The Liberal Party answers CAN’s questions about science support

We have received a response from the Liberal Party of Canada to our five questions about science support.

  1. Is your Party committed to fully implementing the report of the Fundamental Science Review (Naylor report) with additional financial investment into open competitions to maintain Canada as a forefront leader in research innovation and research discoveries?

Our Liberal government believes in evidence-based policy and in science and in the Canadians behind the next big ideas. After a decade of setbacks and cuts to science under the Harper Conservatives, our government is rebuilding Canadian research and supporting our country’s greatest minds.  We unmuzzled our scientists, brought back the long-form census, and re-instated the position of the Chief Science Advisor. Continue reading

Animal Behavior and Physiology Core Technician – University of Ottawa

Animal Behavior and Physiology Core Technician

Potential Start Date: October 1 2019

Job Summary:

Full-time Junior Technician position to perform animal testing within the Behavioral and Physiology Core in Roger Guindon Hall at the University of Ottawa.

The Core Facility is a state-of-the-art facility equipped to serve the research community at the University of Ottawa, its affiliated Research Institutes, and external users through contracts. The Core provides a time-efficient and cost-effective service for the design, execution, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of data resulting from use of the Core’s facilities.

The equipment enables a full battery of assays relevant to learning and memory, social behavior, sensory gating, motor function, and mood disorders. In addition, the core offers equipment in order to perform in vivo optogenetics, as well as measure various physiological outcomes using small animal telemetry (EEG, EMG, pressure) and non-invasive determinations of body composition and metabolic parameters.

The primary responsibility of this position will be to perform testing in rats using standardized protocols. This person will also aid other core staff as required in setup of equipment, and analysis of data obtained within the core.

Essential Qualifications:

  • Minimum of Undergraduate Degree in a related field, Technical college degree in a related field, and/or minimum of 1 year experience in research or working as an animal technician.
  • Practical experience with rats (prefer both mice and rats)
  • Experience using computer systems and software
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills (perfer Bilingual in French and English)

Support is in accordance with University of Ottawa standards. This is a non-unionized contractual research staff position (35hr/week, with flexible hours including some weekend hours) at the level of a Junior Technician NR1.

Qualified candidates should send a short letter of introduction describing their previous expertise and reasons for applying for this job, CV, and the names of three references to: Behavior and Physiology Core Advisory Committee, in care of Christina Sardella csardell@uottawa.ca.

Contact information

Any questions about this posting please email Dr. Stephen Ferguson and Dr. Diane Lagace

Applications need to be sent to the Behavior and Physiology Core Advisory Committee
In care of Christina Sardella csardell@uottawa.ca.

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Posting end date:  2019/10/31

Green party responds to our questions for candidates in advance of the federal election

Last July, CAN sent five questions to the Liberal, Conservative, NPD and Green party in advance of the upcoming federal elections, which we have summarized below.  Read our full questions, with context, here. 

The Green Party of Canada responded first. The questions were submitted to Mrs. Amita Kuttner, Shadow Minister of Science and Innovation for the Green Party of Canada – her response is copied here: Continue reading

Independent Scientist (Focus: Preclinical/Translational Neurobiology) – Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Position Description:

The Research Imaging Centre & Preclinical Research department at CAMH’s Campbell Family Mental Health Institute is dedicated on answering the most important and relevant questions that will contribute to a greater understanding of the healthy brain, the origins of mental illness, and progression as illness develops. The department’s priority is to drive research to generate and accelerate the development of novel treatments, with an emphasis on precision medicine.

We are seeking a strong candidate with expertise in preclinical neurobiology. The incumbent will play a pivotal leadership role in building a research program in translational neurobiology to study the neurophysiological, molecular and neuropharmacological bases of neurological and psychiatric disorders and treatments. The incumbent will work closely with experimental biologists, behaviouralists, and computational neuroscientists to design studies focused on mechanisms of major mental illness, including neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. The incumbent will be expected to investigate mechanisms of psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders with robust potential for clinical translation. Examples may include neurotransmitter systems, excitation-inhibition balance, neuroplasticity, inflammation, proteostasis, aging, development, etc, using molecular, cellular and in vivo neurobiology and preclinical models. The incumbent will work in a collaborative inter-disciplinary environment that spans fundamental and clinical research and support a workplace that embraces diversity, encourages teamwork and complies with all applicable regulatory and legislative requirements.

