The Department of Biology at Wilfrid Laurier University (Laurier) invites applications for a Tenure Track Faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor. We are seeking a Microbial Systems Biologist working with non-traditional experimental systems in the area of Environmental Sustainability to begin July 1, 2026, subject to budgetary approval. The Waterloo campus will be the primary location for this position; however, teaching responsibilities may include instruction at the Milton and Brantford campuses via in-person or virtual delivery.
Anticipated Salary Range: $90,000 to $140,000. Actual salary to be commensurate with experience.
The Department of Biology is a dynamic subunit within the Faculty of Science, with leading researchers in many fields and a commitment to building collaborative interdisciplinary research partnerships to address complex and diverse issues. Environmental Sustainability has been identified as an area of emerging research strength for the department and is one of the University’s strategic research themes. We seek to build capacity in this area, add expertise in non-traditional organismal models of systems biology and microbiome research, while also enhancing connections with our area of established research strengths.
Our ecosystems are being challenged by numerous anthropogenic stressors, including a changing climate, spread of invasive species, increasingly resilient/pathogenic microbes, and expanding human population. We are seeking an Assistant Professor using a fundamental systems biology and/or omics approach to study microscopic eukaryotes and/or prokaryotes in the context of rapid anthropogenic change. The use of technologies, such as metagenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, high-resolution microscopy, in combination with a focus on non-traditional (i.e., non-yeast/E. coli) microscopic model organisms would be highly desirable. Examples of priority areas under the systems biology focus may include, but are not limited to, studying of inter-organismal interactions, determining genetic and other variables that interact to determine microbiome assembly, and/or the impact of a changing environment on microbial systems in terrestrial and/or aquatic biomes. With this hiring, the Department of Biology will build capacity in microbial systems biology and further strengthen our strategic research themes.
The successful candidate is expected to contribute service to the University and academic community, and to scholarly and/or professional activities.
Qualifications
To be considered, applicants must possess a PhD in Biological Sciences, or a related discipline, with relevant post-doctoral experience in microbial systems biology related to environmental sustainability. The successful candidate will have a strong record of research productivity that demonstrates the potential to develop an independent, externally-funded research program.
In keeping with Laurier’s long-standing reputation for teaching excellence, the successful candidate will teach undergraduate courses in Biology, so evidence of past teaching and/or mentoring experience at this level would be an asset. The successful candidate will teach foundational courses in Biology that may complement our cell biology, molecular biology, genetics and/or microbiology-focused courses, depending on the applicant’s area of expertise. The development of new courses with systems biology approaches and omics-based methodologies would also be desirable to reinforce and expand our existing undergraduate offerings. The successful applicant’s research program will support the training of highly qualified personnel (HQP), notably at the graduate level (i.e., MSc and PhD students), and they will engage in other graduate teaching/mentoring opportunities by serving on advisory committees and contributing to graduate-level courses. The successful applicant will be expected to contribute to service to the university and their scholarly community. Finally, the successful candidate will demonstrate a commitment to advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility through their research agenda, teaching practices, mentorship, and/or service.
How to ApplyTo apply, applicants should submit:
- Cover letter;
- Detailed curriculum vitae;
- Statements of 1) Research and 2) Teaching and Training (5 pages combined). In a total of 5 pages, applicants should: i) introduce and contextualize the proposed research program, describe long and short-term research objectives, outline research methodologies (including instrumentation and infrastructure), describe impact and significance of current and proposed research, and highlight contributions to date (which may include non-traditional forms of scholarship); and, ii) outline teaching philosophy, experience and interests, and the HQP training philosophy. Applicants are also welcome to describe approaches that overcome barriers to research and teaching that they may have used in the past or will employ moving forward. Promotion of equity, diversity and inclusion through teaching, training or directly in research activities, where relevant, will be favourably taken into account in the hiring process.
- Using up to an additional ½ page, applicants may address any career interruptions or special circumstances that could have affected their record of research and teaching, in accordance with SSHRC/NSERC definitions and guidelines
- PDF copies of up to three scholarly publications that demonstrate contributions to the field; and a separate ½ page with a short statement (max. 350 words) for each describing the impact of the research.
- Contact information (name, address, phone, email) of three academic referees willing to provide letters of recommendation.
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, per Canadian immigration laws, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. ... Application packages should be combined into a single PDF document addressed to:
Dr. Matt Smith
Chair, Department of Biology
Wilfrid Laurier University
Email to [contact details available in the full listing].
Applicants should clearly identify that they are applying for the Microbial Systems Biologist position in the subject line of their email.
Deadline for submission is March 22, 2026, 11:59 p.m. EST.
