Assistant Professor - Human Biomechanics

University of Toronto

The Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education (KPE) at the University of Toronto invites applications for a tenure stream appointment in human biomechanics, with an emphasis on musculoskeletal injury and/or orthopaedic biomechanics. The appointment will be at the rank of Assistant Professor and with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2025.

This search aligns with the University’s commitment to strategically and proactively promote diversity among our community members (Statement on Equity, Diversity & Excellence). Recognizing that Black, Indigenous, and other Racialized communities have experienced inequities that have developed historically and are ongoing, we strongly welcome and encourage candidates from those communities to apply.

Preference will be given to candidates who self-identify as Indigenous. Recognizing that there are a variety of terms that potential candidates may use to self-identify, the University uses the term “Indigenous” in this search, which forms part of the U of T Response to Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, to encompass the people of Turtle Island, including those who identify as First Nations, Métis, Inuk (Inuit), Alaska Native, Native American, and Native Hawaiian people.

Candidates must have earned a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in biomechanics, ergonomics, rehabilitation sciences, engineering, or a closely related discipline, with a focus on research in biomechanics, by the date of appointment, or shortly thereafter. Post-doctoral training is highly desirable, as is experience in applied/clinical biomechanics. We seek candidates whose research and teaching interests complement and enhance our existing departmental strengths, UofT - Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education.

Candidates must have a demonstrated record of excellence in research and excellence in teaching and student mentorship. The successful candidate will be expected to pursue innovative and independent research at the highest international level and to establish an original, competitive, and externally funded research program in the broad area of human biomechanics. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to undergraduate and graduate program teaching and student mentorship on the topic of biomechanics, and to increase opportunities for graduate students to conduct research in associated areas of scholarship. We seek candidates whose expertise facilitates research and teaching in one or more of the following fields: biomechanics, ergonomics, kinesiology, or a closely related field.

Evidence of research excellence can be demonstrated through a record of publications in top-ranked and field relevant journals or forthcoming publications meeting high international standards, presentations at significant conferences, awards and accolades, competitive scholarships, other research funding, or other forms of recognition that are appropriate for the field of inquiry, as well as the submitted research statement and strong endorsements from referees of high standing.

Evidence of excellence in teaching will be demonstrated by teaching accomplishments, and the teaching dossier, including a teaching statement, sample course materials, and teaching evaluations or other evidence of superior performance in teaching-related activities submitted as part of the application, as well as strong letters of reference. Other teaching-related activities can include performance as a teaching assistant or course instructor, experience leading successful workshops or seminars, student mentorship, or excellent conference presentations or posters.

The candidate will be expected to contribute to service through engagement on Faculty-related committees.

We seek exceptional candidates who would complement our existing strengths (for KPE Faculty Members/Research Areas, please see Faculty Listing | UofT - Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education) and expand upon existing collaborations with colleagues in the Faculty, university and the related research community. Candidates may contribute to and leverage the strengths of the Tanenbaum Institute for Science in Sport, a global centre of excellence for high performance sport science and sport medicine.

The Tanenbaum Institute for Science in Sport brings together the sport science research of the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education with the sports medicine research of U of T’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine, and the clinical and research expertise of the Dovigi Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Clinic and the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute at Sinai Health.

The selection process will be based on application materials, reference letters, and evidence of scholarship, as well as interviews, research seminar, and meetings with faculty and students for those who are shortlisted.

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Established in 1827, the University of Toronto is Canada’s largest and most research-intensive university, and the only Canadian university to be repeatedly among the top 25 of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Located in and around Toronto, one of the world’s most diverse cities with a vibrant Indigenous community, the University of Toronto’s vibrant academic life is defined by the intellectual and cultural diversity in its community.

The appointment is at the University of Toronto, St. George campus, which is a research-intensive institution with an interdisciplinary commitment, a multicultural student body, and a modern campus. The University offers the opportunity to conduct research, teach, and live in one of the most diverse cities of the world.

The Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education (KPE) at the University of Toronto has made major contributions to its mission of developing, advancing and disseminating knowledge about physical activity and health and its interactions through, education, research, leadership and the provision of opportunity. With a culturally diverse student body of more than 1000 undergraduate students and 140 graduate students, as well as 35 faculty members from diverse disciplinary backgrounds, ours is an intellectually rich and supportive community, guided by the highest standards of scholarship with a commitment to equity and social justice. The successful candidate will join an internationally recognized faculty whose commitments to equity and access are reflected in our research, education, policy and practice. In keeping with this commitment, particular attention will be given to candidates from under-represented groups.

All qualified candidates are invited to apply online by clicking here: 40109. Applicants must submit a cover letter; a current curriculum vitae; a research statement outlining current and future research interests; a recent writing sample; and a teaching dossier including a teaching statement, sample course materials, and teaching evaluations or evidence of superior performance in other teaching-related activities as listed above.

Applicants must provide the name and contact information of three references. The University of Toronto’s recruiting tool will automatically solicit and collect letters of reference from each referee the day after an application is submitted. Applicants remain responsible for ensuring that referees submit recent letters (on letterhead, dated and signed) by the closing date. More details on the automatic reference letter collection, including timelines, are available in the candidate FAQ.

Submission guidelines can be found at http://uoft.me/how-to-apply. Your CV and cover letter should be uploaded into the dedicated fields. Please combine additional application materials into one or two files in PDF/MS Word format. If you have any questions about this position, please contact Professor Gretchen Kerr at dean.kpe@utoronto.ca.

All application materials, including recent reference letters, must be received by January 23, 2025.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Diversity Statement
The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see http://uoft.me/UP.

Accessibility Statement
The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.

The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.

If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact uoft.careers@utoronto.ca.