Description
The candidate will conduct experimental work in quantitative cellular and/or systems level biophysics,
seeking insight into the physical mechanisms underpinning the complex nature of biological systems.
The ideal candidate has an internationally competitive research program on neural and cardiac cells and
their interconnection, with possible links to other cell-types and the cellular connectome. Candidates
whose program lies more in one area will also be considered, especially if planning to explore brain and
heart interactions through a biophysical lens. The scope of the search spans from cellular mechanics and
molecular dynamics, excitability and energy transduction in single cells, circuits, and tissues, to
biophysical interactions between organoids and associated regulatory mechanisms. The Chair will open
new in vitro or in vivo avenues for groundbreaking discoveries and act as a focal point for novel
collaborations along the brain-heart axis. Insights into intercellular mechanisms (brain/heart; brain/gut
microbiome; immune system; etc...) hold immense potential for advances in disease diagnostics,
therapeutics and mental health, all key strategic areas at uOttawa.
The Physics department has a critical mass of biophysics researchers in areas ranging from nano-fluidics
to soft matter, molecular biophysics, bio-photonics and nonlinear microscopy. There is also a strong
complement of brain and heart theoretical biophysicists. The successful candidate will be part of the rich
ecosystem consisting of the Brain and Mind Research Institute, Heart Institute, Centre for Neural
Dynamics and AI, and Nexus for Quantum Technologies (photonics research) that span Science,
Medicine, Health Sciences and Engineering. The candidate will also be a member of the Brain-Heart
Interconnectome (BHI). The BHI is a ground-breaking interdisciplinary research program designed to
accelerate prevention, detection, treatment, and care of health conditions linked to the brain and the
heart through research co-produced with patients and other knowledge users.
They can access local facilities for cell culture, confocal microscopy, atomic force and electron
microscopy and microfabrication. The University is situated near the laboratories of the National
Research Council and other governments laboratories and fosters links with the Kanata North high-tech
park.
Located on the unceded territory of the Anishinaabe-Algonquin people, in the heart of the nation`s
capital near multiple national agencies, the University of Ottawa is one of Canada's top ten research intensive
universities. It is recognised as the first and largest bilingual university in North America and
offers strong connections to organisational, government and policy interest holders.
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. 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.
The University of Ottawa is committed to ensuring equity, diversity and inclusion in the scholarly and
leadership environments of our students, staff, and faculty. Accordingly, we strongly encourage
applications from 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, as well as from all
qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively implement equity measures that
ensure and retain diverse teams and promote inclusive practices for research team members. As part of
this preferential hiring process, applications from members of the four designated groups will be
prioritized and assessed first for the vacancy.
Requirements
Skills requirements:
- Education : Ph.D. in Physics or closely related field, or MD-PhD
- Required Qualifications: superior research achievements in the CRC’s identified area(s) and
proof of interdisciplinary collaborations, a promising record of teaching and training of
students at the graduate level, the ability to obtain external research funds. Excellent
communication skills in either English or French. Passive (or active) knowledge of one’s
second official language (French or English) is a requirement for tenure. English-French
bilingualism is an asset.
Duties: In varying proportions, teaching in physics, research, academic service, graduate student
supervision