Specific responsibilities and expectations include but are not limited to:

  • Mentor, train and manage a team of research staff and trainees;
  • Communicate statistical analyses through manuscripts and reports;
  • Lead the design and submission of externally funded applications as the Principal Investigator and manage budget to ensure support of operational resources;
  • Development and analysis of a variety of research imaging data, using statistical methods; collaborating with data management and programming staff;
  • Coach data management and programming staff to ensure accuracy and completeness of databases/file structures/coding conventions;
  • Disseminate research results through presentations at academic meetings and conferences and communicate ideas to key decision makers.
  • Participation in leadership advisory groups at CAMH and externally

CAMH is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto and the successful applicant will need to obtain academic affiliation with a University department at the Assistant Professor level or above. Preference will be given to candidates eligible for an Associate level academic affiliation. However candidates eligible for an Assistant level will be considered if they have demonstrated research experience in preclinical neurobiology.

This full-time, three year contract position is located at 250 College St., Toronto.

Qualifications:

The successful applicant is required to have a Ph.D. in Health Sciences and 3 years prior experience in preclinical research including neuroscience, pathology, translational and cell biology, electrophysiology and/or cell manipulation (optogenetic/pharmacogenetics) as evidenced by conference proceedings and peer-reviewed publications. Your experience will encompass technical and conceptual aspects of cell activity and the ability to link function with neural network activity, brain function, and behavioural domains. Preclinical modelling at any of those levels is considered an asset. An understanding of electrophysiological cell recordings (in vivo, slice, single cell), in vitro slice and patch clamp recordings, local field potentials, electroencephalography, and knowledge of methods development would be an asset. Translational research including pharmacology, drug development or biomarker applications will be encouraged.

The successful candidate will also possess sound judgment, excellent organizational, communication (verbal/written) and strong analytical skills. The demonstrated ability to cultivate internal and external relationships and collaborate effectively with colleagues, decision makers and the scientific community is required. You must be able to work effectively within an interdisciplinary team. The capacity to work with individuals of diverse ethno-racial and cultural backgrounds is required. Bilingualism (English/French) and/or proficiency in a second language is considered an asset.

Internal Number: 848868

To apply, visit the job posting on the CAMH website

Contact information

To apply, visit the job posting on the CAMH website:

https://www.recruitingsite.com/csbsites/camh/JobDescription.asp?SuperCategoryCode=15233&JobNumber=848868&lang=en

About Centre for Addiction and Mental Health:

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is Canada’s leading mental health and addiction teaching hospital and research institution. CAMH is a Pan American Health Organization and World Health Organization Collaborating Centre and is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto. CAMH provides a unique combination of clinical care and research, policy, education and health promotion expertise to help improve the lives of people impacted by mental health and addiction issues. CAMH has Canada’s largest mental health and addictions research program, bringing together internationally recognized biological, psychological and social researchers, doing work that ranges from molecular neurosciences to social policy development. CAMH Research advances knowledge about the cause of mental health and addiction disorders; develops improved diagnostic and evaluation techniques; develops customized, effective treatment, rehabilitation, prevention and health promotion strategies; and enhances knowledge about policies and systems to best serve affected populations. The research program at CAMH supports advanced teaching and training of researchers and other health professionals.
Posting end date 2019/11/11

Independent Scientist (Focus: Cognitive Neuroscience) – Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Position Description:

The Research Imaging Centre (RIC) at CAMH’s Campbell Family Mental Health Institute is a state of the art imaging facility and is one of the few imaging centres in the world fully dedicated to research on mental illness and addiction. The RIC is home to a multi-disciplinary team of scientists, staff and research trainees with a primary objective of discovering new paths in brain chemistry, structure, function and behavior to better understand mental illnesses and advance treatments.

We are seeking a strong candidate with MR imaging experience to play a pivotal leadership role to build a research program in cognitive neuroscience using brain imaging techniques. The incumbent will work closely with Psychologists and Clinician Scientists devoted to the clinical impact of cognitive impairment, and mechanisms of cognitive dysfunction (e.g. neurophysiological) and disability to design cognitive neuroscience clinical trials to cut across psychopharmacology, brain stimulation and psychosocial interventions. The position will also support colleagues, particularly RIC scientists in experimental design and task-based fMRI; work in a collaborative inter-disciplinary environment that spans fundamental and clinical research and support a workplace that embraces diversity, encourages teamwork and complies with all applicable regulatory and legislative requirements.

