Position number: 37895
Probationary
Department of Oral Biology
Rady Faculty of Health Sciences
Posting start date: July 10, 2026
Advertised until: August 9, 2026 or until filled
Start date:
October 1, 2027
For more information please contact: Kristjana Oliver - [email protected]
The Department of Oral Biology in the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry at the University of Manitoba invites applications for a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (CRC), in the area of oral cancer biology. The successful candidate will be appointed to a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor at the Paul Albrechtsen Research Institute CancerCare Manitoba commencing on October 1, 2027, or a date mutually agreed upon. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience, in accordance with the University of Manitoba Faculty Association collective agreement.
The Government of Canada has established the CRC program to enable Canadian universities to foster world class research excellence. To meet the assessment criteria, applicants must be emerging world-class scholars who have completed a PhD, or discipline-appropriate terminal degree and post-doctoral training. The ideal candidate will demonstrate potential to achieve international recognition in their fields in the next five to ten years. The successful candidate must also demonstrate the potential to attract, develop and mentor excellent trainees, and lead an original, innovative high-impact research program.
The Paul Albrechtsen Research Institute CancerCare Manitoba is a state-of-the-art open-concept research facility. It provides excellent care to patients with an exceptional team of over 70 scientists and clinicians researching cancer and blood disorders (see https://research.cancercare.mb.ca/paul-albrechtsen-research-institute/ for an overview of major infrastructure and list of members). The Institute membership consists of fundamental and clinician scientists offering an exceptional collaborative environment for the development and translation of new approaches to the study of human cancers.
The Department of Oral Biology at Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry is the oldest in North America and offers a unique environment for collaborative research. Dentistry and Oral Sciences at the University of Manitoba have consistently ranked among the top five in Canada and in the top 101-150 globally. Abundant opportunities exist for faculty members in the department to collaborate across the wider biomedical research community, including with the School of Biomedical Sciences, the Children’s Health Research Institute of Manitoba, St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre and the Paul Albrechtsen Research Institute CancerCare Manitoba.
The position includes a competitive laboratory start-up package and the opportunity to compete for additional research infrastructure funding locally and via the Canadian Foundation for Innovation. The successful applicant will have access to core research platforms within the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences and the Paul Albrechtsen Research Institute CancerCare Manitoba, including state-of-the-art facilities for flow cytometry, live cell imaging, multiplex imaging, histomorphology and ultrastructural imaging, biobanking, proteomics, NGS, bioinformatics, animal models and others.
Responsibilities:
The successful candidate will be expected to establish an original, innovative, extramurally-funded research program using cutting-edge approaches to study oral cancer and related diseases – complementing existing research strengths, and in collaboration with other researchers within CancerCare Manitoba and across the University of Manitoba. The chair will be based at the Paul Albrechtsen Research Institute CancerCare Manitoba and will contribute to educating undergraduate, graduate and dentistry students through teaching and mentorship, and participate in academic service activities to the department, college, institution, and university.
Qualifications:
To meet the assessment criteria, applicants must be exceptional emerging world-class scholars who have completed a PhD, or discipline-appropriate terminal degree, and demonstrate potential to achieve international recognition in their fields in the next five to ten years. Specific research areas of interest include, but are not limited to, innovative approaches to study oral microbiome and pre-cancers, cancer immunotherapy, fundamental molecular and cellular biology of oral, head and neck cancers, genomics, AI, and human cohort studies involving complex molecular and cellular datasets. The successful candidate must also demonstrate the potential to attract, develop and mentor excellent and diverse trainees, and lead an original, innovative and productive research program. Applicants must have an impactful publication history and the ability to secure competitive, extramural research funding. The successful applicant will have a demonstrated ability to conduct and lead original, innovative research working in a collaborative team environment, and will possess excellent communication skills. Teaching experience with diverse student bodies would be desirable. The successful candidate must also have knowledge of and demonstrated commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
A Tier 2 CRC Nomination will be submitted soon after a successful candidate has been selected. Chairs are awarded by the Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat after a rigorous evaluation, and award decisions are expected in fall 2027, with the appointment starting October 1, 2027, or on a date mutually agreed to.
The successful candidate will be nominated for a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair soon after selection. Chairs are awarded by the Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat through a rigorous peer-review process. Award decisions are expected in the Fall 2027, with the appointment starting thereafter on a date mutually agreed to. The tenure-track appointment will be conditional upon a successful Canada Research Chair nomination. Tier 2 Chair awards are valued at $100,000 per year for 5 years with an option to renew once. Applicants must normally be within 10 years of obtaining their terminal degree at the time of nomination. Applicants who are beyond this 10-year window due to eligible career interruptions (such as parental leave, extended sick leave, clinical training, or family caregiving responsibilities) may be considered through the CRC program’s Tier 2 justification process Please contact the UM’s Office of Research Services ([email protected]) for more information.
