Assistant Professor (Biochemistry) University of Guelph

Assistant Professor in Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology
College of Biological Sciences, University of Guelph

Requisition 1717

The Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Guelph invites applications for a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor in the area of Biochemistry.

We seek outstanding candidates whose research program explores fundamental biochemical processes and complements the department’s existing strengths. Applicants should focus on molecular, structural, or biophysical aspects of biological molecules, which may include taking a cellular and systems-level approach to studying biochemical mechanisms in living organisms. Areas of expertise may include (but are not limited to) enzymology, protein structure, design and dynamics, biophysical characterization, or molecular interactions in health and disease. The successful candidate will be expected to establish an innovative, externally funded research program that advances the biochemical understanding of biological function and fosters integration across molecular, cellular, and organismal levels. We particularly welcome candidates whose work opens new opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration within the department and across the College of Biological Science.

Qualifications include a Ph.D., a preferred minimum of three years of relevant postdoctoral experience (or equivalent), a proven record of research excellence evident in high-quality publications and demonstrated potential to establish a competitive independent research program and secure external research funding. The successful candidate will join a dynamic, multidisciplinary, research-intensive department with 40 faculty members who study diverse biological systems at levels from molecules to cells that include Biochemistry, Immunology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology & Genetics, and Neuroscience and contribute to programs in Biological Science, Biomedical Science, and Plant Science. Faculty within the College of Biological Science are members of the Advanced Analysis Centre, which houses state-of-the-art equipment that includes facilities for solution- and solid-state NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, electron and confocal microscopy, and genomics. The candidate would have access to shared biophysical and structural equipment, including polarizing fluorimeters, isothermal titration calorimeter, differential scanning calorimeter, a CD spectrometer, dynamic light scattering instrument, and a crystallization robot and plate hotel. Graduate student training activities are focused on M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Molecular and Cellular Biology, but faculty members also participate in cross-department programs such as Biophysics, Bioinformatics, Neuroscience, Plant Science, and Toxicology.

The successful candidate must also demonstrate the potential to provide effective and innovative teaching in the discipline of biochemistry to a diverse population of undergraduate and graduate students.

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, the Indigenous Initiatives Strategy.

The University of Guelph is the third largest employer in Guelph, a city of approximately 140,000 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 about 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.

Application Process:

If you are a current employee of the University of Guelph you must apply on the internal Career Page to be considered as an internal applicant.

Assessment of applications will begin on October 1, 2025 and will continue until the position is filled. Interested applicants should create an account on https://careers.uoguelph.ca/ and apply for the advertised faculty position (Requisition ID #1717) by submitting the following materials (in an integrated Single PDF file):

1. Cover letter (1 page) addressed to Dr. Cezar Khursigara, MCB Faculty Search Committee Chair:
Describe your background and interest in the position.

2. A curriculum vitae.

3. Proposed research program (4 pages max):

  1. Detail the candidate’s specific area of expertise, describing their contributions to the field.
  2. Present a vision of the short and long-term goals of the scholarship/research activities.
  3. Provide a detailed plan for their future independent research program and how this program might be leveraged to obtain extramural funding.
  4. Indicate how the candidate’s research program will synergize with the Department’s research environment.

4. Teaching statement (2 pages max):

  1. Describe an overall teaching philosophy.
  2. Describe all previous formal and informal education training and experience and any experiences with experiential/work-integrated learning.
  3. Describe potential teaching contributions to the department.

5. Diversity statement (1 page max):

  1. Describe the history of advocacy and commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion in teaching, scholarship/research and mentorship.
  2. Describe strategies to ensure the applicant’s scholarship/research, teaching, and mentorship activities will provide equitable opportunities for students from diverse equity-seeking groups and foster a welcoming and inclusive environment in their courses.

6. Contact information of three references.

APPLY ONLINE – Assistant Professor in Biochemistry (https://bit.ly/4mBMAsa)

This position is represented by the University of Guelph Faculty Association (UGFA).

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, 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 medical accommodations during the recruitment or selection processes, confidential assistance is available on request by contacting The University of Guelph is committed to ensuring all applicants have fair and equitable participation in the hiring process. If you anticipate needing medical accommodations during the recruitment or selection processes, confidential assistance is available on request by contacting the search committee chair at mcbchair@uoguelph.ca.

