Position Description

 

The Department of Bioresource Engineering at McGill University invites applications for a tenure-track position as an Assistant Professor in Urban Food Production Engineering. The successful candidate can address several challenges in urban, local, and northern food production systems. The scope of the position may include, but is not limited to: urban agriculture (e.g., plant factories, roof top greenhouses, container farming, and novel food production systems), green structures (e.g., green walls, edible walls, green roofs, ornamental displays, medicinal plants, and rooftop greenhouses and gardens), smart housing for animals, regenerative building design (e.g., ecomimetic and biological processes for water collection, heat island mitigation, waste reduction, and nature based systems), climate control for biological and agricultural buildings, sustainable structural design, and life cycle assessment. The Department of Bioresource Engineering is part of the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences on the Macdonald Campus, located 35 km west of Montreal’s city center and the downtown Campus. The Macdonald Campus Farm, Horticulture Centre, and the main Macdonald Campus are incubation sites that may be used as applied laboratories to generate ideas, build and test experimental structures, and apply the research to biological and agricultural production systems. There is a capacity for outreach to surrounding urban and rural communities. Emphasizing this area will strengthen the ties with the food production sector in the Montreal and Quebec region and deliver cutting-edge teaching and research at McGill in urban food production engineering.

 

  The successful candidate who satisfies the eligibility conditions of the Canada Research Chair (CRC) program may be supported by the University for nomination to a Tier 2 Chair in Urban Food Production Engineering, which provides focused time for research within a full-time academic appointment.

 

Nominees for Tier 2 Chair positions must be emerging scholars and hold the rank of assistant or associate professors or possess the necessary qualifications to be appointed to these levels. A nominee who is more than 10 years from having earned their highest degree and has experienced legitimate career interruptions (e.g., maternity, or parental leave, extended sick leave, clinical training, and family care) will be taken into consideration using the Tier 2 justification process:

 

http://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/program-programme/nomination-mise_en_candidature-eng.aspx#s3 

 

Eligibility conditions for CRCs are on the CRC Program website:

 

http://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/program-programme/nomination-mise_en_candidature-eng.aspx#s2

 

Job Duties

 

 

The suitable individual will teach courses related to agricultural building design, energy management and design, and integration of biology into building design for bioresource engineering students as well as graduate students across multiple disciplines. Emphasis shall be given to urban food and plant production and animal housing but can include related areas such as regenerative building design, structural analysis (statics and dynamics), building foundation design, energy management (HVAC, thermal management, and novel energy systems), building control, renewable energy, data collection/monitoring, and other emerging technologies pertaining to building and controlled plant environments, human wellness, and food quality assessment.

 

Qualifications and Education Requirements

 

 

The successful candidate must have a Ph.D. and a bachelor’s degree in engineering and preferably in a field associated with building and structural design. The ideal candidates will have expertise in building and structural engineering within plant, animal, or environmental systems, and related experience in regenerative building design, urban environmental design, sustainable system design, agricultural engineering, civil engineering, and/or related engineering fields. The ideal candidate must be a licensed P.Eng. or at least eligible to register as a professional engineer in Canada. The ability to communicate in French and prior experience with the Canadian agricultural and agri-food industry are highly desirable.

 

Candidates who do not satisfy the CRC eligibility criteria for a Tier 2 Chair are nonetheless invited to apply for the position.

JOB DETAILS

Job Classification:

 

Tenure-track

Rank:

 

Assistant Professor

 

Job Status:

 

Full-time

Salary:

 

Commensurate with qualifications and experience

Application Deadline:

January 15, 2024, or until the position is filled

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applications must be submitted through Workday:

 

https://mcgill.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/McGill_Careers/job/MacdonaldStewart-Bld/Assistant-Professor_JR0000049033

 

 

 

Related questions can be addressed to ­­­­­­ Prof. Hamid Akbarzadeh (hamid.akbarzadeh@mcgill.ca), chair of the search committee.

 

The following supporting documents are required:

 

• A cover letter and curriculum vitae A statement of teaching and research interests The names and contact information of three referees. For Tier 2 nominees at the rank of Assistant Professor who are within three years of their PhD, one referee must be the PhD supervisor.

For internal applicants only: Supporting documents include a recent curriculum vitae and a statement of research aligned with the designated subject area for the Chair.

 

 

 

COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND DIVERSITY

McGill University hires on the basis of merit and is strongly committed to equity and diversity within its community. We welcome and encourage applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities.

 

McGill further recognizes and fairly considers the impact of leaves (e.g., family care or health-related) that may contribute to career interruptions or slowdowns. Candidates are encouraged to signal any leave that affected productivity, may have had an effect on their career path. This information will be considered to ensure the equitable assessment of the candidate’s record.

 

McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated equity groups to self-identify. It further seeks to ensure the equitable treatment and full inclusion of persons with disabilities by striving for the implementation of universal design principles transversally, across all facets of the University community, and through accommodation policies and procedures. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, Professor Angela Campbell, Associate Provost (Equity and Academic Policies) by email or phone at 514-398-1660.

 

 All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

 

McGill University is an English-language university where most teaching and research activities are conducted in the English language, thereby requiring English communication both verbally and in writing.

 

 2023-11-09