Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Biological Engineering and Biomanufacturing

Job title: Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Biological Engineering and Biomanufacturing
Position code: 25-C-FAS-GCS-O
Date posted: April 4, 2025
Application deadline: May 14, 2025
Advertised until: Position is filled
Date revised: April 14, 2025

Position description

Concordia University invites applications for a strategic, research-intensive Canada Excellence Research Chair in Biological Engineering and Biomanufacturing.  The ideal candidate is an outstanding established researcher and proven leader who will be positioned within our existing research ecosystem encompassing Biological Engineering and Biomanufacturing expertise and state-of-the art facilities including the Genome Foundry, the Bioprocessing Centre, the Centre for Microscopy and Cellular Imaging, Centre for Structural and Functional Genomics, the Centre for Biological Applications of Mass Spectrometry, and the School of Health. The CERC program supports Canadian Universities in building on Canada’s growing reputation as a global leader in research and innovation. The program awards world-renowned researchers and their teams up to $8 million CAD over eight years to establish ambitious research programs at Canadian universities.

Biological Engineering and Biomanufacturing technologies are poised to transform many sectors including agriculture, human health, chemicals, and energy, leading to significant global economic impacts over the next few decades. The CERC in Biological Engineering and Biomanufacturing research program leverages an integrated “blueprint to commercial-ready bioprocess” research platform to pursue important targets in multiple sectors of central importance to the Canadian economy, along with developing the enabling technologies and building blocks that will drive the Canadian biomanufacturing innovations of tomorrow. Such targets may include: (1) Sustainable food production systems, (2) Net-zero carbon chemicals and materials designs, (3) Engineering next generation therapeutics for precision health. 

This position is jointly sponsored through the Faculty of Arts and Science and the Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science. The successful candidate will be offered a conditional position at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor and will work with the university to prepare the formal CERC nomination package according to the CERC program guidelines. The candidate will be appointed to one department or cross-appointed across multiple departments which may include Biology (Faculty of Arts and Science), Chemistry and Biochemistry (Faculty of Arts and Science), or Chemical and Materials Engineering (Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science). The candidate will demonstrate excellent research productivity, the capacity to develop an outstanding research program in Biological Engineering and Bioprocessing and the potential to attract significant external research funding. Concordia University is strongly committed to achieving equity, diversity and inclusion throughout the institution and recognizes the value of achieving inclusive excellence in both research and teaching contexts.

Qualifications and assets 

Applicants must be full professors or associate professors expected to be promoted to full professor within one or two years of the nomination. Alternatively, if they come from outside the academic sector, nominees must have the qualifications necessary to be appointed at these levels. Applicants must have an established, internationally renowned research profile with evidence of peer-recognized achievements, and the demonstrated ability to attract and mentor excellent graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. The successful applicant will demonstrate a sustained, externally funded research program along with leadership skills that integrate research strengths, knowledge mobilization and generate measurable impact. Concordia University requires that applicants for this position have PhD in a relevant in a field relevant to Biological Engineering or Biomanufacturing. Potential academic backgrounds can include but are not limited to: cell and molecular biology, biochemistry, synthetic biology, human health, and biomanufacturing and bioprocess engineering. Expertise in computational approaches related to these fields is considered an asset.  Candidates must provide evidence for the potential for outstanding research, training, and teaching contributions and a demonstrated commitment to supporting equitable and inclusive research and learning environments. The university values diversity among its faculty and strongly encourages applications from those who will contribute to that profile. 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. Working knowledge of French, including reading and grading student work in French, is an asset.         

Candidates are encouraged to share any career interruptions or personal circumstances that may have impacted their career goals (such as the decision to have a family, eldercare, illness, COVID-19 pandemic, etc.) in their letter of application. These will be carefully considered in the assessment process. Please consult the Canada Excellence Research Chairs website for full program information.

How to Apply 

The application package should be addressed to Dr. Aaron Johnson, Associate Vice-President Strategic Institutional Initiatives, and should be submitted via email to cerc2026@concordia.ca by May 14, 2025. Applications will continue to be reviewed until the position is filled. 

The complete application package should include: 

1. Cover letter clearly identifying the title and position code (25-C-FAS-GCS-O);
2. Curriculum vitae; 
3. Research statement;  
4. Teaching statement;
5. Equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility (EDIA) statement;
6. Contact information for three referees

The cover letter should describe the candidate’s qualifications, notable accomplishments, career trajectory, including any interruptions. The curriculum vitae should outline the candidate’s education, work history, awards/scholarships, research funding, publications, presentations and courses taught. The research statement (2 pages, single-spaced, 12 pt font) should describe the candidate’s program of research and three most important research contributions. The teaching statement (one page, single-spaced,12 pt font) should describe the candidate’s teaching and mentoring philosophy, and the courses taught. Documents showing teaching effectiveness (e.g. course evaluations) may be appended. The EDIA statement (one page, single-spaced, 12 pt font) should describe diversity of experiences and how the candidate plans to support and further promote equitable, diverse and inclusive research and teaching environment. 

The CERC program imposes no restrictions on nominees with regard to nationality or country of residence, however, to comply with the Government of Canada’s (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) 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

Concordia University is strongly committed to fostering 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 a dynamic, innovative, and inclusive educational environment of a Next‐Generation University, we ask all applicants to articulate in their cover letter how their background, along with their 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 
• committee work  
• offering or organizing educational programming 
• participation in training and workshops 

All applicants will receive an email invitation to complete a brief 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 may do so in their cover letter or by directly contacting the equity office (equity@concordia.ca).

Adaptive Measures 

Applicants who anticipate requiring adaptive measures throughout any stage of the recruitment process may contact, in confidence, Orphendy Charles at Orphendy.Charles@concordia.ca and/or the equity office at: equity@concordia.ca.