"Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Cancer Biotherapeutics"

The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at The University of Western Ontario invites applications for a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Cancer Biotherapeutics. The successful candidate will be appointed to a full-time probationary (tenure-track) appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor or Associate Professor, probationary or tenured. The rank and tenure status will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. The successful candidate will be appointed to the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology with potential cross appointment(s) in other relevant departments.

We are seeking an innovative, ambitious, and collaborative early career researcher who will apply integrative approaches to develop novel cancer biotherapeutics, with the goal of translating discoveries into products and interventions that improve the survival and quality of life of cancer patients. Applicants should have demonstrated expertise in any emerging area of translational cancer research including but not limited to: (1) the analysis of patient-derived models using high-throughput technologies to elucidate oncogenic mechanisms and/or develop novel therapies; (2) the design of next-generation immunotherapeutics; or (3) nanomedicine and theranostics.

The successful candidate will hold a PhD or equivalent, have completed postdoctoral or equivalent training in a discipline relevant to cancer research, exhibit a strong record of peer-reviewed publications as assessed by the principles of DORA, and have high potential to acquire independent and collaborative grant support. The successful candidate should have an emerging track record of: (1) interdisciplinary collaborative research; (2) teaching and mentorship; and (3) the ability to establish working relationships with clinicians and other health professionals to develop research initiatives. They should be a recognized early career national or international leader as exemplified by invited lectures and/or conference symposia as appropriate for their discipline and career stage. Demonstrated ability to secure career-stage appropriate external peer-reviewed funding (e.g., CIHR, NIH) would be an asset. Successful candidates are expected to have a strong commitment to EDID principles and incorporate these into their research, teaching and/or mentorship.

The candidate will join a diverse cancer research community in London, including established multidisciplinary and translational cancer research groups in areas such as breast, prostate, ovarian, pancreatic, and head and neck cancer; as well as metastasis and immuno-oncology. These groups include researchers at Western’s main campus and those within the Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre, which also houses a patient-derived tumour organoid facility and living biobank, and a centralized Clinical Research Unit that manages high impact cancer clinical trials. The successful candidate would have access to all these facilities and be expected to interact with fundamental, translational, and clinical researchers at both sites.

This position is part of a larger initiative by Western University and the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry to build a cross-departmental, world-class program in molecular biotherapeutics and diagnostics that spans the continuum from discovery to first-in-human trials. Successful candidates will join recent faculty hires across multiple departments with expertise in bioinformatics, biotherapeutics, imaging, inflammation, and public and Indigenous health. They will have access to professionally-managed core facilities and research infrastructure that reflect a recent major investment and support research activities such as multimodal and single-cell imaging, translational neuroimaging, high-throughput metabolomics, proteomics and genomics, pre-clinical biotherapeutic production, pre-clinical modeling and animal facilities, CL2 and 3 facilities, and GMP production. In addition, our researchers are supported by the computational capacity in SHARCNET. It is anticipated that successful candidates will participate in this initiative by providing their critical expertise in this continuum and contribute to large-scale funding proposals in collaboration with clinician-scientists, basic scientists and facility directors to advance these research priorities.

In accordance with the regulations set for Tier 2 Canada Research Chairs (www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca), Tier 2 chairs are intended for exceptional emerging scholars (i.e., candidates must have less than 10 years of experience as an active researcher in their field at the time of nomination). Applicants who are more than 10 years from having earned their highest degree (and where career breaks exist, such as maternity, parental or extended sick leave, clinical training, etc.) may have their eligibility for a Tier 2 Chair assessed through the program’s Tier 2 justification process; please contact Research Development at The University of Western Ontario at ResearchWesternCRC@uwo.ca for more information. Please consult the Canada Research Chair website for full information, including further details on eligibility criteria. http://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/program-programme/nomination-mise_en_candidature-eng.aspx

The University of Western Ontario recognizes the potential impact that career interruptions can have on a candidate’s record of research achievement. Potential candidates are encouraged to explain within their application the impact that career interruptions have had on their record, and to submit a full career or extended CV.

The anticipated start date will be July 1, 2026 or as negotiated, and salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. The successful candidate will be expected to apply for a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in the first available competition after their appointment. Consideration of applications will begin on January 9, 2025 and will continue until the position is filled.

Applications will be reviewed by a multi-disciplinary committee and must include the following:

• A completed regular full-time faculty application form that can be found at the following link: (https://www.uwo.ca/facultyrelations/pdf/full-time-application-form.pdf).
• A cover letter addressing how your expertise fits this position and complements existing strengths at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry
• A detailed curriculum vitae
• A proposed research plan identifying significant contributions to the field of cancer biotherapeutics. In your statement, describe how your past contributions connect with your research plan and how your research plan will build research capacity at Western (up to five single -spaced pages, 1” margins and font size 12)
• A statement of your overall teaching and mentoring philosophies. This statement should include descriptions of past formal and informal mentorship experience, and plans for mentorship and training at Western (up to two single-spaced pages, 1” margins, font size 12). If available, summaries of teaching evaluations should be provided in addition to these two pages.
• A statement on how your track record and plans create an equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment for research, teaching and/or mentorship (up to one single-spaced page, 1” margins, font size 12)
• The names and email addresses of 3 academic referees.

The application package should be assembled into a single PDF document for submission to Dr. Lauren Flynn via email to anatomy@uwo.ca