Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Translational Oncology
Application Deadline: December 15, 2022
The Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) at Queen’s University (Kingston, Ontario, Canada) invites applications from exceptional scholars in the field of translational oncology. Applications from researchers with expertise in translating findings on cancer targets, cancer informatics, development or testing of targeted or cell-based cancer therapies, tumour microenvironment, immune oncology, or therapy resistance into clinical realm are encouraged. This appointment is open only to qualified individuals who self-identify as members of one or more of the Four Designated Groups under the Canada Research Chair program[1]: women, Indigenous/Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities, and racialized/visible minorities. The successful candidate will be appointed at the rank of Professor with tenure and will submit an external nomination for a seven-year term position as a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair (CRC), eligible for renewal once, to a maximum of two terms as a Tier 1 CRC in Translational Oncology. The position is a permanent salaried appointment with significant additional resources for research operations and infrastructure.
The Chair will join a diverse, vibrant, and collaborative cancer research group at Queen’s and its partnering academic hospitals. The Queen’s Cancer Research Institute is the nexus of researchers and activities in cancer biology and genetics, cancer care and epidemiology, and clinical trials. It is the home base of the Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG), a national research network and platform which oversees multicenter trials of innovative therapies across the globe and leads knowledge translation of emerging innovative cancer therapies.
CCTG is also a leader of the ExCELLirate Canada platform to advance the development and adoption of Canada’s cell therapy discoveries. The community of basic and clinical cancer research scientists at Queen’s brings a transdisciplinary lens to research and spans a variety of academic departments, including Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Oncology, Medicine, Surgery, and Public Health Sciences.
Ranking 1st in Canada and 5th in the World in the 2021 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, Queen’s is committed to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The Tier 1 CRC in Translational Oncology will play a pivotal role in the pursuit of Good Health and Well-being (Goal 4), Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (Goal 9), and Reducing Inequality (Goal 10). The scientist will lead an ambitious translational research program to define adaptive changes in the tumour microenvironment, to identify new therapeutic targets, to predict which patients may benefit from targeted therapies, to translate these findings into new or improved therapies, and/or to understand how to translate these therapies on a global scale economically and equitably.
The incumbent of the Tier 1 CRC in Translational Oncology will hold an MD and/or PhD (or equivalent degree) and be an internationally recognized leader with at least ten years of experience and accomplishment in cancer therapy development. In line with the strategic priorities of Queen’s Health Sciences, the successful candidate will have an exceptional research track record, including radical collaboration across disciplines, and the translation of their research findings toward clinical applications. They will lead a vibrant, externally funded research program and will leverage their extensive collaborative partnerships to improve therapies for cancer patients regionally, nationally, and globally. Employing their outstanding research track record, leadership, and strategic vision the successful candidate will significantly enhance the national and global profile of Queen’s cancer research.
Prior to May 1, 2022, the University required all students, faculty, staff, and visitors (including contractors) to declare their COVID-19 vaccination status and provide proof that they were fully vaccinated or had an approved accommodation to engage in in-person University activities. These requirements were suspended effective May 1, 2022, but the University may reinstate them at any point.
Canada Research Chairs were established as part of a national strategy to foster research excellence (www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca). Tier 1 Canada Research Chairs are intended for outstanding established scholars, and the successful candidate must meet the requirements for the position of Tier 1 Chair as defined by the CRC program. Specifically, the nominee must be outstanding, innovative, and recognized world-class researcher whose accomplishments have made a major impact in their respective field, and someone who has an exemplary track record in training the next generation of researchers. Please contact the Queen’s University Research Services for more information. In addition, the impact of certain circumstances (including but not limited to parental leave, family responsibilities, illness, disability, research in emerging fields, limited access to resources) that may legitimately affect a nominee’s record of research achievement will be given careful consideration when assessing the nominee’s research productivity. Candidates are encouraged to provide any relevant information about their experience and/or career interruptions to allow for a fair assessment of their application.
