Tier 2 Canada Research Chair, Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence.

The Faculty of Arts and Science at the University of Lethbridge invites applications for the position of Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. The department of appointment is open as we are seeking an exceptional scholar who can strengthen our research capacity in machine learning and AI with applications to any discipline. Potential areas of study that would complement existing research strengths at the University of Lethbridge include Geographical Information Science (GEO AI), Mathematics and Statistics, Computer Science, or Computational Neuroscience.

Building on a foundation of excellence in liberal education, the University of Lethbridge has evolved into one of Canada’s leading comprehensive academic and research universities. The University of Lethbridge is home to many world-class research centres and institutes, fostering excellence in research by facilitating collaboration within and across disciplines.

The successful candidate will have an established research portfolio and will demonstrate an ability to build an internationally recognized research program that will attract outstanding graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. The successful candidate will obtain competitively awarded external research funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and other granting agencies to support a vibrant, innovative, and collaborative research program and to train the next generation of scientists and innovators.

The Canada Research Chair (CRC) program was established by the Canadian Federal Government with the purpose of attracting outstanding researchers to the Canadian university system. Tier 2 Chairs are intended for exceptional emerging scholars (i.e. the candidate must have been an active researcher in their field for fewer than 10 years at the time of nomination).

Qualifications
Candidates must hold a Ph.D. (or equivalent), be within 10 years of receiving their highest degree, and be an exceptional emerging researcher, acknowledged by their peers as having the potential to lead in their field.

The University recognizes that life circumstances such as illness, disability, family, and community will have an impact on a candidate’s record of research achievement, and these impacts will be taken into careful consideration during the assessment process. Note that Tier 2 Chair nominees may be more than 10 years from their highest degree if they have experienced legitimate career interruptions. More information on the CRC program, including eligibility criteria, can be found at http://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca .

The University of Lethbridge is strongly committed to equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation. This is demonstrated by its ongoing work, relationships, and connections with the Blackfoot Confederacy. The university strives to provide access and opportunity to historically excluded groups identified under the Employment Equity Act and to meet its equity and diversity targets as a key consideration when allocating a Chair position, selecting which field to support with a Chair, and deciding whether to limit the pool to internal candidates. In accordance with the University of Lethbridge Canada Research Chair Program – Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Action Plan, we strongly encourage applications from skilled and experienced members of the four designated groups, such as Indigenous peoples, racialized individuals, persons with disabilities, women and gender minorities, as defined in the CRC Program method for establishing equity targets and the Employment Equity Act. The purpose of this measure is to increase and ensure equitable representation and contributions of these members in the allocation of Canada Research Chairs positions. In recognition of the underrepresentation of scholars with a disability and racialized scholars in our chairholders, and in accordance with Section 10.1 of the Alberta Human Rights Act, only applicants who self-identify as a person with a disability and/or as a racialized individual will be considered for this CRC opportunity.

The Accessible Canada Act defines disability as any impairment, including physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment – or a functional limitation- whether permanent, temporary or episodic in nature, or evident or not, that in interaction with a barrier, hinders a person’s full and equal participation in society. As a requirement of this position, candidates are asked to complete the confidential self-identification form during the final application process. Please see the CRC website for additional information about self-identification.

Application Process
Applications for this position must include:
• a letter of application
• a curriculum vitae
• three of the applicant’s most influential publications (or other research contributions);
• a comprehensive Canada Research Chair vision statement and research plan of no longer than 5 pages, including a description on how they intend to develop externally funded research projects;
• a statement no longer than 3 pages emphasizing their research mentorship experience, teaching philosophy, and their experiences in advancing equity, diversity, inclusion and decolonization within their practices.

Short-listed candidates will be asked to provide contact information for three academic referees.

For details on how to submit your application, please visit our Human Resources website at https://uleth.peopleadmin.ca/ (use the Academic Postings tab). Enquiries may be directed to Dr. Jennifer Copeland, Associate Dean of Arts and Science at jennifer.copeland@uleth.ca

The position will remain open until filled, with initial review of applications beginning on November 15, 2024. Please note that the offer of this tenure-track position is conditional on a successful Tier 2 Canada Research Chair application. The anticipated starting date for the position is January 1, 2026.

About University of Lethbridge
Founded in 1967, on traditional Blackfoot land, the University of Lethbridge is home to 8,900 undergraduate and graduate students from around the world. With campuses in Lethbridge and Calgary, we are one of Canada’s top ranked universities and leading research institutions. Our Blackfoot name, gifted to us by Elder Bruce Wolf Child, is Iniskim, meaning Sacred Buffalo Stone.

Located in the heart of traditional Blackfoot Confederacy territory, the University of Lethbridge serves the people of southern Alberta through programs, research and creative activity that contribute to economic and social prosperity locally and globally. Founded on the principles of liberal education, the University of Lethbridge is broad in scope while promoting excellence in undergraduate and graduate education that prepares students to understand and address an increasingly complex and interconnected world.

Employment equity statement
uLethbridge is committed to creating an inclusive, diverse, and representative workforce that is reflective of the community we serve. The University welcomes all applications from qualified candidates including all employment equity groups of indigenous people, women, persons with disabilities, racialized individuals and persons of diverse gender and sexual orientation protected under the Alberta Human rights code. In accordance with the Canadian Immigration requirements, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given preference.

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