Contact information

https://careers.uoguelph.ca

Posting end date

2025/09/30

Assistant Professor (Tenure-Track), Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge

The Department of Neuroscience (https://www.ulethbridge.ca/artsci/neuroscience) at the University of Lethbridge invites applications for a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor. We are seeking a neuroscientist with demonstrated excellence in research on brain function across the life span in nonhuman animals, employing a systems-level approach and utilizing state-of-the-art methods. Researchers with experience in modern electrophysiological techniques, models of brain disease, and/or transcriptomics are especially encouraged. The expected start date of the appointment is July 1, 2026, subject to budgetary approval. Hiring salary will be in the range of CAD $79,132 to $98,000 per year, commensurate with qualifications and experience. Minimum qualifications include a doctoral degree in Neuroscience or a cognate discipline, as well as postdoctoral experience. The successful candidate will be expected to mount an externally funded research program that includes undergraduate and graduate students and contribute to the required courses for the undergraduate Neuroscience program. Evidence of background to teach a cellular and molecular neuroscience course and other advanced neuroscience courses is an asset. The successful candidate will be able to engage and inspire students in their academic work and show initiative in contributing to the department’s programs and curriculum development.

Our University: The University of Lethbridge (https://www.ulethbridge.ca/) is a comprehensive and research-intensive university founded on the principles of liberal education (https://www.ulethbridge.ca/liberal-education/about-liberal-education/four-pillar-model) where inspired scholars integrate research and creative activity with teaching. Our University’s Blackfoot name is Iniskim, meaning Sacred Buffalo Stone. Founded in 1967 on traditional Blackfoot land, it is a place where student engagement in learning, creative activities, and research takes place every day. With campuses in Lethbridge and Calgary, uLethbridge offers more than 150 undergraduate and 60 graduate programs in the Faculties of Arts & Science, Education, Fine Arts, Health Sciences, the Schools of Liberal Education and Graduate Studies, and the Dhillon School of Business, to more than 8,000 students.

Our Values: Accessibility, Belonging, and Community for all are key strategic priorities (https://www.ulethbridge.ca/president/accessibility-belonging-and-community) for the University of Lethbridge. The University of Lethbridge recognizes that diversity enriches our campus and community and is fundamental to teaching, learning, and research excellence. The university as a whole embraces equity as a core value to build strong and vibrant communities of belonging where students, faculty, and staff feel welcome, are treated equitably, and can thrive.

Our Team: The successful candidate will join the Department of Neuroscience team, which consists of 17 research-active professors. In addition to a strong undergraduate program with majors in Neuroscience, the department has a thriving graduate program with a total of approximately 45 M.Sc. and Ph.D. students. The Department is proud of the state-of-the-art Science Commons Building (https://www.destinationproject.ca/), which contains shared and dedicated lab space for the new position and is equipped with exceptional infrastructure, including: NMRs, 3T MRI, electron microscope, multiphoton and confocal microscopes, high throughput digital imaging, in vitro recording facilities, multiple in vivo ensemble single unit recording suites, dense-array and portable electroencephalography, optical imaging lab, dedicated parallel computing cluster, and modern surgical and behavioural testing suites in a newly constructed vivarium.

Our City: Living and benefiting from Blackfoot Confederacy’s traditional territory, Iniskim (uLethbridge) is direct neighbours with Kainai Nation (https://bloodtribe.org/), the largest reserve in Canada. We acknowledge and deeply appreciate the Siksikaitsitapi peoples’ connection to their traditional territory and honour the traditions of people who have cared for this land since time immemorial. Home to more than 100,000 people, Lethbridge (https://tourismlethbridge.com/) is a place where ideas grow. It is a culturally vibrant city with a flourishing arts scene and an active social calendar. We boast stunning scenery, four distinct seasons, spectacular sunrises and glowing sunsets that illuminate Alberta’s big sky. The University sits on the beautiful coulees, looking down on the Old Man River. Lethbridge is only two hours from Calgary’s International Airport and a short drive to the mountainous Waterton Lakes National Park. Looking for a centre with a lower cost of living than many other Canadian cities? See the Canadian Real Estate Association National Price Map (https://www.crea.ca/housing-market-stats/canadian-housing-market-stats/national-price-map/) to compare average Canadian housing prices. Lethbridge is an affordable city, with many beautiful neighborhoods on both sides of the coulees and well-planned parks connected via walking and biking paths.

