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Tenure Track Position in statistics

The Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science at Simon Fraser University (SFU) invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track appointment in Statistics at the Assistant Professor rank to commence July 1, 2023 (flexible). Any area of expertise will be considered, but among the areas of particular interest are those with a modern focus such as, but NOT limited to, biostatistics, computational methods, statistical inference in high dimensions, and statistical/machine learning. We seek a new colleague who brings a collegial, flexible and communicative approach to contributing to the department, university and scientific community. The position is subject to the availability of funding and to final approval by the University Board of Governors.  

Qualifications

A Ph.D. in statistics or a closely related field is required prior to the start date. If necessary, PhD candidates with solid indication of imminent completion may be hired at the rank of Instructor and will be promoted to the rank of Assistant Professor upon completion of the PhD. The successful candidate will have an outstanding research record or potential, and evidence of excellence in teaching; see below for additional guidance. In addition, candidates who will engage in collaboration with other scientists and/or work in related research areas are encouraged to apply.

Duties

The primary responsibilities of the position include developing, leading and maintaining an innovative, internationally recognized, externally funded research program; teaching a wide range of undergraduate and graduate courses; and participating in departmental, university, and professional service. Additionally, a successful candidate will be expected to supervise students in our M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs in Statistics. The typical workload distribution for tenure-track assistant professors in our department is 40% research, 40% teaching, and 20% service.

About the Department

SFU, Canada’s top-ranked comprehensive university, is known internationally for innovative education, cutting-edge research, and community outreach. With three campuses located in beautiful British Columbia’s largest municipalities – Vancouver, Burnaby and Surrey - our students, faculty and staff are privileged to live, work, and play on the shared Traditional Coast Salish Lands of the Squamish (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw), Tsleil-Waututh (səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ), Musqueam (xʷməθkʷəy̓əm), and Kwikwetlem (kʷikʷəƛ̓əm) Nations (in Vancouver and Burnaby respectfully) and the Katzie, Kwantlen, Kwikwetlem (kʷikʷəƛ̓əm), Qayqayt, Musqueam (xʷməθkʷəy̓əm), numerous Stó:lō Nations, Semiahmoo, and Tsawwassen (in Surrey).

The Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science is comprised of 26 continuing faculty. The department is recognized internationally for its academic excellence, commitment to pedagogy, and being home to the Canadian Statistical Sciences Institute.

How to apply

Candidates must provide evidence of innovative research. This can be demonstrated, for example, via publications or forthcoming publications in relevant journals, the submitted research statement, and from letters of reference. Creating or contributing to open-source statistical software (e.g., creating and/or maintaining R packages) will also be considered. We recognize that alternative career paths and/or career interruptions (e.g. parental leave, leave due to illness, research delays due to COVID-19) can impact research achievements, and we commit to ensuring that leaves are taken into careful consideration. Candidates are encouraged to highlight in their application how alternative paths and/or interruptions have impacted them.

We seek a colleague whose teaching interests add to, or complement, our existing departmental strengths. Candidates should have successful experience in face-to-face or online teaching. This may include having competently assisted or led the teaching of undergraduate courses, or lab/discussion sections, including as a Teaching Assistant or similar role. Evidence of a commitment to teaching should be provided through a teaching statement describing teaching experience and philosophy. The successful candidate will be expected to teach undergraduate and graduate level courses, and support the Department’s graduate programs by training the next generation of scientists as part of their research program.

Candidates are expected to show evidence of a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and the promotion of a respectful and collegial learning and working environment in their application materials.

To apply, applicants should provide:

  • A cover letter explaining the applicant’s interest in the position and addressing the full scope of the job requirements
  • A curriculum vitae (include details of research and teaching)
  • A concise research statement articulating current and future research plans (maximum of 2 pages)
  • A teaching statement describing teaching experience and philosophy (maximum of 1 page)
  • The names of 3 or 4 references, one of whom can speak to teaching capabilities.

Evaluation of applicants will commence on October 31, 2022 and will continue until the position is filled. All applications should be submitted through MathJobs.org at https://www.mathjobs.org/jobs/list/20351. Any general inquiries regarding this posting may be directed to Caitlin Chow at stchsec@sfu.ca.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, please indicate so in your application.

Simon Fraser University is an institution whose strength is based on our shared commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion. Diversity is an underlying principle of our Strategic Vision, which pledges SFU to “foster a culture of inclusion and mutual respect, celebrating the diversity reflected among its students, faculty staff and our community.” SFU is committed to ensuring no individual is denied access to employment opportunities for reasons unrelated to ability or qualifications. Consistent with this principle, SFU will advance the interests of underrepresented members of the work force, including Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, racialized persons and women; embrace gender and sexual diversity; ensure that equal opportunity is afforded to all who seek employment at the University; and treat all employees equitably. Candidates that belong to underrepresented groups are particularly encouraged to apply.

Under the authority of the University Act, personal information that is required by the University for academic appointment competitions will be collected. For further details see the Collection Notice.

