Assistant Professor

The School of Biomedical Engineering (SBME) at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver campus, in collaboration with the Centre for Aging SMART at Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), invites applications for a full-time tenure track position at the rank of Assistant Professor. The successful candidate will be eligible to hold the external VCHRI Cordula Paetzold Chair in innovations in Aging and be a principal investigator at the Centre for Aging SMART, subject to approval by VCHRI.

The School of Biomedical Engineering is a partnership between the Faculties of Medicine and Applied Science, acting as a nucleus for education and training, research, and innovation in biomedical engineering, creating new knowledge, new academic and training programs, and fostering translation and innovation. The vision of SBME is to transform health care outcomes through unconstrained exploration of the best possible integrative solutions across engineering, medicine, and biology. Through collaborative, innovative, and interdisciplinary approaches and building on UBC academic and research excellence, the School of Biomedical Engineering is emerging as a global leader in biomedical engineering research, education and translation. For more information about the School of Biomedical Engineering, please visit

The primary laboratory space for the successful applicant will be at the Centre for Aging SMART ). The Centre for Aging SMART is an internationally recognized research centre of the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) and the University of British Columbia. An interdisciplinary team of researchers, clinicians, students, staff and community partners, work together to implement, evaluate and disseminate solutions to some of our health care system's most pressing and expensive problems.

As the research arm of VCH and health care partner of the Faculty of Medicine at UBC, VCHRI research enterprise spans across three research-intensive institutions—Vancouver General Hospital, UBC Hospital and GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre—as well as Richmond Hospital, Lions Gate Hospital and various public health agencies in Vancouver ). The VCHRI Cordula Paetzold Chair in Innovations in Aging was established in partnership with the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation.

Reporting to the Director of the School of Biomedical Engineering, the successful candidate is expected to develop and run a world-class research program in the development of foundational technologies that impact aging in one or more of the following areas: human interfacing devices and sensors, biomechanics, intelligent assistive technologies, robotics, or imaging, and their applications in aging and/or rehabilitation. The incumbent is also expected to participate in teaching activities of the School, as well as provide mentorship and training to to undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate learners. The incumbent will also be expected to provide service to the University and the broader academic and professional community. They will work collaboratively in diverse groups to bring forward strategic initiatives for the School and the Faculty. The incumbent will work with the directors and other colleagues at the Centre for Aging Smart on centre initiatives.

Candidates with expertise in aging and/or rehabilitation should understand the challenges of introducing technology to persons living with complex medical needs or disabilities and developing, testing, and transferring technology within the ecosystem of healthcare. Candidates with research foci that encompass aging and rehabilitation processes in the context of improving transitions in care and aging in place are encouraged to apply. The candidate should have the goal of improving function, health, and quality of life for older adults and people with complex clinical needs or living with a broad range of cognitive and physical challenges. Outstanding candidates seeking to translate bioengineering solutions to aging in place and/or rehabilitation are encouraged to apply.

The successful candidate will hold a PhD or equivalent, and either be registered, or be eligible to register, with Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia (EGBC). They will have demonstrated evidence of ability in teaching and scholarly activity as well as demonstrated ability to effectively communicate and interact with empathy, understanding and respect of diverse and divergent perspectives.

The successful candidate will be a faculty member within the School of Biomedical Engineering, UBC and be a principal investigator and expected to conduct research at the Centre for Aging SMART, VCHRI. The candidate is expected to foster and establish collaborations within and beyond the School of Biomedical Engineering and the Centre for Aging SMART.

An application package should include curriculum vitae, a statement of teaching interests and accomplishments (up to 2 pages), a research program outline (up to 4 pages), and a statement describing your experience working with and supporting a diverse student body and your contributions to creating/advancing a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion on campus or within your discipline (up to 1 page). Your application should also include the names and contact information of three referees. Please submit your application online at (JR18037).

The expected salary for this position is $135,000 to $145,000 per annum. The Faculties of Medicine and Applied Science are committed to offering equitable and competitive salaries, taking into consideration the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate as well as their years in rank. At UBC, in addition to a competitive salary, a generous benefit package as well as a highly valued pension plan and supportive leaves, are included. For more information about the various Faculty Benefits Packages available at UBC, please visit: The successful candidate will also have access to a comprehensive range of services, resources and career development opportunities. For more information, please visit:

Should you have any queries around this position, please contact Suni Hwang, Senior HR Manager at

Review of Applications will begin on November 1, 2024 and will continue until the position is filled. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2025, or upon a date to be mutually agreed.

In assessing applications, UBC recognizes the legitimate impact that leaves (e.g., maternity leave, leave due to illness) can have on a candidate's record of research achievement. These leaves will be taken into careful consideration during the assessment process.

We invite applications from qualified candidates who share our commitment to employment equity and inclusive excellence, and we welcome applications from candidates belonging to historically, persistently, or systemically marginalized groups: Indigenous (First Nation, Métis, Inuit) Peoples, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, women, 2SLGBTQIA+ people, and trans and non-binary people.

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. Please contact Carmen de Hoog, If you have any questions regarding accommodations or accessibility during the recruitment and hiring process or for more information and support, please visit UBC's Centre for Workplace Accessibility website at or contact the Centre at

With gratitude, we acknowledge that the University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine and its distributed programs, which include four university academic campuses, are located on traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of First Nations Peoples and communities around the province.

The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world. Since 1915, UBC's entrepreneurial spirit has embraced innovation and challenged the status quo. UBC encourages its students, staff and faculty to challenge convention, lead discovery and explore new ways of learning. At UBC, bold thinking is given a place to develop into ideas that can change the world.

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Ranked among the world's top medical schools with the fifth-largest MD enrollment in North America, the UBC Faculty of Medicine is a leader in both the science and the practice of medicine. Across British Columbia, more than 12,000 faculty and staff are training the next generation of doctors and health care professionals, making remarkable discoveries, and helping to create the pathways to better health for our communities at home and around the world.

The Faculty -- comprised of approximately 2,200 administrative support, technical/research and management and professional staff, as well approximately 650 full-time academic and over 10,000 clinical faculty members - is composed of 19 academic basic science and/or clinical departments, three schools, and 24 research centres and institutes. Together with its University and Health Authority partners, the Faculty delivers innovative programs and conducts research in the areas of health and life sciences. Faculty, staff and trainees are located at university campuses, clinical academic campuses in hospital settings and other regionally based centres across the province.

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UBC hires on the basis of merit and is committed to employment equity. All qualified persons are encouraged to apply. Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority.