Canada Impact+ Research Chair in Molecular and Cellular Biotechnology

Position Title / Rank: Canada Impact+ Research Chair in Molecular and Cellular Biotechnology
Department: Molecular and Cellular Biology 

Position Description:
 

The Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Guelph invites applications for a Canada Impact+ Research Chair in Molecular and Cellular Biotechnology at the $1M/year award level. The term is for 8 years, with a possibility for a four-year funded extension, at 50% of the original award value.  This senior appointment is part of the federal Impact+ Research Chairs program. It is intended to attract a world-leading researcher whose work aligns with national priorities and delivers clear, innovative outcomes and applications that benefit the Canadian economy.

Canada Impact+ Research Chair in Molecular and Cellular Biotechnology is aligned with the strategic priority areas of [choose from below list] 

• advanced digital technologies (including artificial intelligence, quantum and cybersecurity); 

• health, including biotechnology; 

• clean technology and resource value chains; 

• environment, climate resilience and the Arctic;

• food and water security; 

• democratic and community resilience; 

• manufacturing and advanced materials; and/or 

• defence and dual-use technologies. 

 The program’s evaluation criteria are: 

• Research/academic merit and leadership skills of the nominee 

• Quality of the institutional support 

• Quality of the research program 

• Potential contribution to the excellence of the Canadian and international research ecosystem 

• Potential for knowledge translation, mobilization and application of research results 

We seek an outstanding candidate whose research program advances molecular and cellular approaches to biotechnology, integrating fundamental biological insight with translational and applied impact. Areas of interest may include, but are not limited to, microbial or cellular biotechnology, biomanufacturing, synthetic or systems biology, cellular engineering, functional and evolutionary genomics, or the development of biological platforms for applications in health, sustainability, agriculture, or industrial biotechnology. Research approaches may span molecular, cellular, organismal, or systems-level biology and leverage advanced experimental, analytical, computational, or multi-omics methodologies.

The successful candidate will be expected to lead an innovative, externally funded research program that advances molecular and cellular biotechnology and delivers clear translational, industrial, or societal impact. The Chair will develop and sustain a high-profile research program that translates biological discoveries into applications, including technologies, platforms, and processes relevant to health, sustainability, agriculture, and the bioeconomy. We particularly welcome candidates whose work fosters interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration, building strong partnerships within MCB and across the College of Biological Science, as well as with industry, government, and other external stakeholders.

The University of Guelph requires that candidates must hold a Ph.D. (or equivalent) and have an established record of international research excellence, demonstrated through high-impact publications, sustained external funding, and meaningful engagement with industry or other non-academic partners. The successful candidate will be expected to provide scientific and strategic leadership, build and mentor multidisciplinary research teams, and develop and sustain a strong network of industry and external partners, while attracting significant extramural funding to support a large-scale, application-driven research program aligned with the Impact+ mandate.

The successful candidate will join the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, a dynamic, multidisciplinary, research-intensive unit with approximately 40 faculty members whose expertise spans Molecular Biology & Genetics, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Immunology, and Neuroscience. Faculty contribute to undergraduate and graduate programs in Biological Science and Biomedical Science and engage in extensive interdisciplinary research across the College of Biological Sciences and beyond. The Department and College provide a strong foundation for collaboration in molecular and cellular biology, biotechnology, and translational research.

Faculty within the College of Biological Sciences have access to the Advanced Analysis Centre (AAC), which houses state-of-the-art facilities in mass spectrometry, flow cytometry, electron and confocal microscopy, genomics, and advanced imaging. The successful candidate will also have access to shared biophysical, molecular, and animal research infrastructure, including super-resolution imaging platforms and complementary core facilities, enabling mechanistic, systems-level, and translational studies across molecular and cellular biotechnology.

Graduate training within the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology is centered on M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs, with faculty also contributing to a range of interdisciplinary graduate initiatives across the College of Biological Sciences, including Biophysics, Bioinformatics, Neuroscience, Plant Science, and Toxicology. The successful candidate will play a key role in training and mentoring highly qualified personnel, providing leadership and opportunities for graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and research staff engaged in molecular and cellular biotechnology and translational research.

The successful candidate is expected to contribute to teaching and mentorship activities appropriate to their role as an Impact+ Research Chair, including graduate-level instruction and limited undergraduate teaching aligned with their expertise, and to support a diverse and inclusive learning environment.

