Assistant Professor, Quantitative Science (Black Faculty Cluster Open Search Hire)

The Opportunity

The Faculty of Science at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver seeks to recruit an accomplished scholar who self-identifies as Black for an open faculty tenure-stream position at the level of Assistant Professor with an expected start date of 1 July 2027. The expected salary range for this position is CAD $120,000 to $150,000. The starting salary will be determined based on the successful candidate's qualifications, experience, rank, and discipline.

This open search hire forms part of the Black Faculty Cluster hiring and the candidate will be joining four recently hired scholars to the cluster, bringing the total number of UBC black faculty members in the Faculty of Science to eleven. We seek a candidate for this cluster hire initiative in Quantitative Science, broadly defined across the Faculty of Science. This opportunity forms part of the University wide Black Faculty Cohort Hiring Initiative.

Given existing strengths, UBC is well-positioned to become a leader in Quantitative Science, which explicitly includes a diversity of thoughts and perspectives. This open search across the Faculty of Science is the first of its kind, where the onus is on the candidate to demonstrate how their research vision, past, current and future, and their academic profile align with the broader definition of Quantitative Science. With this in mind, the Faculty of Science seeks to recruit a candidate in any of the research areas within the following departments/units who have committed to hosting the candidate (but are not limited to): Computer Science, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries (IOF), Institute for Resources Environment and Sustainability (IRES), Michael Smith Laboratory (MSL), Physics and Astronomy, Pure Mathematics, Statistics and Zoology. Except for Pure Mathematics (where candidates are not encouraged to demonstrate interdisciplinarity), candidates whose research spans across one or more departments and/or units are strongly encouraged. For example, candidates whose research lies at the interfacial boundary between any two of the units listed above are highly encouraged to apply. Priority and preference will be given to recruiting an excellent scholar in Quantitative Science over filling a particular research niche.

The Black Faculty Cluster will provide unique structures that support the continued success of the Quantitative Science scholar once they arrive at UBC, including: creating a peer-mentorship group program to facilitate connections among new hires as well as between incoming and current Black scholars; providing research support in the form of postdoctoral fellows co-supervised by 2 or more members of the Black Faculty Cluster; guaranteeing a graduate stipend for each incoming research faculty to support the growth of their lab or research program; and making available resources on transitioning to and navigating life at UBC and in Vancouver as Black people.

The position requires a minimum of a PhD or equivalent in computer science, ecology, fisheries, mathematics, oceanography, physics, statistics, zoology, or related disciplines. The candidate should be a creative, innovative scientist, with demonstrated research accomplishments and evidence of commitment to effective teaching. They will be expected to maintain a dynamic externally funded research program, and to take active roles in teaching and the supervision of trainees (undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral researchers). They will have a strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, to create a welcoming community for all, particularly those who are historically, persistently or systemically marginalized.

Candidates will be appointed in a UBC Faculty of Science department or research institute appropriate to their disciplinary expertise. Joint appointments across departments/institutes will also be possible. For more information on the Faculty of Science departments and institutes, see https://science.ubc.ca/departments and links therein.

Application Process

Pursuant to Section 42 of the BC Human Rights Code, this search will be restricted to qualified Black scholars. We welcome applications from Black scholars who may also identify as Indigenous (First Nation, Métis, Inuit) Peoples, multi-racial persons, persons with disabilities, women, and/or members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. Candidates are required to self-identify through the Applicant Diversity Survey (see link below), which takes approximately two minutes to complete. All questions are voluntary, with an option to decline to answer. Applicants who wish to be considered for this initiative must self-identify as ‘Black’ to be considered eligible. All information collected by the Equity & Inclusion Office (EIO) will remain confidential and any reported data will be in aggregate form shared with the Search Committee co-chairs to track intersectional diversity and support an equitable and meritorious search process.

Applications must be submitted through Academic Jobs Online (AJO) Portal. Interested applicants must submit all of the following documents:

• Cover letter: A research vision, past, current and future and alignment with Quantitative Science as well as indicating which Department(s) they interested in joining (1 page).
• Current CV, including a list of publications.
• Research statement (up to 3 pages single-spaced) describing your work to date and future plans including any interdisciplinary research related to Quantitative Science.
• A teaching statement (1 page).
• UBC aspires to promote inclusive excellence by supporting and recognizing efforts to advance equity, diversity and inclusion as well as decolonization (EDID) through the academic and research ecosystem. Provide a brief (1 page) statement describing current and future commitments or interests related to EDID. Your comments may relate to lived/living experience, professional work or practice, academic and research activities, and/or community-engagement.
• Applicants to this position are asked to complete this equity diversity survey (https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_71emR2cibNmk8EC) as part of the application, and candidates must self-identify as a Black person to be considered. Because the search is limited to those self-identifying as Black, candidates must also provide their name on the survey to be considered.
• Arrange for three letters of reference by uploading names and contact emails of three references to the AJO portal. The referees will receive automatic emails with instructions to submit their letters. References must submit their letters (on letterhead) directly to the AJO platform by the same deadline of the application.

The closing date for applications is December 1, 2026. All materials, including reference letters, must be uploaded to the AJO portal by this date.

Information sessions for those who want to learn more about the position will be held online on the following dates:

• Friday, October 16, 10:00 am-11:00 am Pacific time. Register Here
• Friday, October 30, 10:00 am-11:00 am Pacific time. Register Here

Any inquiries may be addressed to Anotida Madzvamuse, Anotida.Madzvamuse@ubc.ca.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority for the position. To comply with the Government of Canada’s reporting requirements, the University gathers information about applicants’ status as either a permanent resident of Canada or Canadian citizen. Applicants need not identify country of origin or current citizenship; however, all applications must include one of the following statements:

• Yes, I am a citizen or permanent resident of Canada
• No, I am not a citizen or permanent resident of Canada

Career Interruptions

UBC acknowledges that certain circumstances may cause career interruptions that legitimately affect an applicant’s record of research achievement. We encourage applicants to note in their applications whether they would like consideration given to the impact of any such circumstances due to health, family, or other legitimate reasons to allow for a fair assessment of their research productivity.

Commitment to Accessibility and Accommodations

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. 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 people with disabilities). Confidential accommodations are available on request by contacting Svetlana Minchenko, minchenko@science.ubc.ca.

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/workplace-accessibility/centre-workplace-accessibility or contact the Centre at workplace.accessibility@ubc.ca.