Endowed Chair

Endowed Chair (Assistant Professor) in Applied Microbiology

The Opportunity

The Department of Food and Bioproduct Sciences invites applications for a full-time, continuing status appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor in Applied Microbiology . Special consideration will be given to those candidates working in Precision Fermentation , however other areas of applied microbiology are also of interest. This position is an Endowed Agri-Food Innovation Chair within the College. The successful applicant will contribute to teaching and research in areas related to agri-food microbiology and/or biotechnology, supervise graduate students at the MSc and PhD levels, and lead an externally funded, scholarly research program. The successful candidate will conduct cross-cutting research within a vibrant and research-intensive department and will be expected to collaborate effectively with researchers within and beyond the department. The candidate will also contribute to and develop courses within our undergraduate and graduate programs based on a teacher-scholar model, undertake administrative duties, and participate in departmental and university collegial processes.

The Candidate

This position requires a PhD in either Applied Microbiology, Food Biotechnology or Food Science (or a related field) with complementary experience in ONE of the following areas: food/precision/industrial fermentation and/or applied microbiology (utilization of microbial biotransformation), along with a strong or emerging research program and an excellent academic record. Relevant post-doctoral research and demonstrated effective classroom teaching skills and mentorship experience would be an asset. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to establish effective working relationships with faculty and stakeholders are essential.

The Department and University

The Department of Food and Bioproduct Sciences is comprised of nine faculty members with research programs in the areas of food nutrigenomic, brewing, food/environmental microbiology, food nanotechnology and emulsion science, food enzymology, lipid biotechnology, microbial bioproducts, protein, lipid and starch quality/utilization, bioprocessing, and value-added crop utilization. A fermentation pilot plant, bioprocessing pilot plant, food/ingredient processing pilot plant, sensory laboratory, product development kitchen, teaching laboratories and access to a number of analytical suites are available within the Department to support both research and teaching. The department has a strong tradition in research excellence with approximately 70 active graduate students and significant external research support. We also have undergraduate programs in Food and Bioproduct Sciences, Food Science, Food and Nutrition, and Food Industry Management. Food and Bioproduct Sciences is a department within the College of Agriculture and Bioresources. The university is home to the Canadian Light Source (CLS), a world-class synchrotron facility, with 22 beam lines for basic and applied research.

The is an international leader in applied research and scholarship with expertise and integration across four primary themes: Food, Feed and Bioproducts; Environment and Ecology; Plants and Animals; and Business and Applied Economics. The college has a century-long reputation for teaching, research and outreach and has been a consistent strength for the university. The college has played a pivotal role in the development of the agriculture and food industries in Saskatchewan and continues to build on a legacy of public engagement and cooperative partnerships. Our faculty are committed to providing an exceptional learning experience and preparing graduates for leadership in the bioeconomy.

The successful candidate will take a lead role in driving research important to Saskatchewan and Canada, with opportunities to collaborate with colleagues and have access to facilities from across campus and the city including those from Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, National Research Council of Canada, and industry partners. The University of Saskatchewan is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, a city with a diverse and thriving economic base, a vibrant arts community and a full range of leisure opportunities. The University has a reputation for excellence in teaching, research and scholarly activities and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs to a student population of over 25,000.

Salary bands for this position for the 2022-2023 academic year are as follows: Assistant Professor: $99,945 to $120,101. This position includes a comprehensive benefits package which includes a dental, health and extended vision care plan, pension plan, life insurance (compulsory and voluntary), academic long-term disability, sick leave, travel insurance, death benefits, an employee assistance program, a professional expense allowance, and a flexible health and wellness spending program.