Specific responsibilities and expectations include but are not limited to:

  • Mentor, train and manage a team of research staff and trainees;
  • Develop and lead curriculum and training initiatives including MRI methodology training and application of fMRI and cognitive neuroscience paradigms;
  • Communicate statistical analyses through manuscripts and reports;
  • Lead the design and submission of externally funded applications as the Principal Investigator and manage budget to ensure support of operational resources;
  • Foster collaborations within the RIC, psychologists interested in cognitive neuroscience, and basic science researchers interested in the molecular mechanisms of cognitive dysfunction and disability;
  • Develop and analyze research imaging data, using statistical methods;
  • Coach data management and programming staff to ensure accuracy and completeness of databases/file structures/coding conventions;
  • Disseminate research results through presentations at academic meetings and conferences and communicate ideas to key decision makers;

CAMH is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto and the successful applicant will need to obtain academic affiliation with a University department at the Assistant Professor level or above. Preference will be given to candidates eligible for an Associate level academic affiliation. However candidates eligible for an Assistant level will be considered if they have demonstrated research experience in MR imaging.

This full-time, three year contract position is located at 250 College St., Toronto.

Qualifications:

The successful applicant is required to have a Ph.D. in Health Sciences and 3 years prior experience in MR imaging as evidenced by conference proceedings and peer-reviewed publications. Your experience will include working in MRI research and interdisciplinary collaborative research within a mental health/addiction, government, hospital, or community organization. You will have expertise in identifying optimal study designs for specific scientific questions related to the use of fMRI and cognitive neuroscience; the development of new methodology to integrate data between different brain imaging methods; and, post-acquisition processing approaches to advance the understanding of brain disorders. You will have demonstrated proficiency and familiarity with the LINUX and Microsoft Windows operating systems and the ability to write basic processing scripts in programming language and simulation tools such as Matlab, IDL, Mathematica and/or Octave. Understanding of the role of individual variability in cognitive performance and MRI data, demonstrated ability to use data-driven techniques, and knowledge of methods development with multi-centre, publicly available brain imaging data, quality assurance and considerations of data provenance are an asset.

The successful candidate will also possess sound judgment, excellent organizational, communication (verbal/written) and strong analytical skills. The demonstrated ability to cultivate internal and external relationships and collaborate effectively with colleagues, decision makers and the scientific community is required. You must be able to work effectively within an interdisciplinary team. The capacity to work with individuals of diverse ethno-racial and cultural backgrounds is required. Bilingualism (English/French) and/or proficiency in a second language is considered an asset.

Internal Number: 848955

To apply, visit the job posting on the CAMH website

Contact information

To apply, visit the job posting on the CAMH website: https://www.recruitingsite.com/csbsites/camh/JobDescription.asp?SuperCategoryCode=15233&JobNumber=848955&lang=en

About Centre for Addiction and Mental Health:

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is Canada’s leading mental health and addiction teaching hospital and research institution. CAMH is a Pan American Health Organization and World Health Organization Collaborating Centre and is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto. CAMH provides a unique combination of clinical care and research, policy, education and health promotion expertise to help improve the lives of people impacted by mental health and addiction issues. CAMH has Canada’s largest mental health and addictions research program, bringing together internationally recognized biological, psychological and social researchers, doing work that ranges from molecular neurosciences to social policy development. CAMH Research advances knowledge about the cause of mental health and addiction disorders; develops improved diagnostic and evaluation techniques; develops customized, effective treatment, rehabilitation, prevention and health promotion strategies; and enhances knowledge about policies and systems to best serve affected populations. The research program at CAMH supports advanced teaching and training of researchers and other health professionals.

Posting end date 2019/10/11

Tenure Stream Position in Neuroscience – Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience – University of Lethbridge

Tenure Stream Position in Neuroscience – Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience

The Department of Neuroscience at the University of Lethbridge seeks an exceptional neuroscientist to fill a position at the Assistant Professor level. This is a probationary (tenure track) appointment, beginning July 1, 2020. Candidates must have demonstrated excellence in research on human cerebral function, with systems-level and/or computational approaches, utilizing state-of-the-art imaging methods, including MRI.

The position will reside in the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience (CCBN), which is housed within the most advanced facility for science education and research in Canada, the newly constructed Science and Academic Building. Within this world-class research facility, the CCBN is equipped with exceptional infrastructure, including: 3 NMRs, electron microscope, multiphoton and several confocal microscopes, high throughput digital imaging, flow cytometer, deep sequencing platform, in vitro recording facilities, multiple in vivo ensemble single unit recording suites, PCR, dense-array human EEG, voltage and calcium imaging lab, dedicated parallel computing cluster, numerous state-of-the-art surgical and behavioural testing suites. The CCBN also hosts a newly constructed human 3T MRI unit.

