The Opportunity

The Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology (BPK) invites applications for a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Human Neuroimaging and Scientific Director of the ImageTech core facility with an effective earliest start date of October 2022. The applicant’s research area should primarily align with the mandate of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) as outlined in the Guidelines for Selecting the Appropriate Federal Granting Agency.

The Canada Research Chairs Program stands at the centre of a national strategy to foster research excellence in Canada and improve our depth of knowledge and quality of life, strengthen Canada's international competitiveness, and help train the next generation of highly skilled people through student supervision.

This CRC appointment opportunity is intended for emerging scholars in Human Neuroimaging, at the rank of assistant or associate professor (or those who possess the necessary qualifications to be appointed to these levels). Ideal areas of research include neuroscience of ageing, neurorehabilitation, or behaviour and cognition.

Tier 2 Chairs are intended for exceptional emerging scholars (i.e., candidate must have been an active researcher in their field for fewer than 10 years at the time of nomination). Applicants who are more than 10 years from their highest degree (and where career breaks exist, e.g., parental leave, extended sick leave, clinical training, etc.) may have their eligibility for a Tier 2 CRC assessed through the program’s Tier 2 justification process; please see the CRC website for eligibility details.

Research Alignment Introduction to the Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology (BPK), ImageTech, and Simon Fraser University

The mission of BPK is to advance the understanding of human physiology, movement, neuroscience, and human health through fundamental and applied research, education, and service. BPK offers undergraduate degrees (BSc, BSc Honours) in kinesiology, biomedical physiology, and behavioural neuroscience, as well as graduate degrees (MSc, PhD). BPK is part of the Translational and Integrative Neuroscience (TRAIN) Graduate Specialization. The Department includes 25 research faculty, 9 continuing teaching faculty members, 13 staff members, approximately 50 graduate students, and over 1,000 undergraduate majors. BPK features research clusters in exercise and environmental physiology, cardiovascular physiology, chronic diseases, neuromechanics, and neuroscience.

About ImageTech

ImageTech is a new SFU-led neuroimaging facility embedded within Surrey Memorial Hospital. The lab provides a unique combination of high-field magnetic resonance imaging (Philips 3T Ingenia MRI) together with high-density magnetoencephalography (275-channel MEG). The facility—representing many firsts—brings together a partnership between SFU and Fraser Health, to ensure British Columbia continues to be globally competitive in advanced brain and body imaging. ImageTech is an SFU core facility, which supports the initiatives of a broad range of SFU, Fraser Health, UBC, and other researchers. The Scientific Director is responsible for the scientific vision and direction of the lab and is supported by a team of operational, scientific and technical staff.

About SFU

At the intersection of innovative education, cutting-edge research, and community engagement lies Simon Fraser University (SFU), Canada’s top-ranked comprehensive university. With three campuses located in beautiful British Columbia’s largest municipalities – Vancouver, Burnaby, and Surrey - our students, faculty, and staff are privileged to live and work on the traditional unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), q̓íc̓əy̓ (Katzie), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), Qayqayt, Kwantlen, Semiahmoo, and Tsawwassen Peoples. Consistently ranked as one of Canada’s top employers, SFU’s excellence as an engaged university is derived from our shared commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the pursuit of decolonization, indigenization, and reconciliation.

SFU offers several unique assets to its research faculty that are particularly relevant to this position. This includes the newly established Institute for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology. SFU also hosts several core facilities, including the ImageTech Lab and eBrain Lab, which focuses on neuro-engineering solutions for mental health and addiction. Other relevant facilities include the recently opened core facility for wearable technologies (WearTech Labs), the Big Data Hub, 4D Labs for materials research and development, and others. SFU supports research translation through the SFU Knowledge Mobilization Initiative and innovation through SFU Innovates. As a testament to BPK and SFU’s culture of innovation, BPK professors have founded three companies in the past 14 years, and SFU was recently ranked third globally in Entrepreneurial Spirit and 24th among 1,115 innovative universities by World Universities with Real Impact. Metro Vancouver offers burgeoning wearable technology and biomedical device ecosystems, with several start-up and mid-sized companies now operating that plan to engage in academic-industry partnerships. Several BPK faculty who conduct clinical research maintain affiliations with local hospitals including the BC Children’s, Surrey Memorial, Vancouver General, and Royal Columbian Hospitals.

