Position Description

Assistant Professor in Cell and Developmental Biology

Position description

The Department of Zoology at The University of British Columbia invites applications for an Assistant Professor position in Cell and Developmental Biology. This is a tenure-track position, with initial appointment to be made at the Assistant Professor level, beginning no earlier than July 1, 2027 and a salary within the range of $135,000 - $160,000/year.

We seek an outstanding applicant with an innovative research program using cellular, genetic, and/or genomic approaches to address fundamental mechanisms of cell or developmental biology. Applicants studying traditional or non-traditional, emerging model systems are encouraged to apply.

The position requires a Ph.D. degree and postdoctoral experience. The successful candidate should also have a proven research track record (publications, acquisition of research funding, and/or other metrics of research productivity). Responsibilities of the position include establishing and conducting an internationally competitive and externally funded research program, excellent teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels, supervising graduate students, and participating on service committees for the department, university, and academic/scientific community. The successful candidate will have a strong commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, to create a welcoming community for all, particularly those who are historically, persistently, or systemically marginalized.

Location description

The successful applicant will become a member of the Department of Zoology (www.zoology.ubc.ca) and a member of the Life Sciences Institute (https://lsi.ubc.ca).  The Zoology Department includes more than 38 principal investigators and promotes integrative research in biology. Its faculty and students pursue cutting-edge questions in Integrative and Comparative Physiology, Evolution, Ecology, and Cell and Developmental Biology. Specializations range from the organismal to the molecular level. The Life Sciences Institute is a world-class, highly interactive, multidisciplinary institute, comprising over 80 labs pursuing fundamental biological mechanisms underlying health and disease. Labs are loosely organized into collaborative research groups, including Cell and Developmental Biology, Diabetes, Cardiovascular, and Neuroscience, and LSI members have access to core facilities to support work on protein structure, bioinformatics, imaging, single cell flow analytics, and more.

UBC’s campuses are located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Syilx (Okanagan) Peoples and of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil Waututh) Nations. UBC is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world. UBC embraces innovation and challenges to the status quo. UBC is dedicated to ensuring that diversity, equity and inclusion are embedded throughout the university’s academic and work life, recognizing that significant work remains to be accomplished. As one of the world's leading universities, UBC creates an exceptional learning environment that fosters global citizenship, advances a civil and sustainable society, and supports outstanding research to serve the people of British Columbia, Canada, and the world.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted as a single pdf addressed to Dr. Jeffrey Richards, Head of Zoology, at Academic Jobs Online: https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/32408 .

Applications must include the following (in order):

1.     Cover letter (up to 2 pages) that outlines:

○       Your research vision and accomplishments

○       How your expertise, scholarship and planned research will integrate with the Department of Zoology and the LSI.

○       How you have displayed leadership through existing or proposed research, teaching, service, community engagement, outreach, contributions to equity, diversity and inclusion, or other relevant activities.

2.     Curriculum vitae including a list of publications.

3.     Research Statement (up to 2 pages) describing your current and proposed research program.

4.     Teaching Statement (up to 1 page) describing teaching interests and accomplishments, addressing how you will teach core undergraduate courses in the UBC Biology program. 

5.     Diversity statement (1 page) describing your lived background experience (if comfortable), and your past experience and future plans regarding working with a diverse student body, and contributing to a culture of equity and inclusion.

6.     Up to 3 representative publications.

7.     Name and contact information for 3 letters of reference

The closing date for applications is October 1, 2026.

UBC hires on the basis of merit and is committed to employment equity. Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence.  An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged.  Inclusion is built by individual and institutional responsibility through continuous engagement with diversity to inspire people, ideas, and actions for a better world. 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, Métis, Inuk, or Indigenous person. UBC acknowledges that certain circumstances may cause career interruptions that legitimately affect an applicant’s record of research or educational leadership achievement. We encourage applicants to note in their applications whether they would like consideration given to the impact of any circumstances, such as those due to health or family reasons, in order to allow for a fair assessment of their research productivity.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.  Members of historically marginalized groups including women and non-binary candidates will be given special consideration.

If you have any needs or questions regarding accommodations or accessibility during the job application, recruitment and hiring process or for more information and support, please visit UBC’s Center For Workplace Accessibility website at https://hr.ubc.ca/health-and-wellbeing/working-injury-illness-or-disability/centre-workplace-accessibility or contact the Centre at workplace.accessibility@ubc.ca.

The University is committed to creating and maintaining an accessible work environment for all members of its workforce. Within this hiring process we will make efforts to create an accessible process for all candidates (including but not limited to disabled people). Confidential accommodations are available on request by contacting Manager, HR Services, Department of Zoology by email at zoology.hr@ubc.ca.