Application Process:

All applications must be submitted online (https://uleth.peopleadmin.ca/postings/8586), and include a letter of application, a curriculum-vitae, a 2-page statement of teaching interests and philosophy, outlines of courses previously taught, a statement of research program (no more than 3 pages), teaching evaluations, and the contact information for three references (references will be contacted directly for short-listed candidates).

Consideration of complete files will commence on 1 November 2025 and will continue until the short-list of candidates is finalized.

For enquiries about the position, please contact Dr. Robbin Gibb, Chair, Department of Neuroscience, at gibb@uleth.ca

While all applications will be considered, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given preference.

Understanding that career interruptions can have an impact on a candidate’s record of achievement, we encourage applicants to explain in their applications any impact that career interruptions have had on their record.

The University of Lethbridge is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, including through the hiring process. If you require support during the hiring process, please contact Human Resources at human.resources@uleth.ca. All private information received in relation to your request for support will be kept confidential; only information required to facilitate the accommodation will be shared with the selection committee.

Required Documents

  1. Curriculum Vitae
  2. Outlines
  3. Letter of Application
  4. Evaluations
  5. Statement of Teaching Interests and Philosophy
  6. Statement of Research Program
  7. Contact Information for Three References
    Contact information For enquiries about the position, please contact Dr. Robbin Gibb, Chair, Department of Neuroscience, at gibb@uleth.ca.

All applications must be submitted online at https://uleth.peopleadmin.ca/postings/8586.

Assistant Professor – Artificial Intelligence in Psychological Science – University of Toronto

The Department of Psychology in the Faculty of Arts and Science at the University of Toronto invites applications for a full-time tenure stream faculty position in the area of Artificial Intelligence in Psychological Science. The appointment will be at the rank of Assistant Professor with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2026.

This search aligns with the University’s commitment to strategically and proactively promote diversity among our community members (Statement on Equity, Diversity & Excellence). Recognizing that Black, Indigenous, and other Racialized communities have experienced inequities that have developed historically and are ongoing, we strongly welcome and encourage candidates from those communities to apply.

Candidates must have earned a PhD degree in Psychology or a related area by the time of appointment, or shortly thereafter, with a demonstrated record of excellence in research and teaching. We seek candidates whose research and teaching interests complement and enhance our existing departmental strengths. The successful candidate will be expected to pursue innovative and independent research, and to establish an outstanding, competitive, and externally funded research program.

Candidates must provide evidence of research excellence which can be demonstrated by a record of publications in top-ranked and field relevant journals or forthcoming publications meeting high international standards, the submitted research statement, presentations at significant conferences, awards and accolades, and strong endorsements from referees.

We seek candidates whose research integrates psychology with advances in AI and complements our core areas: developmental psychology; perception, cognition, and cognitive neuroscience; social and personality psychology; or behavioural neuroscience. Possible foci include AI applications in big data analysis (social), brain and thought process modeling (developmental, cognitive neuroscience), or multi-unit activity networking (behavioural neuroscience). Topics may also include human–machine interaction in a technologically augmented society, such as cognitive challenges of VR/AR or self-driving vehicles, and trust in generative AI content. Expertise in computational/quantitative modeling and teaching in statistics at the undergraduate and/or graduate level is especially welcome. Applicants are encouraged to review the research and teaching profiles of current faculty members. In your cover letter, please indicate into which of the above-mentioned research directions your own research profile would fall. Please visit our home page: Department of Psychology, www.psych.utoronto.ca

Evidence of excellence in teaching will be demonstrated by teaching accomplishments, and the teaching dossier, including a teaching statement, sample course materials, and teaching evaluations or other evidence of superior performance in teaching-related activities submitted as part of the application, as well as strong letters of reference. Other teaching-related activities can include performance as a teaching assistant or course instructor, experience leading successful workshops or seminars, student mentorship, or excellent conference presentations or posters.