The Successful Candidate

Qualified candidates will have:

• A PhD, MD, or equivalent degree in neuroscience, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated excellence in research with neuroimaging in human neuroscience. Excellence will be assessed in various ways, including but not limited to the following criteria:
  • Extensive experience conducting scientific studies in human neuroimaging.
  • High-quality scientific publications in the leading peer-reviewed publications in the field.
• A strong record of awards or external funding (e.g., scholarships, research grants).
• Disseminated discoveries via conferences, seminars, and other mechanisms for knowledge translation.
• Articulated a compelling vision for a research program that addresses questions of fundamental importance to the field and has clear potential to attract top-quality trainees, external funding, new scientific collaborations, and uptake by knowledge users.
• Shown clear potential for excellence as a mentor of research trainees, especially those from equity-deserving groups.
• Demonstrated ability to manage an inclusive research group that integrates diverse students and employees.
• Demonstrated deep and broad knowledge of the fields of neuroscience and neuroimaging to teach undergraduate and graduate courses effectively in these areas.
• Shown strong potential for effective knowledge translation and community engagement.
• Suggested potential opportunities for collaboration with other researchers in the field and related fields at SFU, within the BC region, and in Canada.
• Demonstrated outstanding interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written, in English). These skills include but are not limited to strong listening skills, valuing and respecting diverse perspectives, and a collaborative disposition.
• Shown strong potential to be an engaged academic citizen, in part by demonstrating a record of participation in service activities, such as committee work and outreach initiatives.

How To Apply

To apply, applicants should provide:

1. A cover letter that addresses the full scope of the job requirements, including how you would contribute positively to SFU’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
2. An up-to-date, full curriculum vitae (include details of research and teaching, scholarly record, funding, and list of collaborations/partnerships)
3. Two examples of refereed published scholarly work. 
4. A two-page research statement and explanation of how the research aligns with the 2016-2022 Strategic Research Plan.
5. A vision statement related to the role of Scientific Director of ImageTech, including opportunities for training.
6. A teaching portfolio including a statement of teaching and training philosophy and experience, including experience with and understanding of inclusive and diverse student needs, as well as other evidence of teaching strengths.
7. The names and email addresses of 4-6 referees, one of whom should be able to discuss teaching capabilities

SFU recognizes that alternative career paths and/or career interruptions (e.g., parental leave, medical leave) can impact research achievements and commits to ensuring that leaves are taken into careful consideration. Candidates are encouraged to highlight in their application how alternative paths and/or interruptions have had an impact on their career. SFU also recognizes the value of mentoring and research training, outreach, professional service, and non-traditional areas of research and/or research outputs. Demonstrated experience in increasing diversity in the previous institutional environment, and in curriculum, is also an asset.

All applications should be submitted to:

Human Neuroimaging and Scientific Director of ImageTech Search Committee
Dept of Biomedical Physiology & Kinesiology
Simon Fraser University
8888 University Drive
Burnaby, BC, Canada, V5A 1S6
Email: bpkcs@sfu.ca

The competition will remain open until May 17, 2022 or until the position is filled. Any general inquiries regarding this posting may be directed to the search committee chair, Randy McIntosh bpkcs@sfu.ca

SFU will nominate the hired faculty member for a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair. This position is not contingent upon the applicant receiving a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair. However, alignment with the CRC nomination criteria will be part of the overall selection process. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.

The position is subject to the availability of funding and to final approval by the University Board of Governors and the Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat (TIPS). The Canada Research Chair is tenable for five years and may be renewed once, subject to the Chairholder demonstrating that they have achieved their objectives from their first term. Interested applicants are invited to review the initial appointment and chair renewal details of the CRC Program [link].

SFU is an equity employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including women, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, Indigenous Peoples, people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of the University. SFU is committed to ensuring that 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, ensure that equal opportunity is afforded to all who seek employment at the University, and treat all employees equitably. Candidates who belong to equity-deserving groups are particularly encouraged to apply.

SFU offers benefits and services aimed at creating a more inclusive and accessible campus community for faculty, please see the Faculty Relations, Benefits and Service page for more details. SFU is also committed to ensuring that the application and interview process is accessible to all applicants; if you require accommodations or have questions about SFU benefits, services, accommodations policies, or equity considerations please contact the Specialist, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Faculty Relations.

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:  http://www.sfu.ca/vpacademic/faculty_openings/collection_notice.html.