Job title: Canada Research Chair (CRC) Tier II in the Biochemistry of Infectious Disease
Position code: 23_C_CHEM_M 
Date posted: September 27, 2024
Application deadline: January 5, 2025
Advertised until: Position is filled

Position description:

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the Faculty of Arts and Science at Concordia University invites applications for a Canada Research Chair (CRC) Tier II in the Biochemistry of Infectious Disease. This is a research-intensive tenure-track faculty position, and we are seeking candidates who will develop a research program in biochemistry focusing on any aspect of antimicrobial resistance or microbial pathogenesis. This may include enzymological aspects of antibiotic resistance, the development of novel strategies to inhibit enzymes critical to infectious disease, the study of enzymes and enzymatic processes implicated in infectious disease, and/or an interest in directed evolution and the design and optimization of enzymes from existing and novel biosynthetic pathways. Research areas of interest related to the position could include enzymology, protein structure/function, protein-protein interactions implicated in human disease, and protein folding/misfolding processes implicated in human disease. Research approaches may be experimental, computational, or a combination thereof. 

Qualifications and assets 

Candidates must have a Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry or a related discipline, relevant postdoctoral experience and demonstrated research expertise in at least one of the research areas of interest. The successful candidate will provide evidence of a superior publication record and a demonstrated ability to attract substantial external funding for an evolving research program, taking into full consideration career stage, career breaks and special circumstances. The candidate also will have a strong commitment to undergraduate and graduate education and mentoring, the potential to attract and retain excellent and diverse trainees, strong leadership potential, and the potential to achieve international recognition as required by the CRC Tier II program including, but not limited to, invitations to speak at scientific conferences and interviews and knowledge transfer activities. 

Candidates eligible for Tier II chair positions must be excellent emerging scholars within 10 years of their highest degree at the time of nomination (exclusive of career interruptions).  Potential Tier II candidates who are more than 10 years from their highest degree should take note that certain career interruptions may still make them eligible for nomination. Potential candidates are encouraged to submit a formal justification by means of the Tier II Justification Assessment Form, which will be considered in the review of applications.  Please consult the Canada Research Chairs website for full program information, including further details on eligibility criteria and acceptable justifications to the extension of the eligibility term.

Notwithstanding the above and irrespective of their submission of a formal justification, candidates are encouraged to share any career interruptions or personal circumstances that may have had an impact on their career goals (such as the decision to have a family, eldercare, illness, and so forth) in their letter of application. These will be carefully considered in the assessment process. The Department values diversity among its faculty and strongly encourages applications from women and members of underrepresented groups. Concordia University is an English-language institution of higher learning at which the primary language of instruction and research is English. Since this position supports academic functions of the university, proficiency in English is required           

How to Apply 

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; Canadians and Permanent Residents will be given priority. To comply with the Government of Canada’s reporting requirements, the University is obliged to gather information about applicants’ status as either Permanent Residents of Canada or Canadian citizens. While applicants need not identify their country of origin or current citizenship, all applicants must include one of the following statements: 

Yes, I am a citizen or permanent resident of Canada 

or 

No, I am not a citizen or permanent resident of Canada

Application packages should be addressed to Dr Peter Pawelek, Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and must include a cover letter clearly identifying the title and position code (23_C_CHEM_M), a comprehensive curriculum vitae, a 5-page description of their planned research program highlighting its innovation, a 1-page summary of their most significant research contributions to date, a 2-page statement of teaching and training philosophy and interests, and three letters of support. Applications should be submitted electronically to chembiochem.ac@concordia.ca, with the subject heading CRC Application by January 5, 2025, but will continue to be reviewed until the position is filled. The appointment is expected to commence in August 2025. All inquiries regarding this position can be directed to Dr Peter Pawelek at chair.chemistryandbiochemistry@concordia.ca.

Concordia University is strongly committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community, and recognizes the importance of inclusion in achieving excellence in teaching and research. As part of this commitment to providing our students with the dynamic, innovative, and inclusive educational environment of a Next‐Generation University, we require all applicants to articulate in their cover letter how their background, as well as lived and professional experiences and expertise have prepared them to teach in ways that are relevant for a diverse, multicultural contemporary Canadian society. 

Possible examples to demonstrate a diverse experience may include, but are not limited to: 

• teaching about underrepresented populations 
• mentoring students from underrepresented backgrounds 
• relevant community work 
• offering or organizing educational programming 
• participation in training and workshops 

All applicants will receive an email invitation to complete a short equity survey. Participation in the survey is voluntary and no identifying information about candidates will be shared with hiring committees. Candidates who wish to self-identify as a member of an underrepresented group to the hiring committee may do so in their cover letter or by writing directly to the contact person indicated in this posting.