People from across Canada and around the world come to learn, teach and carry out research at Queen’s University. Faculty and their dependents are eligible for an extensive benefits package including prescription drug coverage, vision care, dental care, long term disability insurance, life insurance and access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program. You will also participate in a pension plan. Tuition assistance is available for qualifying employees, their spouses and dependent children. Queen’s values families and is pleased to provide a ‘top up’ to government parental leave benefits for eligible employees on maternity/parental leave. In addition, Queen’s provides partial reimbursement for eligible daycare expenses for employees with dependent children in daycare. Details are set out in the Queen’s-QUFA Collective Agreement. For more information on employee benefits, see Queen’s Human Resources.
Additional information about Queen’s University can be found on the Faculty Recruitment and Support website. The University is situated on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe, in historic Kingston on the shores of Lake Ontario. Kingston’s residents enjoy an outstanding quality of life with a wide range of cultural, recreational, and creative opportunities. Visit Inclusive Queen’s for information on equity, diversity and inclusion resources and initiatives.
Queen's Commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: Queen’s is committed to excellence in research and research training for the benefit of Canadians and to achieving a more equitable, diverse and inclusive Canadian research enterprise.
Queen’s University is committed to diversity and inclusion and has an employment equity program that meets the goals of the Canada Research Chairs program and the requirements of our collective agreement with the Faculty Association. This appointment is open only to qualified individuals who self-identify as members of one or more of the Four Designated Groups under the Canada Research Chair program: women, Indigenous/Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities, and racialized/visible minorities. All applicants will be invited to self-identify once they have applied. Self-identification information will be held in confidence by the Human Rights and Equity Office and one specially trained member of the selection committee. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements, Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents of Canada will be given priority.
To comply with federal laws, the University is obliged to gather statistical information as to how many applicants for each job vacancy are Canadian citizens / permanent residents of Canada. Applicants need not identify their country of origin or citizenship; however, all applications must include one of the following statements: “I am a Canadian citizen / permanent resident of Canada”; OR, “I am not a Canadian citizen / permanent resident of Canada”. Applications that do not include this information will be deemed incomplete.
Applicants shall submit a complete application package comprising prior to December 15, 2022:
∙ a cover letter including one of the two statements regarding Canadian citizenship/permanent resident status specified in the previous paragraph);
∙ a current curriculum vitae that includes a comprehensive list of publications, awards, and grants received;
∙ a statement of current and prospective research interests and experience;
∙ a statement of teaching experience and interests together with a teaching portfolio.
∙ the names and contact information of a minimum of three arm’s length referees.
In their application package, candidates should also identify their strengths and experiences with respect to increasing equity, diversity, and inclusion in their institutional environment.
Applications will continue to be reviewed until a suitable candidate is found. Applicants are asked to send all documents in their application packages electronically in PDF format to:
Dr Andrew Craig
QCRI Director
Queen’s University
Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3N6
andrew.craig@queensu.ca
The University will provide support in its recruitment processes to applicants with disabilities, including accommodation that takes into account an applicant’s accessibility needs. If you require accommodation during the interview process, please contact Maureen Hobbs in the Faculty of Health Sciences, at maureen.hobbs@queensu.ca.
Academic staff at Queen’s University are governed by a Collective Agreement between the University and the Queen’s University Faculty Association (QUFA), which is posted here.
Appointments are subject to review and final approval by the Provost. Only nominees external to Queen’s University will be considered (Please note that, for the purposes of this competition, Queen’s Term Adjuncts and Adjunct-1’s will be considered as external nominees).
[1] The CRC Program currently employs the categories of the four federally designated groups (FDG) - Women, Indigenous Peoples, Persons with Disabilities, and Members of Visible Minorities - to monitor progress towards meeting equity goals. Queen’s has an under-representation across the FDG’s among Canada Research Chairholders. The Tri-Agency Institutional Programs Secretariat (TIPS) has established targets for CRC representation, with staggered deadlines for meeting targets between the period of 2020 to 2029.