Assistant or Associate Professor (Research), Department of Surgery, Division of Thoracic Surgery (C1-241108)

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Position Description:

The McGill University Department of Surgery, Division of Thoracic Surgery in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences in collaboration with the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) is inviting applications for a full-time Contract Academic Staff position at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor (Research) with a focus on research areas in biomedical engineering and organ-chip technology.

The position is being offered in the Division of Thoracic Surgery of the Department of Surgery and the Cancer Research Program at the RI-MUHC, with strong links and possibilities of co-appointment to the McGill University Goodman Cancer Institute and the McGill University Department of Biomedical Engineering. The professorial rank will be determined according to the candidate’s qualifications and experience. This will be a Contract Academic Staff position and does not confer eligibility for tenure.

The Department of Surgery is a leader in academic medicine. Our educational and research missions support excellent and innovative clinical programs across our teaching hospitals. The successful candidate will join an academic and high-volume comprehensive Division of Thoracic Surgery at the MUHC—a major teaching hospital affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Canada’s internationally renowned McGill University, located in the vibrant and multicultural city of Montreal, in the province of Quebec.

The Division of Thoracic Surgery is a world-renowned unit composed of a dedicated team of clinician and basic scientists involved in the investigation of all malignancies of the chest. Our division manages one of North America’s highest volume of thoracic oncology patients; we have developed extensive experience in the latest bio-banking technology resulting in a unique resource of clinically and genomically annotated, live-banked esophageal, gastric, and lung patient-derived organoids and xenografts representing one of the largest living biorepositories of thoracic cancers globally (>400 tumors).

The RI-MUHC is a world-renowned biomedical and hospital-based research centre and is the research arm of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) comprising over 3,000 researchers and trainees, supported by a suite of innovative technical core facilities. The McGill University Goodman Cancer Institute is home to internationally recognized researchers committed to supporting state-of-the-art platforms for functional precision oncology and multiomics approaches. The McGill University Department of Biomedical Engineering draws upon engineering, science, and medicine to produce technologies, devices, tools, techniques, models, manufacturing processes, and scientific discoveries for the improvement of human health and well-being. The Department of Biomedical Engineering was the first such department in Canada; its members invented the artificial cell and pioneered discoveries, innovation, and clinical applications in diagnosis, imaging, and therapy.

Job Duties:

The successful candidate will benefit from a highly collaborative and well-funded environment within the Division of Thoracic Surgery, as well as the Cancer Research Program of the RI-MUHC, the McGill University Goodman Cancer Institute, and the McGill University Department of Biomedical Engineering. The call is open to all exceptional candidates with expertise in biomimetic lung models and airway-on-a-chip technology to join our team.

The successful candidate will bring extensive experience in developing and applying micro-engineered airway chips. Responsibilities of this position include:

1) Lead the design and development of the next generation disease-modelling platform, including airway-on-a-chip and esophagus/stomach models that replicate human physiology, enabling translational research into cancer biology environmental health, and toxicology;

2) Collaborate with diverse and interdisciplinary teams to advance biomimetic microsystem technology and apply findings toward understanding and overcoming therapy resistance in lung and upper gastro-intestinal cancers;

3) Conduct studies utilizing airway-on-a-chip and esophagus-on-a-chip platforms to analyze cellular and molecular impacts under environmental stress, physiological reflux, and caustic injury causing chronic upper aero-digestive inflammatory conditions and progression of pre-malignant metaplasia; 

4) Develop an independent, externally funded research program of the highest international standards in their own areas of expertise. This program is expected to include interdisciplinary collaborations with relevant partner units within the Cancer Research Program of the RI-MUHC, the McGill University Goodman Cancer Institute and the McGill University Department of Biomedical Engineering;

5) Disseminate research findings through high-impact peer-reviewed publications and other knowledge translation and exchange activities;

6) Contribute to the research ambitions in the RI-MUHC and the University;

The successful candidate will also be expected to be actively involved in all aspects of McGill’s academic mission (i.e., research, teaching, supervision of students and residents, and involvement in academic and administrative committees).

McGill faculty members are expected to contribute to the service activities within their units, the University, and the wider scholarly community. A demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion is also expected.

Qualifications and Education Requirements:

Candidates must:

• Hold a Ph.D. degree;
• Have Post-Doctoral Fellowship in bio-engineering;
• Have demonstrated evidence of exceptional research achievements;
• Present a compelling research vision that aligns with, or is applicable to, the McGill Division of Thoracic Surgery;
• Have significant post-doctoral experience in Biomedical Engineering;
• Have significant publication record and experience in organ-chip technology as it applies to disease modelling;
• Have proven expertise in the use of airway-on-a-chip technology, with a focus on micro-engineered platforms for replicating and analyzing respiratory system functions;
• Have demonstrated ability to translate airway chip research into insights on human health including toxicology and applicable to cancer;
• Have evidence of strong research productivity, with a demonstrated ability to attract competitive funding;
• Possess the ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues and stakeholders from diverse backgrounds;
• Fluency in English is essential; a working knowledge of French, or a commitment to acquiring it within a few years of appointment is preferred.

McGill University is an English-language university where most teaching and research activities are conducted in the English language, thereby requiring English communication both verbally and in writing.

Faculty/Department/Unit:

Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Division of Thoracic Surgery

Job Type:

Contract Academic Staff (Research)

Rank:

Assistant or Associate Professor

Salary:

This is a nil salary appointment

Job Status:

Full-Time

Posting Period:

Please submit your application within 30 days of the publication of this advertisement.

Required Documents:

The following supporting documents are required:

• cover letter and curriculum vitae
• statement of research
• names and contact information of three referees

Use a personal email address when creating an account in Workday to submit your application. Do not use @mail.mcgill.ca or @mcgill.ca email accounts to apply.

McGill University is committed to equity and diversity within its community and values academic rigour and excellence. We welcome and encourage applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to engage productively with diverse communities.

At McGill, research that reflects diverse intellectual traditions, methodologies, and modes of dissemination and translation is valued and encouraged. Candidates are invited to demonstrate their research impact both within and across academic disciplines and in other sectors, such as government, communities, or industry.

McGill further recognizes and fairly considers the impact of leaves (e.g., family care or health-related) that may contribute to career interruptions or slowdowns. Candidates are encouraged to signal any leave that affected productivity, or that may have had an effect on their career path. This information will be considered to ensure the equitable assessment of the candidate’s record.

McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated equity groups to self-identify. It further seeks to ensure the equitable treatment and full inclusion of persons with disabilities by striving for the implementation of universal design principles transversally, across all facets of the University community, and through accommodation policies and procedures. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, accessibilityrequest.hr@mcgill.ca.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

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