Tier 2 Canada Research Chair – Health Informatics – Department of Kinesiology

Position # 002557TT-2024-HKCRC

The University of Windsor’s Department of Kinesiology in the Faculty of Human Kinetics seeks applications for a tenure track (or tenured) Assistant or Associate Professor position – Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Health Informatics with a preference for a person who self-identifies as a womanor minority sexual orientation and/or gender identity individual, commencing as early as September 2024.

In pursuit of the University’s commitment to employment equity, members from the designated groups are encouraged to apply and to self-identify. These groups include women, Indigenous/Aboriginal (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) persons, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of a minority sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

Canada Research Chair Position

The University of Windsor’s Department of Kinesiology in the Faculty of Human Kinetics https://www.uwindsor.ca/ humankinetics/ invites applications from emerging scholars with preference for an individual who identifies as a woman or minority sexual orientation and/or gender identity, for the position of a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Health Informatics with an anticipated start date of September 2024. The Tier 2 CRC program is intended for exceptional emerging scholars (i.e., an individual who has been an active researcher in their field who is normally within 10 years of their PhD conferral), recognized by their peers as someone who is performing high impact research and creative activity at the national and international level, and has the potential to lead in this field for the foreseeable future. The successful applicant should, at a minimum, be an Assistant or Associate Professor, or possess the necessary qualifications to be appointed at these levels. The rank of the Chair will be assessed based on experience and qualifications. This position is subject to final budgetary approval and approval of the nomination by the Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat (TIPS).

The University of Windsor has a long-standing history of excellence in the area of health sciences and public health research and leadership. The University of Windsor is committed to interdisciplinary health research, and exemplar of which includes the WE-SPARK Health Institute, a unique collaborative partnership model led by the University of Windsor which has formally engaged our four regional hospitals and our local community college to advance health research and education across the Windsor-Essex region. With the planning for construction of a new acute care hospital in the Windsor-Essex region well underway, these partnerships provide an outstanding opportunity for collaborative heath research. The University of Windsor is also proud to be launching new undergraduate programs in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, and graduate programs including the Master of Science in Translational Health Science, and the proposed Master of Public Health (MPH). The University of Windsor closely collaborates with regional health units as we continue to strengthen and amplify our commitment to public health and training opportunities in our region.

University of Windsor researchers have engaged in decades of high-impact scholarship, graduate education, and community engagement in the realities of the social determinants of health. This new Tier 2 CRC in Health Informatics will build on a broad range of existing partnerships while looking to build new external partnerships and collaboration opportunities. The internal collaboration opportunities will be further strengthened by the Tier 2 CRC through leveraging of expertise in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, the Faculty of Science, the Faculty of Law, and the Faculty of Nursing.

The overarching goal of this Tier 2 CRC position in Health Informatics is to maximize health across a person’s lifespan at all levels targeting cell to community strategies. Using their fluency in statistics, research design, data management and analysis, and health and medicine, this CRC position will uncover and solve complex issues within, but not limited to:
· Primary prevention of disease – e.g., healthy aging, neurodiverse populations, vaccinations, barriers to physical activity and sport participation, physical activity literacy, injury prevention, knowledge translation initiatives
· Secondary prevention of disease – e.g., cancer, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, rehabilitation, knowledge translation initiatives
· Role of the environment in health disparities – e.g., air pollution, heat and cold stress, access to care and/or safe sport and recreation opportunities, safe environments, social support, socioeconomic status
· Effective interventions – e.g., pharmacotherapies, novel cognitive, social and/or exercise interventions, traditional exercise rehabilitation such as cardiac rehabilitation and other complementary chronic disease management programs

The successful candidate will be appointed to the Faculty of Human Kinetics, however, the candidate will also work closely with Faculties across campus with the opportunity to expand to other areas (e.g., Nursing, Psychology and the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry). The Tier 2 CRC in Health Informatics will enhance existing mentorship excellence by creating an optimal training environment for students to excel in fundamental and applied research to promote professional competence. In addition, the CRC will strengthen existing academic programming by enhancing course offerings in research methods, statistics, public health, and epidemiology from which students across faculties and disciplines will benefit. Introducing a variety of analytic techniques designed to better understand the determinants of health at the community level is an expected opportunity for program development. Innovative teaching methods and experiential learning approaches will be encouraged to provide opportunities for scholastic advancement and career development. The merging of pedagogy together with theory and practice will provide a holistic approach for students to assess the health challenges in our region and beyond, while exploring the feasibility and effectiveness of proposed solutions.
 
