Assistant Professor, Animal Prion Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

University of Calgary

Job ID: 33495
Location: Foothills Campus
Updated December 04, 2024

We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the traditional territories of the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta.
The City of Calgary is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Districts 5 and 6.

Description
Faculty position "Animal Prion Diseases"

The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM) at the University of Calgary invites applications for a full-time Academic position in Animal Prion Diseases. The successful candidate will be appointed at the rank of Assistant Professor (Teaching and Research stream; tenure track). The anticipated start date is July 1, 2025, or an earlier mutually agreed upon date.

Position Description and Associated Responsibilities
Animal prion diseases are fatal and infectious neurodegenerative disease, some with zoonotic potential. The selected applicant will be an emerging leader in the area of Animal Prion Diseases with a focus on Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) of cervids. The selected applicant will have extensive expertise in the areas of CWD prion strain characterization, cross-species transmission, pathogenesis, mitigation and detection, including, but not limited to, therapeutic and prophylactic approaches, sensitive diagnostic tools, zoonotic potential, or evolution of emerging prion strains at the human-wildlife interface. The selected applicant is expected to establish an externally funded research program, ideally involving interdisciplinary collaborations, and complementary and collaborative with current strengths in infection biology research at the faculties of Veterinary Medicine, Medicine (CSM) and Science. There are cutting-edge core facilities in place, including biosafety level 2+ laboratories and rodent facilities for handling animal and human prions, for research using large animal models, as well as a newly renovated Containment Level 3 facility. In addition to fostering a thriving training program, the selected candidate will participate in undergraduate, DVM program and graduate level teaching.

Position Requirements
• PhD (in neuroscience, biochemistry, infectious diseases or a closely related field)
• Postdoctoral research experiences in animal prion disease/CWD research demonstrated by a track record of peer-reviewed publications
• The potential to obtain external funding, including from Tri-Council .
• Interest in contributing to DVM, undergraduate and post-graduate teaching

The selected applicant will join the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, with the possibility for adjunct appointments at other Faculties and membership with relevant Institutes, e.g. the Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI) or the Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases. The research environment is multi-disciplinary and prioritizes transdisciplinary research initiatives. Experience with lecturing, content development and coordination, and mentorship/supervisory experience at the graduate and undergraduate student level will be an asset. The selected applicant will have opportunities to be involved in administrative and service activities that affect the UCVM community.

How to Apply
Please apply online via the 'Apply Now' link on the UCalgary careers website: https://careers.ucalgary.ca/jobs/15328148-assistant-professor-animal-prion-diseases-faculty-of-veterinary-medicine
Please be aware that the application process allows for only four attachments (which may require you to merge documents). A complete application should include:
• Cover letter and curriculum vitae, including the name and contact information of three referees
• Statement of research interests, accomplishments, and vision (maximum of 3 pages)
• Statement of teaching philosophy (maximum of 2 pages)
• Statement on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (maximum of 1 page)

Questions may be addressed to:
John Gilleard, at jsgillea@ucalgary.ca.

Application Deadline: January 10, 2025 (or until position is filled)

The University of Calgary adheres to the principles of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) and strives to evaluate research impact responsibly and inclusively by explicitly considering discipline-appropriate methods for demonstrating the quality, significance, and societal impact of a broad range of research contributions.

Information about the faculty
UCVM is a highly research active faculty with currently seven organized research groups, which includes the Infection Biology Research Group. UCVM is consistently ranked among the Top 35 international veterinary schools, with an increasing sponsored research funding. Currently, UCVM is home to 12 research chairs, four of them Canada Research Chairs. UCVM has approximately 80 faculty members, 150 staff, 140 graduate students, 35 post-doctoral fellows, and 15 advanced clinical trainees. UCVM¿s DVM program provides a comprehensive general veterinary education to 50 students per year, currently expanding to 100 students. Descriptions of the Faculty, its programs, and its departments can be found at www.vet.ucalgary.ca.

The University of Calgary recognizes that candidates have varying career paths and that career interruptions can be part of an excellent academic record. Candidates are encouraged but not required to provide any relevant information about their experience and/or career interruptions to allow for a fair assessment of their application. Selection committees have been instructed to give careful consideration to, and be sensitive to the impact of career interruptions, when assessing the candidate¿s research productivity.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (equity@ucalgary.ca) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources (hrhire@ucalgary.ca).

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. In this connection, at the time of your application, please answer the following question: Are you a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada? (Yes/No)

For a listing of all academic opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Academic Careers website. For more information about the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, click here.

About the University of Calgary
UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

About Calgary, Alberta
Calgary is one of the world's cleanest cities and has been named one of the world's most livable cities for years. Calgary is a city of leaders - in business, community, philanthropy and volunteerism. Calgarians benefit from a growing number of world-class dining and cultural events and enjoy more days of sunshine per year than any other major Canadian city. Calgary is less than an hour's drive from the majestic Rocky Mountains and boasts the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway network in North America.