Lecturer Position in Actuarial Science

The Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science at Simon Fraser University invites applications for a full-time lecturer position in Actuarial Science to commence July 1, 2023 (flexible). We seek a new colleague who brings a collegial, flexible, and communicative approach to contributing to the department and the university. The position is subject to the availability of funding and to final approval by the University Board of Governors.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications
At a minimum, the successful candidate will have:
▪ A Master’s degree in Actuarial Science (or related field) and strong ties to the actuarial community;
OR
A Bachelor’s degree in Actuarial Science (or related field) and an associateship designation from an actuarial organization.
▪ Preliminary actuarial exam content experience.
▪ Demonstrated excellence in oral and written communication, and interpersonal skills.
▪ Dedication to creating an environment that supports diverse populations and perspectives, and a commitment to creating inclusive learning experiences.
▪ Demonstrated interest in, and commitment to, teaching.

Preferred Qualifications
▪ Evidence of excellence in teaching.
▪ Fellowship designation from an actuarial organization.
▪ Demonstrated capacity for strategic thinking and leadership.
▪ Involvement in professional committees.
▪ Experience in advising or mentoring.
▪ Experience in programming (e.g., VBA, R, Python).

Duties

The primary responsibilities of the position include:
▪ Teaching a wide range of courses in actuarial science and risk management at the undergraduate level and in any new, professionally-focused premium fee programs.
▪ Supervising and mentoring undergraduate students.
▪ Taking an active role in curriculum development, including the initiatives described above.
▪ Providing service to the Department, including membership on departmental committees, active participation in recruitment and outreach activities, and the creation of new outreach initiatives.

The typical workload distribution for lecturers in the Department is 80% teaching, and 20% service. The typical number of courses taught is 6-8 per year.

About the Department

Simon Fraser University, Canada’s top-ranked comprehensive university, is known internationally for innovative education, cutting-edge research, and community outreach. The Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science is located at the Burnaby campus, on the shared traditional Coast Salish lands of the Squamish (Sḵwx̱ wú7mesh Úxwumixw), Tsleil-Waututh (səl ̓ ilw̓ ətaʔɬ), Musqueam (xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm), and Kwikwetlem (kʷikʷəƛ ̓əm) Nations. The Department is recognized internationally for its academic excellence, commitment to pedagogy, and being home to the Canadian Statistical Sciences Institute.

Recognized as a Center of Actuarial Excellence by the Society of Actuaries, the actuarial group within the Department comprises five continuing faculty members actively involved in teaching, research, and program management. Our undergraduate major and honours programs in actuarial science serve about 80 students and are fully accredited by the Canadian Institute of Actuaries’ University Accreditation Program. We have a thriving coop program and strong relationships with industry partners. We also offer a research-based Master’s program.

We are currently preparing for a substantial redesign and expansion of our actuarial programs over the medium term to align with evolving professional needs. This includes a shift towards problem-based learning and a greater emphasis on critical thinking, emotional intelligence and adaptability to complement the solid technical skills for which our graduates are known. There is also interest in developing new professionally-focused, premium fee programs at the intersection of actuarial science, data science, and risk management.

How to Apply

We seek a colleague whose teaching interests add to, or complement, our existing departmental strengths. Candidates should have successful experience in face-to-face or online teaching. This may include experience in an academic context (e.g., having competently assisted or led the teaching of undergraduate courses) and/or in a professional context (e.g., leading seminars, workshops or corporate training programs with a quantitative focus). Evidence of a commitment to teaching should be provided through a teaching statement describing teaching experience and philosophy.

Candidates are expected to show evidence of a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and the promotion of a respectful and collegial learning and working environment in their application materials.

To apply, applicants should provide:
• A cover letter addressing the full scope of the job requirements.
• A curriculum vitae (include details of research and teaching, a list of collaborations/partnerships, and relevant professional experience).
• A teaching portfolio which includes evidence of teaching effectiveness, a discussion of experience, and an understanding of inclusive teaching and mentoring.
• The name of three references, two of whom can speak to teaching ability.

Evaluation of applicants will commence on November 18, 2022 and will continue until the position is filled. All applications should be submitted through MathJobs.org at https://www.mathjobs.org/jobs/list/20860. Any general inquiries regarding this posting may be directed to Caitlin Chow at stchsec@sfu.ca.

We recognize that alternative career paths and/or career interruptions (e.g., parental leave, leave due to illness, delays due to COVID-19) can impact academic and professional achievements, and we commit to ensuring that leaves are taken into careful consideration. Candidates are encouraged to highlight in their application how alternative paths and/or interruptions have impacted them. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, please indicate so in your application. Simon Fraser University is an institution whose strength is based on our shared commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Diversity is an underlying principle of our Strategic Vision, which pledges Simon Fraser University to “foster a culture of inclusion and mutual respect, celebrating the diversity reflected among its students, faculty, staff and our community.” Simon Fraser University is committed to ensuring no individual is denied access to employment opportunities for reasons unrelated to ability or qualifications. Consistent with this principle, Simon Fraser University will advance the interests of underrepresented members of the work force, including Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, racialized persons and women; embrace gender and sexual diversity; ensure that equal opportunity is afforded to all who seek employment at the University; and treat all employees equitably. Candidates that belong to underrepresented groups are particularly encouraged to apply. Under the authority of the University Act, personal information that is required by the University for academic appointment competitions will be collected. For further details see the Collection Notice.