The Faculty of Human Kinetics comprises two program areas, namely the Department of Kinesiology and the Division of Athletics and Recreational Services. The Department of Kinesiology offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees with approximately 800 undergraduate and over 80 graduate students. Vibrant research and teaching cultures within Kinesiology facilitate high quality, student-centred learning experiences which are supported by state-of-the-art facilities. At the undergraduate level students choose either a Kinesiology-Movement Science or Sport Management and Leadership major directly from high school. Graduate students can complete their program of study in either Applied Human Performance or Sport Management and Leadership through a thesis or internship route at the Master’s level and in Kinesiology at the Doctoral level.

The successful candidate will teach at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, contribute to graduate thesis and internship advisement, and lead an externally funded research program. Candidates are expected to hold a doctorate degree (in areas noted above) and be able to demonstrate a record of, or show potential for, excellence in research and teaching in one or more of the following areas: research methods, statistics, public health, or epidemiology.

Lived Experience Statement

In pursuit of the University’s equity goals, as outlined in the University of Windsor’s Equity, Diversity, Inclusion Action Plan and in accordance with the CRC Secretariat’s policies on equity, diversity, and inclusion, the University is prioritizing applications from candidates who self-identify as women or minority sexual orientation and/or gender identity. The University of Windsor understands that one’s gender expression takes many forms and welcomes applications from any candidate who identifies as a woman or minority sexual orientation and/or gender minority, including, but not limited to, applicants who may identify as Two-Spirit, transgender, and/or non-binary. In alignment with the University’s employment equity policies, applicants are also encouraged to self-identify as racialized people, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples (First Nations, Inuit, Métis), and/or LGBTQ2S+. The lived experience of all applicants from equity groups will be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.

The following criteria apply to candidates being considered for this position:

The ideal candidate for the Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Health Informatics will be expected to satisfy the following:
• An exceptional emerging scholar, who identifies as a woman or minority sexual orientation and/or gender identity individual, with a Ph.D. in Health Informatics or a related field who possesses the necessary qualifications to be appointed at the Assistant or Associate Professor level. The candidate will have expertise in Health Informatics and will be expected to propose an original, innovative research program of high-caliber, transformative and impactful research.
• An emerging scholar is defined as a researcher who has obtained their PhD within the last 10 years at the time of nomination. Applicants who are more than 10 years from having earned their Ph.D. degrees (and where career breaks exist such as maternity, parental or extended sick leave, clinical training, etc.) may still be eligible to apply through the CRC Tier 2 justification process. Please contact the Office of Research and Innovation Services at hpratt@uwindsor.ca for further details on requesting a CRC Tier 2 justification. Please also consult the Canada Research Chairs website for more information regarding eligibility criteria and program information https://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/program-programme/nomination-mise_en_candidature-eng.aspx.
• A record of successes (or the potential for successes) in establishing, conducting, coordinating, and leading multi-disciplinary and collaborative research programs. This includes fostering relationships with the external community and stakeholders (e.g., governments and agencies) related to health research and health informatics. The successful candidate will establish their research program to complement the interdisciplinary research environment existing across the university’s research community. The chairholder should have the potential to attract, develop and retain excellent trainees, students and future researchers.
• The ability to supervise undergraduate and graduate students as well as postdoctoral fellows. The University of Windsor is especially interested in candidates who are committed to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion within the learning and research environment and who have a track record of, or the potential for attracting, developing, retaining, and working with diverse, excellent trainees, students, and future researchers from equity groups. This includes making learning accessible and inclusive for a diverse student population and providing mentorship and support to students and trainees from equity groups.
• The chairholder should have demonstrated the potential to achieve or further augment their international recognition in their discipline within the next five to ten years.
The initial term of the Tier 2 CRC is five years with the possibility of renewal subject to satisfactory performance review as per CRC policies and guidelines. The expiration of the Tier 2 CRC term will not impact the tenure-track appointment.

The University of Windsor

This opportunity aligns with the bold imperatives of the University of Windsor’s strategic plan, Aspire: Together for Tomorrow, ratified in Spring 2023. The University embraces a people-first philosophy grounded in a culture of research and academic excellence and deep belonging. Among key strategic priorities are advancing the journey towards truth and reconciliation; building a just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive, university; engaging in impactful research, scholarship, and creative activity; ensuring high-quality teaching, learning, and student experience; fostering a safe, welcoming, and sustainable campus; and engaging in local and global partnerships. The University has already made significant strides on many of these key opportunities, and we are seeking candidates interested in working alongside us to advance them even further. Driven by the University’s commitment to anti-racism, the Black Studies Institute was established in 2023 supported by a historic cohort hiring initiative that has welcomed thirteen Black scholars to the University of Windsor across several of our Faculties. The recent cohort of new Black scholars joining the University is among the most diverse in our history.
 
