Assistant Professor - Plant Synthetic Biology and Metabolic Engineering for Human Health

Date Posted: 10/17/2024
Closing Date: 12/02/2024, 11:59PM ET
Req ID: 39101
Job Category: Faculty - Tenure Stream (continuing)
Faculty/Division: The University of Toronto Scarborough
Department: The Department of Biological Sciences
Campus: University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC)

Description:

The Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) invites applications for a full-time tenure stream position in the field of Plant Synthetic Biology and Metabolic Engineering for Human Health. The appointment will be at the rank of Assistant Professor, with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2025.

This search aligns with the University’s commitment to strategically and proactively promote diversity among our community members (Statement on Equity, Diversity & Excellence). Recognizing that Black, Indigenous, and other Racialized communities have experienced inequities that have developed historically and are ongoing, we strongly welcome and encourage candidates from those communities to apply.

Candidates must have earned a PhD degree in Biology or a related area (e.g., Plant Biochemistry, Plant Molecular Biology, Plant Biotechnology, Metabolic Engineering and/or Synthetic Biology), a minimum of two years of postdoctoral experience at the time of the application, and a demonstrated record of excellence in research and teaching.

We seek candidates whose research and teaching interests complement and enhance our existing departmental strengths in plant biology and health-related research. Applicants for this position must have research expertise in plant synthetic biology and metabolic engineering with a focus on the discovery, production or application of plant metabolites relevant to human health and nutrition, or with a focus on using plants as platforms to produce nutrients, bioactive compounds, pharmaceuticals, plant-based vaccines, etc., to improve human health. The successful candidate will be expected to pursue innovative and independent research, and to establish an outstanding, competitive, and externally funded research program. The candidate is expected to build strong connections with the new Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health ( SAMIH ).

Candidates must provide evidence of research excellence which can be demonstrated by a record of publications in top-ranked and field-relevant journals or forthcoming publications meeting high international standards, the submitted research statement, presentations at significant conferences, awards and accolades, and strong endorsements from referees.

Evidence of excellence in teaching will be demonstrated by teaching accomplishments, and the teaching dossier, including a teaching statement, sample course materials, and teaching evaluations or other evidence of superior performance in teaching-related activities submitted as part of the application, as well as strong letters of reference. Other teaching-related activities include performance as a teaching assistant or course instructor, experience leading successful workshops or seminars, student mentorship and a commitment to mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students.
 

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. We seek candidates who value diversity and whose research, teaching and service bear out our commitment to equity. Candidates are also asked to submit a one- or two-page statement of contributions to equity and diversity, which might cover topics such as (but not limited to): research or teaching that incorporates a focus on underrepresented communities, the development of inclusive pedagogies, or the mentoring of students from underrepresented groups.

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
 

The University of Toronto Scarborough is an international leader in biological research and education, and the Department of Biological Sciences enjoys strong ties to other units within the University of Toronto. The successful candidate will be expected to participate actively in the Graduate Department of Cell and Systems Biology at the University of Toronto, to maintain an active research program centered at UTSC, and to foster and facilitate inclusivity while working at one of Canada’s most diverse institutions. At UTSC, the new faculty member will have access to several core research facilities including the Plant Growth Facility and Greenhouse, UTSC Vivarium, the Centre for the Neurobiology of Stress imaging facility in the Department of Biological Sciences, and the chemical and analytical facility TRACES in the Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences. The new faculty will have access to the Centre for the Analysis of Genome Evolution and Function in the Department of Cell and System Biology and to the University of Toronto SciNet, which provides high performance computing resources to the research community.

The Department of Biological Sciences offers a comprehensive undergraduate biology curriculum delivered through innovative teaching practices that covers diverse teaching areas, from molecular to conservation biology. Our mission is to increase the fundamental understanding of the natural world, while ensuring these insights have positive impacts on sustainability and population health, and we are committed to creating a diverse welcoming scientific community where everyone feels safe, comfortable participating, and has the necessary support to thrive. This position will be central to our mission. 

All qualified candidates are invited to apply online by clicking the link below. Applicants must submit a cover letter; four pages updated CV; a two-page research statement outlining current and future research interest; a recent writing sample; and a teaching dossier including a two-page teaching statement, sample course materials, and teaching evaluations, or evidence of superior performance in other teaching-related activities as listed above; as well as an EDI statement as described above.

Applicants must provide the name and contact information of three references. The University of Toronto’s recruiting tool will automatically solicit and collect letters of reference from each referee the day after an application is submitted. Applicants remain responsible for ensuring that referees submit recent letters (on letterhead, dated and signed) by the closing date. More details on the automatic reference letter collection, including timelines, are available in the candidate FAQ.

Submission guidelines can be found at http://uoft.me/how-to-apply. Your CV and cover letter should be uploaded into the dedicated fields. Please combine additional application materials into one or two files in PDF/MS Word format. If you have any questions about this position, please contact the Assistant to the Chair, Vanessa Melo at chairadminbio.utsc@utoronto.ca

All application materials, including recent reference letters, must be received by December 2, 2024.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Diversity Statement
The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see http://uoft.me/UP.

Accessibility Statement
The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.

The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.

If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact uoft.careers@utoronto.ca.