Assistant Professor Molecular & Medical Sciences - Dept. of Health Sciences (3-Tear Limited Term)
Wilfrid Laurier University
WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF SCIENCE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SCIENCES
The Department of Health Sciences at Wilfrid Laurier University invites applications for a 3-year Limited Term Appointment (LTA) faculty position at the Assistant Professor level in the Molecular and Medical Sciences area beginning September 1, 2025, subject to budgetary approval. The primary campus location for this position is Waterloo, however teaching responsibilities may include instruction of students at the Brantford and Milton campus via virtual modes of delivery.
Duties: Design and deliver curriculum and lectures, mentor students, assess and respond to learning outcomes, and supervise undergraduate and graduate student research. Conduct independent and collaborative research, secure funding, publish in peer-reviewed journals, and present at conferences. Participating in committees at the departmental and faculty levels, engaging in interdisciplinary collaborations, and contributing professionally to your field. Build partnerships with local, national, and international organizations.
Responsibilities: Ensure high-quality education through teaching, advancing knowledge through research and supporting student and faculty development. Contribute to institutional governance, foster collaborations, and translate research into policies or other practical applications and interventions that improve human health.
Qualifications: The ideal candidate must have a PhD in bioinformatics, computational biology, biomedical engineering, or a related field such as molecular biology with a strong computational focus.
The successful applicant will be an emerging scholar in bioinformatics with an emphasis on health and disease, in either human or comparative health models. We are seeking an individual who uses computational approaches to understand disease or infection mechanisms, with general experience in Health Sciences. Ideally, candidates will have a strong background in multi-omics integration, machine learning, and/or experience with large-scale biological data. The strongest applicants will synergize with current faculty in the Department, displaying expertise in genomic analysis, transcriptomics, proteomics, DNA methylation profiling, neuroimaging data analysis, and in silico modeling. A research program focused on the biological mechanisms driving health outcomes in equity-deserving groups is an asset.
The ideal candidate should boast a strong record of academic publications, present a clear strategy for securing research funding from Tri-Agency or other sources, and effectively articulate their independent research program at Laurier. Alignment of their research with ongoing work in health sciences, particularly in biomedical data analysis, is an asset.
The successful candidate will demonstrate teaching experience in bioinformatics and health sciences, with evidence of course development as an asset. Of particular interest are courses in research methods and knowledge translation/implementation science, as well as courses that offer a cell-to-society understanding of health and disease. Candidates with a strong commitment to student mentorship—whether in the classroom, computational lab, or research setting—and with evidence of student supervision will be given priority.
The Department of Health Sciences is multidisciplinary in scope, offering a broad range of courses that span the natural sciences as well as courses applying social science and health theories and methods to health issues. As such, we offer students a unique ‘cell to society’ approach to understanding the complexity of human health across two streams: (1) Molecular and Medical Sciences and (2) Community Public and Population Health. The Department values collegiality and a supportive work environment.
Application Package:
Applicants should submit:
• A curriculum vitae which includes a teaching dossier and statement regarding teaching experience and interests;
• At least one syllabus in a course related to human health and disease;
• Evidence of course development in the health sciences; and
• Evidence of effective teaching.
Applicants are encouraged to address any career interruptions or special circumstances that may have affected their record of research and teaching, in accordance with SSHRC and NSERC definitions and guidelines.
Additionally, the submission should contain a statement of current and prospective research interests including a research grant application plan.
Finally, applicants should submit copies of up to three publications or preprints; and arrange to have the name of three academic referees sent to:
Dr. Robb Travers
Professor & Chair, Department of Health Sciences, Wilfrid Laurier University
c/o Emily Young – email: healthsciences@wlu.ca
Electronic submission of applications is preferred. Applications will be accepted until Sunday May 4, 2025 |11:59pm.
Wilfrid Laurier University is a leading Canadian university renowned for its learning environment and student-focused educational experience. As a comprehensive university with more than 20,000 students, Laurier has grown rapidly in research intensity while at the same time preserving its well-earned reputation for undergraduate and graduate teaching and learning excellence. With a multi-campus and multi-community culture, Laurier offers students an exceptional range and depth of more than 100 academic programs taught by award-winning lecturers across nine faculties.
For more information about working at Laurier as well as the Department of Health Sciences applicants are encouraged to visit the institutions web pages:
Department of Health Sciences – https://wlu.ca/programs/science/undergraduate/health-sciences-bsc/index.html.
Waterloo Campus - https://wlu.ca/about/working-at-laurier/assets/resources/living-in-waterloo.html
Diversity and creating a culture of inclusion is a key pillar of Wilfrid Laurier University’s Strategic Academic Plan and is one of Laurier’s core values. Laurier is committed to increasing the diversity of faculty and staff and welcomes applications from candidates who identify as Indigenous, racialized, having disabilities, and from persons of any sexual identities and gender identities. Indigenous candidates who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programming at Laurier are welcome to contact the Office of Indigenous Initiatives at indigenous@wlu.ca. Candidates from other equity seeking groups who would like to learn more about equity hand inclusive programming at Laurier are welcomed to contact Equity and Accessibility at equity@wlu.ca.
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, as per Canadian immigration laws, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. To comply with the Government of Canada’s reporting requirements, the University is obligated to gather information about applicants’ status as either Permanent Residents of Canada or Canadian citizens. Applicants need not identify their country of origin or current citizenships, however all applicants must include one of the following statements in their cover letter:
Yes, I am a current citizen or permanent resident of Canada;
No, I am not a current citizen or permanent resident of Canada
Members of designated groups must self-identify to be considered for employment equity. Candidates may self-identify, in confidence, to Ruth MacNeil Senior Administrative Officer, Faculty of Science (rmacneil@wlu.ca). Further information on the equity policy can be found at https://www.wlu.ca/about/governance/assets/resources/8.4-employment-equity.html .
Applicants are encouraged to address any career interruptions or special circumstances that may have affected their record of research and teaching, in accordance with SSHRC and NSERC definitions and guidelines. To obtain a copy of this job description in an accessible format, please contact Human Resources (HR@wlu.ca).
The Faculty of Science wishes to thank all applicants for their interest. All nominations and applications shall be reviewed and considered under a set of criteria established by the Search Committee and a short list of candidates shall be interviewed. Only those applicants selected for the short list will be contacted.
We would like to acknowledge that Wilfrid Laurier University and its campuses are located on the shared traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnaabe (Anish-nah-bay) and Haudenosaunee (Hoe-den-no-show-nee) peoples. This land is part of the Dish with One Spoon Treaty between the Haudenosaunee and Anishnaabe peoples and symbolizes the agreement to share, protect our resources and not to engage in conflict. From the Haldimand Proclamation of Oct. 25, 1784 this territory is described as: “six miles deep from each side of the river (Grand River) beginning at Lake Erie and extending in the proportion to the Head of said river, which them and their posterity are to enjoy forever.” The proclamation was signed by the British with their allies, the Six Nations, after the American Revolution. Despite being the largest reserve demographically in Canada, those nations now reside on less than five percent of this original territory.