The successful candidate will undertake undergraduate and graduate teaching responsibilities on the University’s STG CAMPUS (downtown Toronto). The successful candidate will join a vibrant intellectual community of world-class scholars at Canada’s leading university. The University of Toronto offers a wide range of opportunities for collaborative and interdisciplinary research and teaching, the excitement of working with a highly diverse student population and actively encourages innovative scholarship. The Greater Toronto Area offers amazing cultural and demographic diversity and one of the highest standards of living in the world.

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

All qualified candidates are invited to apply online by clicking the link below. Applicants must submit a cover letter; a current curriculum vitae; a research statement outlining current and future research interests; a recent writing sample; and a teaching dossier including a teaching statement, sample course materials, and teaching evaluations or evidence of superior performance in other teaching related activities as listed above.

https://jobs.utoronto.ca/job/Toronto-Assistant-Professor-Artificial-Intelligence-in-Psychological-Science-ON/595420017

Equity, diversity and inclusion are essential to academic excellence as articulated in University of Toronto’s Statement on Equity, Diversity and Excellence. We seek candidates who share these values and who demonstrate throughout the application materials their commitment and efforts to advance equity, diversity, inclusion, and the promotion of a respectful and collegial learning and working environment.

Applicants must provide the name and contact information of three references. The University of Toronto’s recruiting tool will automatically solicit and collect letters of reference from each referee within 48 hours after an application is submitted. Applicants remain responsible for ensuring that referees submit recent letters (on letterhead, dated and signed) by the closing date. More details on the automatic reference letter collection, including timelines, are available in the candidate FAQ.

Submission guidelines can be found at http://uoft.me/how-to-apply. Your CV and cover letter should be uploaded into the dedicated fields. Please combine additional application materials into one or two files in PDF/MS Word format. If you have any questions about this position, please contact Poppy Lockwood, Chair, Department of Psychology at psy.chair@utoronto.ca.

All application materials, including recent reference letters, must be received by October 15, 2025.

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

The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.

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.
Contact information Apply here: https://jobs.utoronto.ca/job/Toronto-Assistant-Professor-Artificial-Intelligence-in-Psychological-Science-ON/595420017/

Questions should be directed to: Poppy Lockwood, Chair, Department of Psychology at psy.chair@utoronto.ca


Posting end date: 2025/10/15

Brain Star Award feature: Sergio Crespo-Garcia, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center

Sergio Crespo-Garcia

As the last Brain Star Award Feature of this series, we are proud to present the first place winner of the 2024 competition, Dr. Sergio Crespo-Garcia. He is also the winner of the Marlene-Reimer Award for 2024. Congratulations!

Discovery of a new therapeutic avenue to protect vision in diabetic patients.

Diabetes is a silent epidemic with profound complications in the retina, including a profound visual impairment that robs individuals of their ability to connect with the world around them. Dr. Sergio Crespo-Garcia, working as a post-doctoral fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Przemyslaw (Mike) Sapieha at the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, has identified a novel therapeutic strategy aimed at reversing diabetic macular edema (DME), a pervasive blinding condition in diabetic patients. This new therapeutic approach has the potential to be applied to other neurodegenerative diseases.

Specifically, Dr. Crespo-Garcia and his colleagues investigated the role of cell aging (senescence) in the development of diabetic macular edema (DME). They showed that senescent cells play a critical role in driving leakage from blood vessels and neuroinflammation of the retina leading to retinal damage in diabetes. Further, they identified a protein, called B-cell lymphoma extra-large (BCL-xL), as a potential target to selectively eliminate senescent cells. By employing foselutoclax (UBX1325), a small molecule drug, they demonstrated reduction in retinal neuroinflammation and improvement in vascular and neuronal function. Importantly, these preclinical data translated to human trials where patients enrolled in the Phase 1 trial showed a gain in visual acuity – these were patients for whom other treatments were no longer beneficial. Most excitingly, Phase 2 trials are currently underway, and could transform the way we protect vision in diabetic patients.

