The establishment of a Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Multicellular Systems and Modelling represents a significant leap forward in biological research, opening up new in vitro avenues for groundbreaking discoveries. This position is crucial for fostering innovation and excellence in studying cellular and molecular mechanisms underpinning the complex nature of biological systems, with a focus on mechanisms of brain and cardiovascular systems. This strategic addition will enhance our capacity to address complex biological questions and foster collaboration across various fields of biology as well as interdepartmental collaborations.
Importantly, this CRC position aligns with the University of Ottawa’s Strategic Areas of Research, namely enabling lifelong health and wellness. Indeed, advanced cellular models can be applied to numerous fields of research, including brain and mental health, vascular and cardiovascular health, regeneration, infection and immunity in animals, and genetics and system biology of health and disease. One of the key benefits of advanced cellular models is their ability to mimic organismal physiology more accurately than traditional animal models, and we are seeking someone who can promote research that is both scientifically rigorous and ethically responsible.
Located on the unceded ancestral land of the Anishinaabe-Algonquin people, the University of Ottawa’s is in the National Capital Region and provides numerous opportunities for collaborations. The establishment of this chair would also have significant educational impacts by attracting and training the next generation of scientists in state-of-the-art cellular modelling techniques. Moreover, it would foster partnerships with industry, leading to the commercialization of new technologies and therapies, thus driving economic growth.
Tier 2 Chairs, tenable for five years and renewable once, are for exceptional emerging researchers, acknowledged by their peers as having the potential to lead in their field. For each Tier 2 Chair, the Canada Research Chairs (CRC) Program allocates to institutions $100,000 annually for five years, with an additional $20,000 annual research stipend for first-term Tier 2 Chairs.
Candidates should, at a minimum, be assistant or associate professors, or possess the necessary qualifications to be appointed to these levels. Candidates who are more than 10 years from their highest degree must contact the University of Ottawa directly for questions related to their potential eligibility for a Tier 2 Chair. The institution may nominate a professor or a researcher who is more than 10 years from their highest degree at the time of nomination and has experienced legitimate career interruptions (see acceptable justifications). In such cases, the institution must submit to the Secretariat a formal justification (using the Tier 2 Justification Screening Form), explaining why the nominee is still considered to be an emerging scholar.
The University recognizes the legitimate impact that leaves (e.g., parental leave, leave due to illness) can have on a candidate’s record of research achievement and that these leaves will be taken into careful consideration during the assessment process. New CRC nominees are also eligible for infrastructure support from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to help acquire state-of-the-art equipment essential to their work.
Selective hiring:
The University of Ottawa is committed to ensuring equity, diversity, and inclusion in the scholarly and leadership environments of our students, staff, and faculty members. In accordance with the University’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Action Plan, the selection will be limited to members of the four designated groups such as Indigenous peoples, racialized individuals, persons with disabilities, women and gender equity-seeking groups as defined in the CRC Program method for establishing equity targets and the Employment Equity Act. Candidates from these groups who wish to be considered for this position must complete the confidential self-identification form during the application process online (fill the Employment Equity Questionnaire on the web portal). The objective of this measure is to increase the representation of the four designated groups in the allocation of Canada Research Chair positions. Internal candidates are not eligible.