Sessional Lecturer - PHY2709HS - Quantitative Biology of Systems, Organisms, and Populations

Date Posted: 06/17/2025
Req ID: 43616
Faculty/Division: Faculty of Arts & Science
Department: Dept of Physics
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)

Description:

Course number and title: Sessional Lecturer – PHY2709HS – Quantitative Biology of Systems, Organisms, and Populations

Course description: Life is sustained by fluxes, be it of matter, energy, or information. This foundational principle serves as the cornerstone for the graduate-level course, "Statistical Dynamics of Systems, Organisms, and Populations." In this course, students will explore the intricate interplay between biological entities and their dynamic environments, utilizing statistical tools to unravel the underlying patterns and principles governing these fluxes. The curriculum will delve into the statistical mechanics of biological systems, investigating how fluctuations and uncertainties at the molecular and cellular level cascade through organisms and populations. By combining theoretical frameworks with practical applications, students will develop a comprehensive understanding of how statistical dynamics can illuminate the emergent behaviors, adaptability, and resilience observed in living systems. Through hands-on projects and case studies, participants will gain the skills to quantify and model the high dimensionality and non-linearity inherent in biology, ultimately preparing them to contribute to advancements in fields across multiple scales from protein folding to microbial communities, from tissue formation to organismal physiology.

Estimated course enrolment: 15 students

Estimated TA support: TBA hours (contingent upon enrolment)

Class schedule (Lectures): 2 lecture hours per week, schedule TBD.

The delivery method for this course is currently in-person.  Please note that, in keeping with current circumstances, the course delivery method may change as determined by the Faculty or the Department.

Sessional dates of appointment: January 1, 2026 – April 30, 2026

Salary:

Pay for half course, vacation pay included:

Sessional Lecturer I: $9,820.70
Sessional Lecturer I Long Term: $10,510. 04
Sessional Lecturer II: $10,510.04
Sessional Lecturer II Long Term: $10,760.28
Sessional Lecturer III: $10,760.28
Sessional Lecturer III Long Term: $11,030.36

Please note that should rates stipulated in the collective agreement vary from rates stated in this posting, the rates stated in the collective agreement shall prevail.

Minimum qualifications: 

• PhD in Physics or a closely related field
• At least 3 years research experience in the field of biological physics
• Demonstrated excellence in teaching at the University level

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Preference will be given to individuals with prior experience and demonstrated ability in teaching a similar course

Description of duties: 

• Coordination of a graduate course
• Preparation and delivery of lectures in this course
• Supervision and training of teaching assistant(s) assigned to course, including overseeing the TAs DDAH forms
• Preparation, supervision and grading of tests and examinations in accordance with University regulations; submission of final grades
• Providing scheduled office hours for academic counseling of students

Application instructions:

Applicants must submit an updated curriculum vitae, evidence of teaching in the relevant area (including student evaluations, if available), and the CUPE 3902 Unit 3 application form located here:  https://uoft.me/CUPE-3902-Unit-3-Application-Form as a combined pdf to the Undergraduate Coordinator (physics.ugprogram@utoronto.ca), Department of Physics, University of Toronto. All applicants must have a valid e-mail address. Only applications submitted via email by the posted deadline will be considered.

Closing Date: 07/10/2025, 11:59PM EDT
**

This job is posted in accordance with the CUPE 3902 Unit 3 Collective Agreement. 

It is understood that some announcements of vacancies are tentative, pending final course determinations and enrolment. Should rates stipulated in the collective agreement vary from rates stated in this posting, the rates stated in the collective agreement shall prevail.  

Preference in hiring is given to qualified individuals advanced to the rank of Sessional Lecturer II or Sessional Lecturer III in accordance with Article 14:12 of the CUPE 3902 Unit 3 collective agreement.

Please note: Undergraduate or graduate students and postdoctoral fellows of the University of Toronto are covered by the CUPE 3902 Unit 1 collective agreement rather than the Unit 3 collective agreement, and should not apply for positions posted under the Unit 3 collective agreement.

Candidates who are members of Indigenous. Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity-deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the position.