Read the full story here: https://can-acn.org/brain-star-award-winner-sergio-crespo-garcia/

Read the full scientific publication here:

Crespo-Garcia S, Fournier F, Diaz-Marin R, Klier S, Ragusa D, Masaki L, Cagnone G, Blot G, Hafiane I, Dejda A, Rizk R, Juneau R, Buscarlet M, Chorfi S, Patel P, Beltran PJ, Joyal JS, Rezende FA, Hata M, Nguyen A, Sullivan L, Damiano J, Wilson AM, Mallette FA, David NE, Ghosh A, Tsuruda PR, Dananberg J, Sapieha P. Therapeutic targeting of cellular senescence in diabetic macular edema: preclinical and phase 1 trial results. Nature Medicine 2024 Feb;30(2):443-454. doi: 10.1038/s41591-024-02802-4. Epub 2024 Feb 6. PMID: 38321220.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-02802-4

Brain Star Award Feature: Christina You Chien Chou – McGill University

Christina You Chien Chou

An optomapping approach to better understand connections in the visual cortex of the brain

In the brain, information is passed from neuron to neuron via connections called synapses. Synaptic dysfunction unsurprisingly underlies many neurological diseases, such as autism, schizophrenia, and epilepsy. Understanding how synapses are wired up in a cell-type-specific way is fundamental to understanding brain function. In this publication, Christina Chou, working in Jesper Sjöström’s research group at McGill University, used a new technique called optomapping to reveal previously unknown circuit wiring principles for excitatory and inhibitory neurons in mouse visual cortex. She found that different cell types have distinct connectivity patterns and that excitatory synapses onto inhibitory neurons are stronger, denser, and farther reaching than onto excitatory neurons. In other words, inhibition may win over and temper excitation. She additionally found that short-term synaptic dynamics depend on both input neuron location and on target cell type. These findings are key to understanding how the diversity of synapses underlie cell-type-specific circuit functions.

In the past, classic electrophysiology-based techniques have allowed researchers to precisely study synapses, but the low data yield of this technique has been a major obstacle towards comprehensive mapping of cell-type-specific connections in healthy and diseased states. As a result, there is a long-standing throughput problem in neuroscience research. In the lab of Prof. Jesper Sjöström, Christina Chou built a pipeline that combined electrophysiology and optogenetics for rapidly finding and studying synapses between different types of neurons without sacrificing precision and reliability. This method, which they called optomapping, is 100-fold faster than current electrophysiology-based techniques.

Read the full story here: https://can-acn.org/brain-star-award-winner-christina-you-chien-chou/

Read the original research article: Chou, C. Y. C., Wong, H. H. W., Guo, C., Boukoulou, K. E., Huang, C., Jannat, J., Klimenko, T., Li, V. Y., Liang, T. A., Wu, V. C., & Sjöström, P. J. (2024). Principles of visual cortex excitatory microcircuit organization. The Innovation, 6(1), 100735. DOI: 10.1016/j.xinn.2024.100735

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xinn.2024.100735

Brain Star Award Feature: Justine Hansen, McGill University

Justine Hansen

Studying how the deepest regions of the brain contribute to brain activity

The brainstem is a structure which is crucial for survival and consciousness, yet it is typically excluded from live human brain mapping efforts due to the difficulties in recording and analysing activity in this small region which sits deep at the base of the brain. In this study, Justine Hansen, working in the laboratory of Bratislav Misic at McGill University, used high-resolution 7-Tesla functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) alongside new brainstem-specific processing and acquisition protocols to better understand connections in and with this essential brain region. This work identified a compact set of integrative hubs in the brainstem with widespread connectivity with the brain cortex. Specifically, they identified five modules of brainstem nuclei with distinct patterns of functional connectivity to the brain cortex related to memory, cognitive control, multisensory coordination, perception and movement, and emotion. These results push our understanding of brainstem functional neuroanatomy, such that the brainstem is no longer thought to simply be involved in basal functions but instead is recognized as an essential element of higher-order brain function.

