"Canada Impact+ Research Chair in Molecular and Cellular Biotechnology"

Requisition 2058The Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Guelph invites applications for a Canada Impact+ Research Chair in Molecular and Cellular Biotechnology at the $1M/year award level. The term is for 8 years, with a possibility for a four-year funded extension, at 50% of the original award value. This senior appointment is part of the federal Impact+ Research Chairs program. It is intended to attract a world-leading researcher whose work aligns with national priorities and delivers clear, innovative outcomes and applications that benefit the Canadian economy.

Canada Impact+ Research Chair in Molecular and Cellular Biotechnology is aligned with the strategic priority areas of:

• advanced digital technologies (including artificial intelligence, quantum and cybersecurity);
• health, including biotechnology;
• clean technology;
• food and water security;
• defence and dual-use technologies.

The program’s evaluation criteria are:

• Research/academic merit and leadership skills of the nominee
• Quality of the institutional support
• Quality of the research program
• Potential contribution to the excellence of the Canadian and international research ecosystem
• Potential for knowledge translation, mobilization and application of research results

We seek an outstanding candidate whose research program advances molecular and cellular approaches to biotechnology, integrating fundamental biological insight with translational and applied impact. Areas of interest may include, but are not limited to, microbial or cellular biotechnology, biomanufacturing, synthetic or systems biology, cellular engineering, functional and evolutionary genomics, or the development of biological platforms for applications in health, sustainability, agriculture, or industrial biotechnology. Research approaches may span molecular, cellular, organismal, or systems-level biology and leverage advanced experimental, analytical, computational, or multi-omics methodologies.

The successful candidate will be expected to lead an innovative, externally funded research program that advances molecular and cellular biotechnology and delivers clear translational, industrial, or societal impact. The Chair will develop and sustain a high-profile research program that translates biological discoveries into applications, including technologies, platforms, and processes relevant to health, sustainability, agriculture, and the bioeconomy. We particularly welcome candidates whose work fosters interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration, building strong partnerships within MCB and across the College of Biological Science, as well as with industry, government, and other external stakeholders.

Only candidates who are internationally based (both working and residing outside of Canada) at the time of the intake’s application deadline are eligible to apply. The Impact+ program offers awards of two values: $1 Million/year or $500,000/ year. The funding supports expenses related to the chairholder’s compensation, as well as research activities for the chairholder and the chairholder’s team.

Nominees must be full professors or associate professors or, if recruited from outside the academic sector, must possess the necessary qualifications to be appointed at these levels. A Ph.D.  in a relevant discipline microbial or cellular biotechnology, biomanufacturing, synthetic or systems biology, cellular engineering, functional and evolutionary genomics, or the development of biological platforms for applications in health, sustainability, agriculture, or industrial biotechnology is required by the University of Guelph. The candidates must have an established record of international research excellence, demonstrated through high-impact publications, sustained external funding, and meaningful engagement with industry or other non-academic partners. The successful candidate will be expected to provide scientific and strategic leadership, build and mentor multidisciplinary research teams, and develop and sustain a strong network of industry and external partners, while attracting significant extramural funding to support a large-scale, application-driven research program aligned with the Impact+ mandate.

The successful candidate will join the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, a dynamic, multidisciplinary, research-intensive unit with approximately 40 faculty members whose expertise spans Molecular Biology & Genetics, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Immunology, and Neuroscience. Faculty contribute to undergraduate and graduate programs in Biological Science and Biomedical Science and engage in extensive interdisciplinary research across the College of Biological Sciences and beyond. The Department and College provide a strong foundation for collaboration in molecular and cellular biology, biotechnology, and translational research.

Faculty within the College of Biological Sciences have access to the Advanced Analysis Centre (AAC), which houses state-of-the-art facilities in mass spectrometry, flow cytometry, electron and confocal microscopy, genomics, and advanced imaging. The successful candidate will also have access to shared biophysical, molecular, and animal research infrastructure, including super-resolution imaging platforms and complementary core facilities, enabling mechanistic, systems-level, and translational studies across molecular and cellular biotechnology.

Graduate training within the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology is centered on M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs, with faculty also contributing to a range of interdisciplinary graduate initiatives across the College of Biological Sciences, including Biophysics, Bioinformatics, Neuroscience, Plant Science, and Toxicology. The successful candidate will play a key role in training and mentoring highly qualified personnel, providing leadership and opportunities for graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and research staff engaged in molecular and cellular biotechnology and translational research.

The successful candidate is expected to contribute to teaching and mentorship activities appropriate to their role as an Impact+ Research Chair, including graduate-level instruction and limited undergraduate teaching aligned with their expertise, and to support a diverse and inclusive learning environment.

Application Process:Assessment of applications will begin on January 22, 2026 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 #2058) 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):
   • Detail the candidate’s specific area of expertise, describing their contributions to the field.
   • Present a vision of the short and long-term goals of the scholarship/research activities.
   • Provide a detailed plan for their future independent research program and how this program might be leveraged to obtain extramural funding.
   • Indicate how the candidate’s research program will synergize with the Department’s research environment.
4. Diversity statement (1 page max):
   • Describe the history of advocacy and commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion in teaching, scholarship/research and mentorship.
   • 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.
5. Contact information of three references.