Tier II CIHR Canada Research Chair in Functional Tissue Biomechanics

Position description and associated responsibilities

The successful candidate will establish and lead an externally funded, transdisciplinary research program that complements and enhances existing strengths in biomechanics research across the faculties of Veterinary Medicine, Medicine (Cumming School of Medicine), Engineering (Schulich School of Engineering), and Kinesiology. The research program will have a veterinary-centered focus on advancing musculoskeletal health in animal species while generating knowledge with translational relevance to human medicine. Areas of interest include understanding how mechanical loading influences the structure, function, adaptation, and degeneration of load-bearing tissues, including cartilage, bone, tendon, and ligament, and how these processes contribute to musculoskeletal health, injury, and disease.

The Chair will leverage innovative approaches in biomechanics, mechanobiology, computational modeling, imaging, molecular sciences, and related disciplines to link functional measures of joint and tissue mechanics with biological markers of adaptation and disease. The research program is expected to embrace a One Health perspective, using naturally occurring disease in veterinary patients to advance fundamental understanding, improve animal health outcomes, and inform new approaches to the prevention, diagnosis, rehabilitation, and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders in both animals and humans.

Building on the University of Calgary's unique strengths in veterinary medicine, comparative health research, and musculoskeletal science, the Chair will contribute to establishing UCalgary as a global leader in veterinary-driven musculoskeletal discovery.

Position requirements, qualifications, skills and achievements required for the appointment

Applicants may come from a range of disciplines, including veterinary medicine, biomechanics, mechanobiology, musculoskeletal biology, biomedical engineering, computational biology, or related fields, and should demonstrate a commitment to collaborative and translational research.

Candidates must hold a PhD (or equivalent) in a relevant area of biomechanics research. Postdoctoral training experience is strongly preferred. Applicants should demonstrate a record of impactful research appropriate to their career stage, evidenced by high-quality publications and the potential to secure external research funding. The selected applicant will join the UCVM, with a joint appointment in CSM with full membership in the McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health. The research environment prioritizes transdisciplinary research initiatives.

The selected applicant needs to demonstrate an ability and willingness to build connections with investigators across UCVM and the University of Calgary in such initiatives. In addition to fostering a thriving training program, the selected candidate will participate in undergraduate, DVM program and graduate level teaching.

Experience in teaching and innovative educational approaches, course development and coordination, and a demonstrated record of impact in undergraduate and graduate teaching will be an asset. The selected applicant will also have opportunities to be involved in administrative and service activities that affect the UCVM community.

Tier II Chairs are intended for exceptional emerging scholars who, at the time of nomination, have been active researchers in their field for fewer than 10 years. In accordance with the Canada Research Chairs Program's eligibility criteria, candidates are expected to be within 10 years of holding their first independent academic research-related appointment. An independent academic research-related appointment is a university faculty appointment that engages in research that is not under the direction of another individual and authorizes the researcher to supervise or co-supervise the research of students and/or postdoctoral fellows.

Candidates who exceed the 10-year eligibility window but have experienced eligible career interruptions, such as maternity, parental, or extended sick leave, clinical training, or other recognized delays, may have their eligibility assessed through the program's Tier II justification process. Research interruptions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., laboratory or institutional closures) are recognized as eligible delays and may be credited at twice the amount of time beginning March 1, 2020. For more information, please contact UCalgary's Office of Research Services at crc@ucalgary.ca. Additional details about the Canada Research Chairs Program, including eligibility criteria, are available on the Government of Canada's Canada Research Chairs website (http://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/home-accueil-eng.aspx).

Application instructions

Please apply online via the 'Apply Now' link on the UCalgary Careers website. Please be aware that the application process allows for only four attachments. Your four application attachments should be organized to contain the following:

• Cover letter and curriculum vitae, including the name and contact information of three referees
• Statement of research interests, accomplishments, and vision (maximum 2 pages)
• Statement of teaching philosophy promoting student learning and success. This can include information on teaching experience, training, and mentoring inside and outside the classroom at the undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral levels. (maximum 2 pages)
• Statement on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (maximum 1 page)

Questions may be addressed to: Dr. Jeroen De Buck (jdebuck@ucalgary.ca)

Closing date: November 8, 2026.

The University of Calgary recognizes that candidates have varying career paths and that career interruptions can be part of an excellent academic record. Candidates are encouraged but not required to provide any relevant information about their experience and/or career interruptions to allow for a fair assessment of their application. Selection committees have been instructed to give careful consideration to, and be sensitive to the impact of career interruptions, when assessing the candidate's research productivity.

The University of Calgary adheres to the principles of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) and strives to evaluate research impact responsibly and inclusively by explicitly considering discipline-appropriate methods for demonstrating the quality, significance, and societal impact of a broad range of research contributions.

Information about UCVM

UCVM is a highly research active faculty with seven organized research groups. UCVM is consistently ranked among the Top 35 international veterinary schools, with an increasing sponsored research funding. Currently, UCVM is home to 12 research chairs, including five Canada Research Chairs. UCVM has approximately 100 faculty members, 120 staff, 130 graduate students, 35 post-doctoral fellows, and 15 advanced clinical trainees. UCVM's DVM program provides a comprehensive general veterinary education to 100 students per year. Descriptions of the Faculty, its programs and research groups can be found at vet.ucalgary.ca.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy (https://www.ucalgary.ca/indigenous-strategy/) ii' taa'poh'to'p committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments (https://www.ucalgary.ca/provost/strategic-initiatives/office-institutional-commitments) https://www.ucalgary.ca/equity-diversity-inclusion (oicteam@ucalgary.ca) and requests for accommodations can be sent to People & Culture (hrhire@ucalgary.ca).

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. In this connection, at the time of your application, please answer the following question: Are you a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada? (Yes/No)

The terms and conditions of this appointment, including salary, are governed by the collective agreement between the Faculty Association of the University of Calgary and the Governors of the University of Calgary. Detailed information is available here (https://www.ucalgary.ca/hr/work-compensation/collective-agreements-and-handbooks/tucfa-collective-agreement).

For a listing of all academic opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Academic Careers website (http://careers.ucalgary.ca/pages/academic-careers). For more information about the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, click here (https://vet.ucalgary.ca/).

About the University of Calgary

UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups (https://ucalgary.ca/news/ucalgary-top-startup-creator-amongst-research-institutions-canada). Start something (https://www.ucalgary.ca/startsomething) today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

The university's commitment to the Indigenous Strategy is evident through the oversight of 18 Elders serving on the Circle of Advisors and the many unit-based circles working towards implementation of the strategy including the Faculty Advisory Circle and teams such as the Office of Indigenous Engagement, the Writing Symbols Lodge, and the Indigenous Research Support Team. Many Indigenous-based events and processes are impacting curriculum, programming and polices at the University of Calgary.

About Calgary, Alberta

Calgary is one of the world's cleanest cities and has been named one of the world's most livable cities for years. Calgary is a city of leaders - in business, community, philanthropy and volunteerism. Calgarians benefit from a growing number of world-class dining and cultural events and enjoy more days of sunshine per year than any other major Canadian city. Calgary is less than an hour's drive from the majestic Rocky Mountains and boasts the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway network in North America.

With a growing urban Indigenous population of approximately 50,000 people, there are several Indigenous organizations and many events and ceremonies taking place in the city throughout the year.

Posting Date: September 22, 2026
Closing Date: November 8, 2026

To apply, visit: https://apptrkr.com/9852292