Read the full story here: https://can-acn.org/brain-star-award-winner-justine-hansen-2/

Read the original research article here:

Hansen, J. Y., Cauzzo, S., Singh, K., García-Gomar, M. G., Shine, J. M., Bianciardi, M., & Misic, B. (2024). Integrating brainstem and cortical functional architectures. Nature Neuroscience, 1-12.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-024-01787-0

Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Teaching – Department of Zoology and the Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience at The University of British Columbia, Vancouver

Position description

The Department of Zoology and the Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience at The University of British Columbia invite applications for a tenure-track appointment at the level of Assistant Professor of Teaching in the Educational Leadership stream with a focus on Neuroscience.

The UBC Undergraduate Neuroscience and Biology Programs place a premium on excellent teaching. The successful candidate would join 10 other tenure-track or tenured faculty in the Educational Leadership stream in the Department of Zoology in the Faculty of Science. Our programs consist of courses ranging from large multi-section courses to small specialty courses. We expect a successful candidate to implement state-of-the-art approaches to teaching and learning and to demonstrate innovation in pedagogy. The position is based at UBC’s Vancouver campus. UBC’s campuses are located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Syilx (Okanagan) Peoples and of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil Waututh) Nations.

The successful candidate will have been awarded a PhD in neurobiology or a related field before the start date of the position. Candidates must demonstrate the ability or strong potential to teach large enrollment courses in neurosciences (appropriate to their background) at various levels of undergraduate instruction. Successful candidates will demonstrate evidence of outstanding teaching ability and the potential to contribute to ongoing curriculum and course development. Candidates must be committed to improving undergraduate teaching, engaging with discipline-based educational research, and leading collaborative teaching teams. They will have a strong commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, to create a welcoming community for all, particularly for those who are historically, persistently or systemically marginalized.

The successful candidate will be appointed in the Department of Zoology, but with primary educational leadership and teaching responsibilities in the Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience. The candidate’s teaching load would be composed largely of Neuroscience (NSCI) courses, but may also include Biology courses (Zoology faculty teach within the Biology program). Initial duties of the position will consist of teaching introductory neuroscience courses (for example, NSCI 140) and future duties will be determined by the needs of the Undergraduate Program of Neuroscience.

As the successful candidate moves towards promotion and tenure, they will take on Educational Leadership roles that align with their skills, interests, and the needs of the Neuroscience and Biology programs. As a member of the UBC Educational Leadership stream, the candidate is expected to demonstrate promise of strong educational leadership, and is expected to meet the requirements for promotion and tenure within the prescribed time frame (as described here: https://science.ubc.ca/sites/science.ubc.ca/files/FacultyofScience_EL_DP.pdf and https://hr.ubc.ca/sites/default/files/documents/Educational_Leadership_Stream_Criteria.pdf). To facilitate educational leadership roles, there will be opportunities to work in collaboration with Science Education Specialists (https://skylight.science.ubc.ca/contact) in the Biology program on course or curriculum development, or projects to assess pedagogy. In addition to the duties outlined above, the candidate is expected to participate actively in departmental activities, service, events, and initiatives.

As this is a tenure-track position, the successful candidate will be reviewed for reappointment, tenure, and promotion in subsequent years, in accordance with the Collective Agreement. For a description of the Assistant Professor of Teaching rank and criteria for reappointment and promotion, visit: http://www.hr.ubc.ca/faculty-relations/collective-agreements/appointment-faculty/. To support the candidate, two established faculty members will be assigned as mentors.

The Department of Zoology is a dynamic, highly collaborative and collegial department that is internationally recognized for strengths in ecology, evolution, cell and developmental biology, and comparative physiology. The department currently has over 40 active research faculty, 10 educational leadership faculty, 10 lecturers, 23 staff, 120 graduate students, 34 postdoctoral fellows/research associates, and many undergraduates.

The Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience, launched in 2022, is a tri-faculty collaboration between the Departments of Psychology (Faculty of Arts), Zoology (Faculty of Science), and Cellular & Physiological Sciences (Faculty of Medicine). The program has two area of focus: 1) Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience; 2) Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience.

