"Full Professor - Canada Excellence Research Chair in Metabolic Stress Responses in Pancreatic Cancer"

Université de Montréal’s Faculty of Medicine is one of the world’s leading French-language medical faculties. In both teaching and research, its mission is to actively contribute to the advancement of knowledge and mastery of skills needed to improve healthcare.

The Department of Pathology and Cell Biology is a unique department that brings together both fundamental researchers in the fields of cell biology and cancer, and clinical pathologists practicing in hospitals. World-class research is conducted here in areas such as cancer cell signaling, the cell biology of Parkinson’s disease, and the structural biology of cancer-related proteins.

Several research centers in the greater Montréal area are affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine of the Université de Montréal. As a faculty member of the Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, you will be invited to develop your research program either within our on-campus facilities, in a hospital or rehabilitation setting, or within one of the affiliated research centers, depending on your research themes.

As part of the 2026 Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC) Program competition, the Department of Pathology and Cellular Biology is recruiting a professor at the rank of Full Professor to advance research and teaching in the field of metabolic stress responses in pancreatic cancer.

The CERC program supports two chair categories, with maximum values of either $1,000,000 or $500,000 per year. The chair offered under this call will have a value of $500,000 per year for a duration of eight years. The successful candidate will be expected to collaborate in preparing the application, leading up to its submission in March 2026.

Day-to-day responsibilities

Through your undergraduate and graduate-level teaching, and your research activities, you will contribute to the faculty’s pursuit of excellence. Furthermore, you will promote your discipline and actively participate in the daily activities of a renowned institution. As a professor and holder of a Canada Excellence Research Chair, you will:

• Leverage your world-class leadership in pancreatic cancer metabolism in alignment with the Government of Canada’s science, technology and innovation priorities, with the potential to generate positive health benefits for Canadians;
• Develop an independent, innovative, world-class research program in metabolic stress responses in pancreatic cancer. More specifically, priority will be given to research topics focused on mechanisms by which pancreatic tumors reprogram nutrient acquisition, intracellular homeostasis and systemic metabolism to support their survival and progression. The successful candidate is expected to have proven expertise and a track record in pancreatic cancer biology, genetics, proteomics, imaging and animal modeling approaches, as well as a desire to collaborate with bioinformaticians, cell biologists and clinicians as well as metabolic diseases and drug discovery experts at Université de Montréal;
• Actively foster co-creation of research projects and initiatives with partners from all sectors (academic, public, private, and community) to increase the application of research outcomes in pancreatic cancer for the benefit of society at large. You will also facilitate the mobilization and application of the Chair’s research results in diverse ways to promote the health of Canadians;
• Have the opportunity to apply for infrastructure funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI);
• Teach cancer biology and metabolism at all levels of study;
• Supervise undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students as well as postdoctoral fellows;
• Actively participate in promoting the discipline through conferences, publications, and scientific activities related to your area of expertise;
• Participate in the functioning of the institution by contributing to departmental, faculty, and/or university committees.

Qualifications

• Be eligible for the CERC Program and apply to the 2026 CERC competition;
• Hold a PhD in molecular and cellular biology or a related discipline. This requirement is set by the Université de Montréal; not by the CERC program;
• Have significant experience as an established researcher in the areas of interest listed above;
• Demonstrate outstanding expertise and international recognition as a leader in pancreatic cancer metabolism;
• Have an international profile in the field and show strong leadership in major international networks;
• Be able to lead ambitious, productive research teams;
• Possess the qualities required to conduct research that mobilizes and applies knowledge to deliver positive health benefits for Canadian and populations worldwide;
• Have experience teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels;
• Have experience supervising undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral trainees, research associates and other highly qualified personnel;
• Demonstrate excellent research productivity and a strong track record of research funding from recognized organizations;
• Demonstrated interest and ability to work within a multidisciplinary team (e.g., immunologists, medicinal chemists, bioinformaticians, clinicians, communities);
• Have adequate proficiency of the French language or be committed to learning it once hired, through the Université de Montréal’s French language support program, in accordance with the Université de Montréal language policy.

Additional information about the position

• Competitive salary and a comprehensive range of benefits;
• Expected start date: June 1st, 2026;
• Located at the Montreal Campus.

How to submit your application

The application file presented must include the following documents, to be submitted during the posting period, from October 28 to November 30, 2025, inclusively:

• A cover letter;
• A curriculum vitae;
• Copies of, or links to, three recent publications or research papers;
• A statement outlining your teaching and mentoring experience and approach;
• A research program proposal;
• Contact details of three referees who will be solicited for a letter of recommendation;
• Important: the research program proposal summary should cover 8 years (suggested maximum length: 4 pages).

Contact information

Greg FitzHarris, Chair

Department of Pathology and Cellular Biology

Faculty of Medicine

direction@patho.umontreal.ca

HEALTH AND FINANCIAL BENEFITS

• Medical, paramedical, dental and travel insurance
• Employee and Family Assistance Program along with an Institutional Health and Wellness Program
• Defined benefit pension plan with indexed pension payments upon retirement (rrum.umontreal.ca)
• Life insurance and disability income insurance

WORK-LIFE BALANCE

• Up to two years of parental leave
• Reduced workload upon return from parental leave, until the child turns two
• Two on-campus childcare centres
• Summer camps and spring break camps at UdeM’s Sports and Fitness Centre
• Compassionate leave

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Research and study leave
• Research start-up funding
• French language training program
• University-level teaching skills development activities
• Professional development and sabbatical leave allowance program