Academic Position in Precision Diagnostics and Machine Learning, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine

Description

The Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine in the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary (UofC), in partnership with Alberta Precision Laboratories Ltd (APL) invites applications for a Contingent Term appointment at the Assistant Professor or Associate Professor level.

This recruitment is an important component of the 'Precision Oncology and Clinical Excellence' focus that is a priority theme in the new Arthur Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre. The recruit would join a vibrant research community and contribute to progress through increasing activity in precision cancer diagnostics, the goal of discovering and testing novel diagnostic strategies, and would facilitate the increasingly sophisticated biological correlative studies that are expected to accompany the highest quality interventional, investigator-initiated clinical trials. An individual with experience in machine learning / AI-based approaches in pathology diagnostics, biomarker identification/quantification, or image analysis would be particularly valued.

Qualifications include a MD and/or PhD. For MD or PhD applicants who wish for the service component to be comprised of clinical work, eligibility for licensure in the Province of Alberta, and certification in Anatomic Pathology or General Pathology by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada or Anatomic/Clinical Pathology by the American Board of Pathology. For PhD applicants who do not anticipate a clinical role, examples of service could be bioinformatic support, contribution to development of clinical tools, etc. An advanced degree with basic/translational research training and/or demonstrated commitment to medical or industry experience in areas related to cancer pathogenesis and disease mechanisms or other areas relevant to basic translational research pathology is essential. The ability to establish an independent or significant collaborative research program as demonstrated by a portfolio of scholarly work is also required.

At the Assistant Professor level, this will entail the publication of no less than 5 peer reviewed papers, with the majority as 1st or senior author and potential to obtain extramural funding (at the level of Tri-Council or equivalent peer reviewed National/International organization) and establish a research program.

Applicants at the Associate Professor level must present evidence of an established, externally funded (at the level of Tri-Council or equivalent peer reviewed National/International organization) research program, a strong publication record as evidenced by continuous publication in high-ranking journals, including as senior or first author. Applicants must show evidence of successful teaching and/or graduate supervision, and evidence of established academic engagement in professional and other communities.

This is a joint UofC / APL academic position; the successful candidate will hold an academic staff appointment at the Assistant Professor or Associate Professor level with 50% protected time for research and 50% time allocated to service activities aligned with pathology needs.

Academic appointment will be offered as a UofC employee where the successful candidate will join the Charbonneau Cancer Institute (a cancer-focused research institute) and the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (DPLM). The research institute will provide mentorship, access to specialized equipment, access to core facilities, office space, wet laboratory space, and a competitive start-up package commensurate with the applicant's profile. Applicants may be appointed at the UofC at the level of Assistant Professor or Associate Professor, with appointments commensurate with experience; track record of scholarly activity; ability to attract peer-reviewed funding; and local, national, or international recognition/leadership, respectively.

The APL medical staff component of the position is a contractor position with APL. APL is a publicly funded wholly owned subsidiary corporation of Alberta Health Services (AHS) and is party to an affiliation agreement with the University of Calgary. APL performs over 30+ million tests annually providing laboratory tests for five acute care facilities in Calgary, one community laboratory and 9 rural health laboratories in Southern Alberta. APL pathologists must maintain the highest possible standards of practice including prompt delivery of services to match established performance indicators and turn-around times, must actively participate in such activities as quality assurance, quality control and quality improvement programs, and must actively participate in undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate medical teaching.
The DPLM and APL offer residency training programs in Anatomic Pathology, General Pathology, Neuropathology and Medical Microbiology, as well as Fellowship training in subspecialty areas within Anatomic Pathology (including Pediatric/Perinatal Pathology), Hematopathology and Clinical Biochemistry. Further information on Alberta Precision Laboratories can be accessed at: www.albertaprecisionlabs.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.

Interested individuals are encouraged to submit an application online via University of Calgary Careers webpage using the 'Apply Now' link.

Please be aware that the application process allows for a maximum of four attachments. Your four application attachments should be organized to contain the following (you are encouraged to merge documents to reduce the number of attachments):

• Cover letter
• Curriculum vitae
• Research interest statement (not to exceed 2 pages)
• Leadership statement including equity, diversity and inclusion considerations (not to exceed 2 pages)
• The names and contact information for three (3) referees. Reference letters will not be required unless the applicant is short-listed for a visit/interview.

For more information please contact:

Dylan R. Pillai MD, PhD, FRCP(C) (he/him/his)
Professor & Head
Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
University of Calgary
drpillai@ucalgary.ca

Application deadline: May 24, 2024

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.

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 Cumming School of Medicine, click here. [insert faculty home page link to open in new window].

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.