The successful candidate would also become a member of the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health (DMCBH), which brings together experts in the fields of neuroscience, psychiatry, neurology, and rehabilitation in a hub for training, research, and clinical care. As the heart of the UBC neuroscience community and one of the most comprehensive brain care and research centres in Canada, the DMCBH has transformed UBC into an international leader in neuroscience research (https://www.centreforbrainhealth.ca/).

How to apply

Applicants are asked to provide:

  • a letter of application;
  • a curriculum vitae;
  • a teaching dossier that includes: statement of teaching philosophy that demonstrates a research-informed approach to teaching neuroscience as well as courses in neuroscience (maximum two pages); a sample syllabus for an introductory course in neuroscience; record of courses taught (if not already included in the CV); course evaluations and peer-review of teaching reports, if available; examples of pedagogical materials; examples of any contributions (published or unpublished) to scholarship of teaching and learning or educational leadership (if not already included in the CV);
  • a statement of past and potential contributions to educational leadership (including, where appropriate, how these contributions create/advance a culture of equity and inclusion); maximum one page.
  • a diversity statement describing your lived background experience (if comfortable), and your past experience and future plans regarding working with a diverse student body, and contributing to a culture of equity and inclusion (maximum one page).

Application packages should be submitted as a single PDF document, uploaded to Academic Jobs Online: https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30389 .

The closing date for applications is October 15th, 2025 with the appointment anticipated to begin on or after January 1st, 2026.

Please provide names, titles, and contact information for 3 referees. Please note we do not require letters of reference as part of your initial application. However, your listed references should be willing to provide a letter of reference at a later date should your candidacy progress.

This position is subject to final budgetary approval. The expected pay range for this position is $105,000/year to $130,000/year. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

UBC hires on the basis of merit and is committed to employment equity. Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. Inclusion is built by individual and institutional responsibility through continuous engagement with diversity to inspire people, ideas, and actions for a better world. 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, Métis, Inuk, or Indigenous person. UBC acknowledges that certain circumstances may cause career interruptions that legitimately affect an applicant’s record of research or educational leadership achievement. We encourage applicants to note in their applications whether they would like consideration given to the impact of any circumstances, such as those due to health or family reasons, in order to allow for a fair assessment of their research productivity.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority, and members of historically marginalized groups will be given special consideration.

If you have any needs or questions regarding accommodations or accessibility during the job application, recruitment and hiring process or for more information and support, please visit UBC’s Center For Workplace Accessibility website at https://hr.ubc.ca/health-and-wellbeing/working-injury-illness-or-disability/centre-workplace-accessibility or contact the Centre at workplace.accessibility@ubc.ca.

The University is committed to creating and maintaining an accessible work environment for all members of its workforce. Within this hiring process we will make efforts to create an accessible process for all candidates (including but not limited to disabled people). Confidential accommodations are available on request by contacting Manager, HR Services, Department of Zoology by email at zoology.hr@ubc.ca.

Associate Professor / Professor – Krembil Chair in Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Toronto

Date Posted: 07/25/2025
Closing Date: 10/31/2025, 11:59PM ET  Open until Filled
Req ID: 44471
Job Category: Faculty – Clinical
Faculty/Division: Temerty Faculty of Medicine
Department: Dept of Psychiatry
Hospital Affiliation: TBD
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)

Description:

The University of Toronto (U of T) Department of Psychiatry is seeking applicants for the Krembil Chair in Neuroscience and Mental Health. The successful candidate must already hold, or be eligible for, a Full-Time Clinical (MD) or Status-Only (PhD) academic appointment with the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, U of T, at the rank of Professor; Associate Professors may also be considered based on their experience and accomplishments. The term of the Chair position is 5 years with the opportunity for one 5-year renewal following a successful review. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Position start date is December 1, 2025, or on a mutually agreed upon later date. 


U of T has one of the strongest research and teaching faculties in North America, and is consistently ranked as the top Canadian university in international rankings. The Toronto Academic Health Science Network (TAHSN), composed of the University and its eight fully affiliated institutes, is one of the world’s largest, most productive academic health science centres.


The successful candidate will be an experienced scientist with a strong record of independent research in mental health and brain science, with evidence of productivity (i.e., peer reviewed publications and grants) and leadership in educating and mentoring students and junior faculty members. The ability to build partnership with a wide range of stakeholders and provide national and international leadership in the field of mental health and brain science is essential. The successful candidate must be able to function proficiently in English.