The successful applicant will interact with a research-intensive group, all of whom focus on fundamental problems in the neurobiology of cerebral functioning. The successful applicant will develop a research program focusing on mechanisms underlying normal or disordered complex processes, including memory, perception, action, social behaviour, emotion, and/or neurodevelopment in humans. In addition, interest and accomplishment in working in systems neuroscience with non-human animals are an asset. Our department has embarked on an expansion of research in the areas of human cognitive neuroscience and translational research in brain and mental health. The centrepiece of this expansion is a newly installed 3T Siemens Skyra scanner, and the successful candidate will be a foundational member of this new research initiative.

Located in southern Alberta, near the Rocky Mountains, Lethbridge offers a sunny, dry climate that is agreeably mild for the prairies, excellent cultural and recreational amenities and attractive economic conditions. Founded in 1967, the University has an enrolment of over 8,500 students from around the world. Our student body has grown by 50 percent in the last 10 years, phenomenal growth among institutions in Canada. Despite this growth, we have remained true to who we are: student-focused, research-intensive, and grounded in liberal education.

For more information about the University please visit our website at http://www.uleth.ca, or the CCBN website at http://ccbn.uleth.ca/.

All applications must be submitted online and should include a curriculum vitae, a letter of application indicating interest and anticipated research contribution, sample publications, as well as names and contact information for at least three references who are scholars in the field. For details on how to submit your application, please visit our Human Resources website at bit.ly/2kNSigX. References will be contacted directly, with information on how to submit their reference letters.

For inquiries about this position, please contact Dr. Robert J. Sutherland, Chair of the Neuroscience Search Committee (robert.sutherland@uleth.ca). For inquiries about the application process, please contact human.resources@uleth.ca

Consideration of completed applications will begin on January 30, 2020, and will continue until the position is filled.

At the University of Lethbridge, fostering a culture of inclusion 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. In accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given preference.

Our University’s Blackfoot name is Iniskim, meaning Sacred Buffalo Stone. The University is located in traditional Blackfoot Confederacy territory. We honour the Blackfoot people and their traditional ways of knowing in caring for this land, as well as all Aboriginal peoples who have helped shape and continue to strengthen our University community.

Contact information:

Robert Sutherland, PhD
robert.sutherland@uleth.ca

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New Calgary school named for world-renowned scientist Dr. Freda Miller

Freda Miller
Dr. Freda Miller

The Calgary Board of Education has announced a new elementary school being built in the community of Evergreen wil be named the Dr. Freda Miller School.  The school is expected to open in September 2020. Dr. Freda Miller’s name was chosen as she is a world-renowned scientist, whose seminal scientific discoveries have led to new therapic avenue to repair injured brains and skin using stem cells.  Dr. Miller also maintains strong ties to Calgary, which is home to most of her family: she is an alumna of the Calgary public school system, of the University of Calgary, and lives part-time in Canmore. Continue reading

Tenure Stream Position in Behavioural Neuroscience – University of Toronto Scarborough

The Department of Psychology at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) invites applications for a tenure-stream appointment in Behavioural Neuroscience. The appointment will be at the rank of Assistant Professor and will begin on July 1, 2020, or shortly thereafter.

We seek applications from candidates with an excellent research record in fundamental neurobiological mechanisms of behaviour in non-human animals, including rats, mice and other vertebrates. Applicants must demonstrate an integrative, multidisciplinary approach in their research. Areas of interest may range from molecular and cellular to systems level approaches, and must complement existing departmental strengths at UTSC in the fields of learning and memory, motivation, emotion, addiction, cognition and neurodevelopment.

The successful candidate must have a PhD in Psychology, or a closely related field, by the time of appointment or shortly thereafter. They must also have an emerging record of excellence in research as demonstrated by publications in top ranked and field relevant academic journals or a research pipeline that is at high international levels, the submitted research statement, presentations at significant conferences, awards and accolades, and strong endorsements by referees of high standing. The successful candidate will be expected to pursue innovation and independent research at the highest international level and to provide evidence of an ability to build an excellent, competitive, world-class externally funded research program.

