Assistant Professor (tenure-track) | Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management (CCDPM)

The Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences at The University of British Columbia (UBC) invites applications for a full-time faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor (tenure track). We seek an outstanding researcher with a focus on cardiometabolic diseases in humans. The successful candidate will have a primary academic faculty appointment in the Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, as well as an Investigator appointment within the Faculty of Medicine’s Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management (CCDPM), which is housed in the Southern Medical Program. The position will be located at the UBC Okanagan Campus.

Faculty members in the Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences (www.cellphys.ubc.ca) are internationally recognized for their strength in the range of areas investigating the molecular and cellular processes underlying complex biological systems and human disease. We are developing stronger ties to CCDPM to ensure the successful applicant will have a rich and collaborative environment for their research program, offering a full array of bench-to-bedside opportunities.

The Southern Medical Program (SMP) is one of four distributed undergraduate medical education programs within UBC Faculty of Medicine. This innovative, distributed program is an expansion of the UBC medical program to the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), the University of Victoria (UVic), and both UBC Vancouver and Okanagan campuses. Students are admitted to each of the four programs every year: the Island Medical Program (IMP) at UVic, the Northern Medical Program (NMP) at UNBC, and at UBC, the Vancouver Fraser Medical Program (VFMP), and the Southern Medical Program (SMP) at the UBC Okanagan campus. The SMP delivers its education and training through a partnership with Interior Health (IH) and activity occurs in regional and community hospitals, community health centres, and family physician offices in 30 different communities through the Interior. Within the IH region, there are over 1,200 health professionals engaged with teaching UBC medical students and residents.

The Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management (CCDPM) based within the SMP at UBC Okanagan serves as a provincial leader for research excellence, knowledge translation and exchange in the urgent research field of chronic diseases. The CCDPM focuses on three primary research areas, with prevention and self-management as the crosscutting themes: (1) diabetes and obesity; (2) cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary diseases; (3) neurological disorders. In addition to research focused on prevention, the CCDPM will advance medical care, knowledge, health behaviours, and resources to improve self-management of these conditions.

The Faculty of Medicine’s CCDPM was established in 2019 and fosters new discoveries in health science from a local to global scale. Based at UBC Okanagan, the CCDPM has 8 Investigators, 11 Affiliate Investigators, and 2 Affiliate Clinicians. In 2022, CCDPM Investigators had an annual $4.54M in Primary Investigator funding and $2.97M in Co-Investigator funding. The CCDPM has a focus on translating and implementing research discoveries within and beyond the Okanagan Valley.

Reporting to the Head of the UBC Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences and the Regional Associate Dean, Interior, the successful candidate will execute a vigorous research program using cutting-edge cellular/molecular techniques applied to the prevention and/or management of cardiometabolic diseases. As part of a multidisciplinary research team, the successful candidate will be engaged in:

  • Translational research that includes human models with a focus on bench techniques that could find clinical applications.
  • Human experimental studies and clinical trials to improve outcomes related to chronic disease prevention and/or management, particularly cardiometabolic health
  • Research that engages with the health needs of members of Indigenous and rural/remote communities.

The successful candidate will be expected to participate in the teaching activities of the Department, as well as provide mentorship and training to undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate learners.

The successful applicant will hold a PhD, MD/PhD, or equivalent with postdoctoral research experience in cardiometabolic physiology. The successful candidate will have demonstrated evidence of ability in teaching and will be expected to participate in the undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate teaching activities in both the Southern Medical Program and in the Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences as well as supervision of students and trainees at all levels. The incumbent will also show demonstrated ability in scholarly activity and are expected to provide service to the University and the broader academic and professional community. Exceptional communication skills and an ability to demonstrate a strong record of research productivity, with the potential to establish a successful research program are required. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to foster collaboration are preferred.

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. An application package should include:

1. A cover letter (1 page)

2. An anonymized executive summary of research plan and vision. To reduce implicit bias, this high-level vision document cannot contain references to specific articles or identifying information such as the candidate’s name, gender, or prior institutions (1 page)

3. The main application, containing the following sections:

a) Research program proposal (up to 5 pages, excluding references)

b) Teaching and mentorship statement (up to 1 page)

c) Equity, diversity and inclusion statement (up to 1 page)

4. A full curriculum vitae (no page limit)

5. The names and contact information of three references

Applications should be submitted online through the UBC Faculty Careers site: https://ubc.wd10.myworkdayjobs.com/ubcfacultyjobs or to linda.misura@ubc.ca with the subject line: Recruitment, CCDPM. Applications should be directed to:

Dr. Christopher West

Interim Director, CCDPM

Associate Professor, UBC Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences and ICORD (International Collaboration On Repair Discoveries)

The anticipated start date for this position is July 1, 2024 or upon a date to be mutually agreed. Review of applications will begin on November 6, 2023 and continue until the position is filled.

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students, and is essential to fostering an outstanding work environment. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

The University is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and equitable work environment for all members of its workforce. An inclusive work environment presumes an environment where differences are appreciated, recognized, and integrated into current structures, planning, and decision-making modes. Within this hiring process, we are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable process for all candidates (including but not limited to people with disabilities). Confidential accommodations are available on request for applicants who are short-listed. Please contact Linda Misura at linda.misura@ubc.ca.

To learn more about UBC’s Center for Workplace Accessibility, visit the website here https://hr.ubc.ca/CWA.

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