Mental disorders are the leading cause of disability in the world and are among the most prevalent disorders of our time. As a U of T Department of Psychiatry endowed research chair, the Krembil Chair in Neuroscience and Mental Health will develop and lead research to prevent, diagnose and treat patients with mental disorders.


Scientists who are contributing significantly to the body of scholarship and advancement of mental health and brain science, with a national or international reputation in their field, are encouraged to apply. The successful candidate must have a strong research focus and hold either an MD or a PhD in a relevant discipline with significant expertise in this area of research. If a practicing phsyician, the canddiate must hold an MD, MBBS, or equivalent degree and be certified or be eligible for certification by the Royal College of Physicans and Surgeons of Canada, or have comparable qualifications;  the candidate must also hold or be eligible for licensure with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.  MD or PhD candidate’s excellence in research should be evidenced by collaborations and peer-reviewed publications in leading journals; a track record of collaborative science, productivity, excellence and leadership is essential. 


The Chair will be based at one of the eight fully-affiliated TAHSN hospitals and if the Chair holder is a practicing physician, they are expected to become a member of the hospital’s academic practice plan and will be entitled to additional support for their clinical activities. Total compensation will depend on the amount of clinical work performed (estimated based on fee for service billing) but will be in the range of approximately $293,000 to $400,000, commensurate with academic rank, qualifications and experience. 


Interested candidates should submit a letter of interest (of up to two pages), a curriculum vitae, and contact information of three referees via email to:

Rachel Delaney
Faculty Engagement and Academic Affairs Office
Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto
rachel.delaney@utoronto.ca 


For more information on the Department of Psychiatry please visit the website www.psychiatry.utoronto.ca

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

Diversity Statement

The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.

Accessibility Statement

The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.

The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.

If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact uoft.careers@utoronto.ca.

Visit the University of Toronto website for full details and to apply:

https://jobs.utoronto.ca/job/Toronto-Associate-Professor-Professor-Krembil-Chair-in-Neuroscience-and-Mental-Health-ON/594332817

Brain Star Award feature: Erika Harding, Nicole Burma, Charlie Hong Ting Kwok, University of Calgary

Erika Harding, Charlie Kwok and Nicole Burma

Identification of the Pannexin-1 channel in the brain as a target to treat opioid withdrawal symptoms

Opioids remain one of the most effective analgesics, with 10-15% of Canadians receiving opioid prescriptions per year. However, opioids are also highly associated with substance use disorders and overdose related deaths. Last year alone, over 7000 Canadians passed away from opioid overdose related complications. Many people who start with an opioid prescription enter a feedforward cycle of use reinforced by significant withdrawal symptoms. Patients report these symptoms as so aversive they will do anything to avoid them, and current treatments for opioid use disorder have a high degree of relapse. There is a clear need for better treatments of opioid withdrawal.

Research done by Drs. Erika Harding, Charlie Hong Ting Kwok and Nicole Burma in the laboratory of Dr. Tuan Trang at the University of Calgary has identified a channel called Pannexin-1, present in a brain area called the Locus Coeruleus as a potential target to alleviate opioid withdrawal symptoms.

Read the full story here: https://can-acn.org/brain-star-award-winners-erika-harding-charlie-kwok-and-nicole-burma/

Read the original scientific publication:

Kwok CHT*, Harding EK*, Burma NE*, Markovic T, Massaly N, van den Hoogen NJ, Stokes-Heck S, Gambeta E, Komarek K, Yoon HJ, Navis KE, McAllister BB, Canet-Pons J, Fan C, Dalgarno R, Gorobets E, Papatzimas JW, Zhang Z, Kohro Y, Anderson CL, Thompson RJ, Derksen DJ, Morón JA, Zamponi GW, Trang T. Pannexin-1 channel inhibition alleviates opioid withdrawal in rodents by modulating locus coeruleus to spinal cord circuitry. Nat Commun. 2024 Jul 24;15(1):6264. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-50657-7. PMID: 39048565

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-50657-7