Our campus is situated on the traditional territory of the Three Fires Confederacy of First Nations: the Ojibwa, the Odawa, and the Potawatomi. We are making steady progress on the Indigenization of academic programming, developing an Indigenous Strategic plan, and have supported a cohort hire of Indigenous scholars in 2018-19 which has been followed with additional hiring of Indigenous scholars across our campus community. Our students mirror the extraordinary cultural richness of our region, one of the most diverse in all of Canada. We have numerous strong global partnerships and commitments, which are reflected in the increasing number of graduate and undergraduate students we attract from across the world. Our exceptional international partnerships enable and enhance our global research and innovation activities, making the University of Windsor an ideal institution to support a Canda Research Chair in internationalizing their research programs. The University is a signatory to the Scarborough Charter, participates in the Federal 50/30 Challenge, and endorses the Government of Canada’s Dimensions Charter.

The University of Windsor is a Canadian public, comprehensive research university enrolling over 16,000 students, including 5,700 graduate students. It offers more than 280 academic programs and certificates, including 70 master’s and doctoral degrees across its nine Faculties: Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering; Graduate Studies; Human Kinetics; Law; Nursing; and Science. It also houses a medical program through the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University. Our current tenured and tenure-track faculty numbers are close to 600 scholars from across a breadth of disciplines that support our comprehensive academic and research core competencies.

Application Requirements
• A letter of application demonstrating how you meet the selection criteria outlined above, including a statement of citizenship/immigration status and describing, if applicable, the impact that career interruptions may have had on research productivity (1 – 2 pages).
• A curriculum vitae.
• A research statement that includes your vision for the next 3-5 years (5 pages maximum)
• A teaching statement that describes your teaching philosophy, interests, history and evidence of teaching effectiveness (2 pages maximum).
• An equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) statement on your contributions to inclusive excellence in teaching, research, or service in academic, professional or community contexts, including a description of how you will advance the University’s commitment to fostering an equitable, diverse, and inclusive campus and research community (2 pages).
• Up to four (4) samples of most significant scholarly work.
• List of three (3) referees including only their names and contact information.

The University understands that there may have been breaks in research and scholarly activity for a variety of reasons, including equity considerations (e.g., gaps resulting from caregiving responsibilities or disability), and/or as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. These gaps will not adversely impact the assessment of candidate files. Support is available to assist candidates with the recruitment and application process; therefore, early expressions of interest are encouraged.

The short-listed candidates may be invited to provide further information in support of their applications. To ensure full consideration, complete an online application (http://www.uwindsor.ca/facultypositions) found on the job advertisement by May 10, 2024. Applications may be considered after the deadline date; however, acceptance of late submissions is at the discretion of the appointments committee.

Any questions may be sent to:
Dr. Shanthi Johnson, Vice-President, Research and Innovation,
Tel: (519) 253-3000 Ext. 5003
E-mail: vpri@uwindsor.ca

The University of Windsor is a welcoming community committed to equity and diversity in our teaching, learning, and work environments. In pursuit of the University’s Employment Equity Plan, members from the designated groups (Women and whom self-identify as a Woman and gender minorities) are encouraged to apply and self- identify. We also encourage applications from candidates who self-identify as women and as racialized, Indigenous, a person with disability, and/or LGBTQIA2S+. We realize the potential impact that career interruptions can have on a candidate’s record of research and achievement. Candidates are encouraged to explain in their applications the impact that career interruptions may have had on their record of research achievement. Further details on “Career Interruptions” may be found at CRC’s Guidelines to ensure a fair and transparent recruitment and nomination process at https://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/program-programme/admin_guide-eng.aspx. If you need accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the Faculty Recruitment Coordinator (recruit@uwindsor.ca). Should you require further information on accommodation, please visit the Office of Human Rights, Equity & Accessibility website. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. This position is subject to final budgetary approval.

The University of Windsor is committed to employment equity. It supports reaching and maintaining a diverse and inclusive representation amongst the Canada Research Chair holders at the University of Windsor along with the goal of excellence in research and Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) training and development. For further details on the University of Windsor’s commitment to CRC equity, diversity, and inclusion, please visit https://www.uwindsor.ca/research-innovation-services/608/crc-equity-diversity-and-inclusion.

For more information on the University of Windsor, please visit the University website at http://www.uwindsor.ca.

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