitimate impact that leaves (e.g. maternity leave, leave due to illness) can have on a candidate’s record of research achievement and these leaves will be taken into careful consideration during the assessment process.

In accordance with UBC’s CRC Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Action Plan , and pursuant to Section 42 of the BC Human Rights code, the selection will be restricted to members of the following designated groups: women, visible minorities (members of groups that are racially categorized), persons with disabilities, and Indigenous peoples. For this CRC Chair in particular, selection will be restricted to Indigenous Peoples. Applicants to Canada Research Chair positions are asked to complete this equity survey  as part of the application, and candidates from these groups must self-identify as belonging to one or more of the designated equity groups to be considered for the position. Because the search is limited to those self-identifying as members of designated equity groups, candidates must also provide their name to be considered.

Personal information is collected under the authority of sections 26(a) and 26(c) of the BC Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The information you provide will only be used to determine whether you qualify for participation in this hiring process. Data will be collected by the Equity & Inclusion Office and only the names of those who identify as women, visible minorities (member of groups that are racially categorized) and/or Indigenous peoples will be shared with the search committee. Currently, UBC has a gap in representation for people with disabilities. Until such time as this is remedied, the names of those self-identifying as having a disability will be provided separately to the search committee. Responses will be stored in a secure database.

UBC welcomes and encourages applications from people with mixed abilities. Accommodations are available on request for all candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. To confidentially request accommodations, please contact Natasha Thompson . The University is committed to creating an equitable and inclusive work environment for its employees and students, including those with disabilities. For information on UBC’s accommodation policies, please connect with the Centre for Accessibility .

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person. Candidates of any nationality are encouraged to apply; however, when candidates are otherwise equally ranked, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority.

Perrett Laver is a Data Controller and a Data Processor, as defined under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Any information obtained by our trading divisions is held and processed in accordance with the relevant data protection legislation. The data you provide us with is securely stored on our computerized database and transferred to our clients for the purposes of presenting you as a candidate and/or considering your suitability for a role you have registered interest in.

Our legal basis for much of our data processing activity is ‘Legitimate Interests’. You have the right to object to us processing your data in this way. For more information about this, your rights, and our approach to Data Protection and Privacy, please visit our website .