The University of Guelph resides on the traditional lands and territories of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, and Huron-Wendat. These lands are now home to a rich diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people. We offer our respect and gratitude to our Indigenous neighbours and affirm our responsibility to realize our commitments to reconciliation through ongoing action. We are guided in this work by Bi-Naagward | It Comes into View, the Indigenous Initiatives Strategy.

The University of Guelph is the third-largest employer in Guelph, a city of approximately 140,000 people located about an hour’s drive west of Toronto, Ontario. The University of Guelph is a top-ranked comprehensive university, with approximately 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students across more than 40 academic units, and is nationally and internationally recognized for its strengths in the life sciences. In the most recent Shanghai Rankings, the University of Guelph ranked second in Canada for Biotechnology, reflecting the depth and impact of its research and innovation ecosystem in this area.

The University is known for its strong commitment to student learning, innovative and applied research, and collaboration with world-class academic, government, and industry partners. It offers a distinctive campus culture shaped by a shared purpose - To Improve Life - that drives transformative research, training, and engagement. Our community is characterized by a profound sense of social responsibility, a commitment to international development, and an obligation to address pressing global challenges.

Application Process:

If you are a current employee of the University of Guelph, you must apply on the internal Career Page to be considered as an internal applicant.   

Assessment of applications will begin on XXXXX, XX and will continue until the position is filled. Interested applicants should create an account on https://careers.uoguelph.ca/ and apply for the advertised faculty position (Requisition ID #XXXX) by submitting the following materials (in an integrated Single PDF file):

1. Cover letter (1 page) addressed to Dr. Cezar Khursigara, MCB Faculty Search Committee Chair:

              •    Describe your background and interest in the position.

  2. A curriculum vitae.

3. Proposed research program (4 pages max):
   • Detail the candidate’s specific area of expertise, describing their contributions to the field. 
   • Present a vision of the short and long-term goals of the scholarship/research activities.
   • Provide a detailed plan for their future independent research program and how this program might be leveraged to obtain extramural funding. 
   • Indicate how the candidate’s research program will synergize with the Department’s research environment. 
   •   
4. Diversity statement (1 page max):
   • Describe the history of advocacy and commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion in teaching, scholarship/research and mentorship.
   • Describe strategies to ensure the applicant’s scholarship/research, teaching, and mentorship activities will provide equitable opportunities for students from diverse equity-seeking groups and foster a welcoming and inclusive environment in their courses.

APPLY ONLINE - Canada Impact+ Research Chair in Molecular and Cellular Biotechnology (LINK)

Date Posted: 12/22/2025
Deadline: 01/22/2026 or until a suitable candidate is found.

This position is represented by the University of Guelph Faculty Association (UGFA). 

The University of Guelph commits to fostering inclusive excellence through promoting Indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. Inclusion is a core pillar of Our Time, our strategic plan, which pledges to “transform our human resources, governance and student services and practices across the University to enable us to recruit a diverse student, faculty and staff body and support them in achieving their personal, professional and scholarly goals.” The University commits to creating and maintaining “equitable work environments that empower us in our pursuit of student, faculty and staff success, research excellence, innovation and impact.” 

The University of Guelph invites applications from all qualified individuals; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. We strongly welcome and encourage applications from members of designated groups in employment, including Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, racialized persons, women, and 2SLGBTQIA+ persons. 

The University of Guelph recognizes that career paths can be diverse and career interruptions may occur. We encourage applicants to note in their applications whether they would like considerations given to the impact of any circumstances, such as (but not limited to) those due to health and/or family reasons, that may have affected an applicant’s record of achievement. You are not required to disclose these circumstances in the hiring process. If you choose to do so, the University will ensure that these circumstances do not negatively impact the assessment of your qualifications for the position. 

The University of Guelph is committed to ensuring all applicants have fair and equitable participation in the hiring process. If you anticipate needing medical accommodations during the recruitment or selection processes, confidential assistance is available on request by contacting The University of Guelph is committed to ensuring all applicants have fair and equitable participation in the hiring process. If you anticipate needing medical accommodations during the recruitment or selection processes, confidential assistance is available on request by contacting Occupational Health and Wellness at 519-824-4120 x52674. If you have any questions regarding accommodations or accessibility during the hiring process or for more information and support, please visit the University’s Occupational Health and Wellness or contact OHW at ohw@uoguelph.ca.