"Queen’s National Scholar (QNS) in Non-Human Primate Neuro-Artificial Intelligence (AI)"

Centre for Neuroscience Studies

The Centre for Neuroscience Studies in Queen’s Health Sciences at Queen’s University invites applications for a tenured Queen’s National Scholar (QNS) position specializing in Non-Human Primate Neuro-Artificial Intelligence (AI). This position is at the rank of Associate or Full Professor. The preferred start date for this position is July 1, 2026, or earlier.

Further information on the Queen’s National Scholar Program can be found on the website of the Office of the Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic): Queen’s National Scholars Program.

The successful candidate will join a world-class research environment built upon expertise in systems neuroscience and behavioural neurophysiology. Queen’s University has developed a state-of-the-art non-human primate (NHP) research program and facility. The successful candidate will add to this expertise and help build a new intersection of neuroscience and artificial intelligence. Modern machine learning and AI techniques now enable unprecedented insights into brain dynamics and function, while neuroscience continues to foster new bio-inspired approaches to intelligent computation. This position will play a leading role in advancing Queen’s internationally recognized (NHP) research program, integrating experimental and computational approaches to investigate brain function and dysfunction. The researcher will be part of a vibrant, interdisciplinary ecosystem that spans fundamental neuroscience, AI, and translational health research across the Centre for Neuroscience Studies (CNS), the Connected Minds CFREF program, the Ingenuity Labs Research Institute, and Queen’s high-performance computing infrastructure.

Ideal candidates will have a strong record of research excellence at the intersection of NHP neurophysiology, computational modelling and AI. Expertise may include systems-level investigations of perception, cognition, or motor control; application of machine learning to neural data analysis and neural decoding; the development of biologically grounded computational frameworks linking natural and artificial intelligence. Candidates whose work advances our understanding of adaptive behaviour, decision-making, learning or clinical translation through the combination of experimental, theoretical, and technological innovation are particularly encouraged to apply. The successful applicant will be expected to establish an innovative, externally funded research program that integrates experimental NHP neuroscience with developing and/or applying interpretable and trustworthy AI, and collaborates and translates across disciplines to advance Queen’s leadership in NHP research and Neuro-AI.

Concurrently, the Centre is conducting a search for a Director, Centre for Neurosciences Studies.

This position is eligible for additional Connected Minds support. The overarching goals of Connected Minds is to understand the interaction of human and intelligent technologies, predict how intelligent technologies affect society, and develop new technologies that promote a healthy, just society. Connected Minds aims to co-create socially responsible, community-engaged research that leads to innovative technologies, policies, and regulations that optimize benefits and mitigate harms, with special attention to questions relating to equity-deserving groups and Indigenous People. More information about Connected Minds can be found here. Should the successful applicant’s eligibility for this position fit with Connected Minds, they may receive elevated start-up and ongoing research funds annually until 2030, substantial relocation funding, and other opportunities available through the Connected Minds Research Collaborative.

Qualifications

As a Queen’s National Scholar, the successful candidate will demonstrate excellence and leadership in research and will clearly demonstrate the following attributes:

• Be an outstanding and innovative world-class researcher whose accomplishments have been recognized internationally and made a major impact in their field demonstrated through peer-assessed publications, and diverse forms of scholarly impact.
• Have a strong record of obtaining peer-reviewed competitive grant funding from external bodies.
• Have an established (or proposed), original, innovative research program of the highest quality with evidence of strong collaborations/interdisciplinary scholarship.
• Evidence that the research program aligns with institutional and/or faculty priorities and/or existing or emerging areas of research strength. Further information on research priorities at Queen’s is available in the Queen’s Strategy and the Queen’s Strategic Research Plan.
• A superior record of attracting and supervising graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and ability to attract, develop and retain excellent trainees, students, and future researchers.
• Clear evidence of embedding best practices related to Indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, and accessibility (I-EDIAA) into the research and learning environment.

The diverse backgrounds of applicants and the type of scholarship appropriate to their research areas, as well as the diverse range of scholarly methodologies and ways of measuring impact will be taken into account when assessing the quality of the scholarly or creative work. Candidates will be evaluated using the principles of the Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) and with attention to the diverse ways excellence can be demonstrated. Candidates must have a PhD or equivalent degree completed at the start date of the appointment. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Institution

Queen’s University has a long history of scholarship, discovery, and innovation that shapes our collective knowledge and helps address some of the world’s most pressing concerns. Home to more than 25,000 students, Queen’s offers a comprehensive research-intensive environment. Diverse perspectives and a wealth of experience enrich our students and faculty while a core part of our mission is to engage in international learning and research.

From Nobel Prize-winning research exploring the building blocks of the universe to cancer care and treatment to sustainable technologies, Queen’s University is tackling humanity’s most pressing challenges.