The candidate must also demonstrate excellence in teaching. Evidence of excellence in teaching will be provided through teaching accomplishments, the teaching dossier, a teaching statement, sample course syllabi, and the teaching evaluations submitted as part of the application, as well as strong letters of reference. The successful candidate will provide evidence of readiness to undertake undergraduate and graduate research supervision and teaching and be expected to perform standard professional and administrative activities typical of a department and/or university. Candidates are also expected to show evidence of a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and the promotion of a respectful and collegial learning and working environment demonstrated through the application materials. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The appointment is at the University of Toronto Scarborough, which is a research-intensive campus with a new, state of the art vivarium facility and access to a CFI-funded Centre for Neurobiology of Stress. The campus is also committed to interdisciplinary research collaborations and boasts a multicultural student body, a modern campus surrounded by parklands and green spaces, and access to a recently opened Pan Am athletic centre. The position offers the opportunity to conduct research, teach, and live in one of the most diverse cities of the world.

The Department of Psychology at UTSC includes faculty members with interests in behavioural neuroscience, clinical, cognitive, developmental, and social psychology. For more information about our department faculty, please visit our home page: www.utsc.utoronto.ca/~psych.

All qualified candidates are invited to apply online at https://uoft.me/1903424. Applications must include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, a research statement outlining current and future research interests, three recent publications, and a teaching dossier to include a statement of teaching interests and philosophy, sample course syllabi, and teaching evaluations (supplementary information related to demonstrated teaching effectiveness is encouraged).

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. We seek candidates who value diversity and whose research, teaching and service bear out our commitment to equity. Candidates are therefore also encouraged to submit a 1-2 page statement of contributions to equity and diversity, which might cover topics such as (but not limited to): the development of inclusive pedagogies; the recruitment/mentoring of students from underrepresented groups. If you have questions about this position, please email psychologyapplications@ utsc.utoronto.ca. All applications must be submitted online by Thursday October 31, 2019.

Submission guidelines can be found at: http://uoft.me/how-to-apply. We recommend combining attached documents into one or two files in PDF/MS Word format. Applicants must also arrange for three confidential letters of recommendation (on letterhead, signed and scanned), addressed to Prof. Suzanne Erb (Chair), to be sent directly by the referee to: psychology-applications@utsc.utoronto.ca. Reference letters must be received by the closing date of October 31, 2019.

The University of Toronto is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons / persons of colour, women, Indigenous / Aboriginal People of North America, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see http://uoft.me/UP.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Contact information

If you have questions about this position, please email psychologyapplications@ utsc.utoronto.ca. All applications must be submitted online by Thursday October 31, 2019.

Submission guidelines can be found at: http://uoft.me/how-to-apply. We recommend combining attached documents into one or two files in PDF/MS Word format.

Applicants must also arrange for three confidential letters of recommendation (on letterhead, signed and scanned), addressed to Prof. Suzanne Erb (Chair), to be sent directly by the referee to: psychology-applications@utsc.utoronto.ca. Reference letters must be received by the closing date of October 31, 2019.

Posting end date: 2019/11/01

Tier 2 Canada Research Chairs in Stem Cell Biology at Simon Fraser University

The Faculty of Science is building capacity in the area of stem cell biology and we seek outstanding candidates who engage in basic stem cell biology and investigate mechanisms with translational research opportunities relevant to disease. One chairholder will work in the area of developmental neuroscience or neurodegeneration, while the other is open, with a preference for cancer, cardiac, or immunological stem cell research. Presently, we have several facilities and Centres related to this initiative. For example, please see information on The Centre for Cell Biology, Development, and Disease; The Centre for High-Throughput Chemical Biology; Neuroscience research on campus; and related cell biological facilities.

Our active local collaborations include partners such as StemCell Technologies, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute (BCCHR), the BC Cancer Agency, and the University of British Columbia (UBC). Additionally, in January 2020 we are submitting a $24M infrastructure grant to the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) in collaboration with UBC and BCCHR in support of a regional stem cell facility.

We are seeking emerging leaders in stem cell biology that will be highly collaborative with SFU faculty, regional hospitals, and industry partners. They are also expected to bring innovative experimental approaches or novel modes of exploiting existing methods to complement and expand strengths at SFU. Candidates with experience, or an interest, in applying automated high-throughput screening and/or analysis to stem cells are preferred.

Contact information:

http://www.sfu.ca/science/research/chairs—awards/canada-research-chair-in-stem-cell-biology.html

Posting end date: 2019-10-15

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