A member of the U15 group of Canadian research universities, Queen’s is home to a vibrant research community that includes 46 Canada Research Chairs, two Canada Excellence Research Chairs, and over 20 research institutes who work in partnership with communities, governments, and industry to advance research and innovation, making a measured impact on Canada and the world.

Queen’s is in the top 200 of the QS World University Rankings. In 2025, for the fifth straight year, Queen’s ranked among the global top 10 in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings. THE Impact Rankings, an international ranking of universities that are advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals within and beyond their local communities. Queen's placed sixth worldwide and first in Canada out of over 2,300 universities in more than 120 countries.

At Queen’s University, we are committed to advancing Indigenization, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Anti‑Racism (I‑EDIAA) as core priorities that shape our workplace and research culture. We recognize that diversity drives innovation, strengthens collaboration, and helps remove barriers so that everyone can thrive. Our eight employee resource groups (ERGs) play a vital role in fostering belonging, amplifying diverse voices, and supporting employees across the university. Faculty and their dependents are eligible for an extensive benefits package that includes prescription drug coverage, vision care, dental care, long‑term disability insurance, life insurance, and access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program. Employees also participate in a pension plan, and tuition assistance is available for qualifying employees, their spouses, and dependent children. Queen’s values families and provides a “top up” to government parental leave benefits for eligible employees on maternity/parental leave, as well as partial reimbursement for eligible daycare expenses. Full details are outlined in the Queen’s–QUFA Collective Agreement, and more information on employee benefits can be found through Queen’s Human Resources.

The City

The University is situated on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe, in historic Kingston on the shores of Lake Ontario. Queen’s is an integral part of the Kingston community, with the campus nestled in the core of the city, only a 10-minute walk downtown.

Kingston’s residents enjoy an outstanding quality of life with a wide range of cultural and creative opportunities, with access to many natural areas and proximity to vibrant First Nations Communities including Tyendinaga and Akwesasne. Kingston is a unique Canadian city of 125,000 with a distinct blend of history, recreation, industry, and learning. Kingston offers unique waterfront living with many recreational opportunities. It is within a two-and-a-half-hour drive (two-hour train ride) to the commercial, industrial and political hubs of Toronto, Montreal, and the nation’s capital, Ottawa, and a thirty-minute drive from the international bridge linking Ontario and upstate New York. The city is also the origin of the historic Rideau Canal system – a UNESCO International Heritage site, and is close to Frontenac Provincial Park, the Thousand Islands National Park, and the Frontenac Arch UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. TheQueen’s University Biological Station, north of the city, encompasses 34 km2 of diverse lands, affording premier learning and research opportunities. VisitInclusive Queen’s for information on equity, diversity and inclusion resources and initiatives.

How to Apply

The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Queen’s is strongly committed to employment equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace and encourages applications from Black, racialized/visible minority, Indigenous people, women, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQ+ persons.

We recognize that certain circumstances, including career interruptions, caregiving responsibilities, health conditions, or systemic barriers, may affect a nominee’s record of research achievement. Applicants are encouraged to provide relevant information to contextualize their research record.

Queen’s is committed to providing support and accommodation for applicants with disabilities at all stages of the recruitment processes. If you require accommodation for submitting your application or during the interview process, please contact Dr. Doug Munoz, Chair, at doug.munoz@queensu.ca

In accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority, including any qualified individuals who have a valid legal work status in Canada. Please indicate in your application if you have a valid legal work status in Canada. Applications from all qualified candidates will be considered in the applicant pool.

Those interested in this position should submit a complete application package, including the following documents:

• a cover letter including whether or not you have a valid legal work status in Canada;
• a current Curriculum Vitae (including a list of publications (publications with students should be clearly indicated), awards, grants (secured and pending), and other evidence of scholarly impact);
• a summary of the proposed research program and research vision for the next 7 years, including how equity, diversity and inclusion has been incorporated into the research design and research team, and the ways in which the program is making an impact in the field;
• a statement of teaching interests and experience, including a summary of Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) supervision and mentorship, and a statement on commitment to the facilitation and promotion of Indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, and accessibility (I-EDIAA) in the student and trainee environment; and,
• Contact information for three potential people who could provide references upon request. Referees will be contacted only for shortlisted candidates, with advance notice.

Names and contact information (including email) of three referees, who will be asked to provide letters of reference if you are selected for further consideration. Review of applications will begin on January 30, 2026, and will continue to be reviewed until a suitable candidate is identified.

Applicants are asked to send all documents in their application packages electronically as PDFs to the attention of Dr. Doug Munoz, Chair, at doug.munoz@queensu.ca. Academic staff at Queen’s University are governed by a Collective Agreement between the University and the Queen’s University Faculty Association (QUFA).