The University acknowledges the potential impact that Career Interruptions and Personal Circumstances can have on an applicant’s record of research achievement. We encourage applicants to explain the impact of any such interruption(s) in their submission. Measures will be taken to ensure that these leaves will be taken into careful consideration during the evaluation process. The CRC Nomination Selection Committee will receive equity training that includes instruction on how to recognize and combat unconscious, implicit, overt, prejudicial and other kinds of bias. The Canada Research Chairs website also provides full program information including details on eligibility criteria at: http://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/program-programme/nomination-mise_en_candidature-eng.aspx.
EQUITY STATEMENT
The Rady Faculty of Health Sciences is committed to the social justice principles of equity, access & participation and to promoting opportunities in hiring, promotion and tenure (where applicable) for systemically marginalized groups who have been excluded from full participation at the University and the larger community including Indigenous Peoples, Black, racially marginalized communities, disabled persons and those who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, questioning, intersex, asexual and other diverse sexual identities).
An inclusive, open and diverse community is essential to excellence and fosters voices that have been ignored or discouraged. To address the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences commitment to equity, access and participation, and in recognition of the underrepresentation of members of historically and currently excluded groups, we take proactive measures including implicit bias training for all hiring panels. We strive for diversity and cultural safety throughout the hiring process (hiring panels, short-list of candidates, interviews).
The University of Manitoba is a driving force of innovation, discovery and advancement. Our momentum is propelled by our campus community – UM faculty, staff and students whose determination and curiosity shape our world for the better. Our teaching, learning and work environment is uniquely strengthened and enriched by Indigenous perspectives. With two main campuses in Winnipeg, satellite campuses throughout Manitoba, and world-wide research, UM’s impact is global.
Discover outstanding employee benefits, experience world-class facilities and join a dynamic community that values reconciliation, sustainability, diversity, and inclusion. We are one of Manitoba’s Top Employers and one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers. At the University of Manitoba, what inspires you can change everything.
The City of Winnipeg (www.tourismwinnipeg.com), located where the Red and Assiniboine Rivers meet, is recognized for its vibrant, multicultural community and diverse culture. The city, with a growing population of more than 855,000, is home to internationally renowned festivals, galleries and museums, the historic Exchange District and The Forks, and ever-expanding research, education, and business sectors. From the Hudson Bay waters, across the farmland fields, to the pulse of the cities and towns, The Province of Manitoba’s (www.travelmanitoba.com) people and places – its 100,000 lakes, 92 provincial parks, winding river valleys and storied prairie skies – inspire.
Application Deadline: A review of applications will begin September 1, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled. Applicants must apply to this University of Manitoba advertisement through the UM Careers portal for review and endorsement and clearly state the application position number in the cover letter.
Application materials should include:
- a cover letter concisely describing suitability for the position
- a curriculum vitae (including examples of significant research contributions)
- a research plan (3 page maximum) outlining an independent, innovative research program, and its potential to attract funding and contribute to student training and other impacts on the broader community
- a teaching statement (1 page maximum) that documents the applicant's experience in and/or approach to training and mentoring diverse students and the candidate's teaching philosophy
- a personal statement (1 page maximum) addressing positionality, and demonstrated commitment to anti-racism and social justice (including principles of equity, access and participation)
- the names and contact information of three referees
Applicants should upload their cover letter separately, their curriculum vitae separately, and then combine their research plan, teaching statement, personal statement, and a list of three referees into a single PDF file and upload it under ‘Additional Documentation’ when applying in UM Careers. If you experience any difficulties accessing UM Careers, please contact Kristjana Oliver at
[email protected] in the Dean’s Office for assistance.
The University of Manitoba is a driving force of innovation, discovery and advancement. Our momentum is propelled by our campus community – UM faculty, staff and students whose determination and curiosity shape our world for the better. Our teaching, learning and work environment is uniquely strengthened and enriched by Indigenous perspectives. With two main campuses in Winnipeg, satellite campuses throughout Manitoba, and world-wide research, UM’s impact is global.
Discover outstanding employee benefits, experience world-class facilities and join a dynamic community that values reconciliation, sustainability, diversity, and inclusion. We are one of Manitoba’s Top Employers and one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers. At the University of Manitoba, what inspires you can change everything.
The University of Manitoba is committed to the principles of equity, diversity & inclusion and to promoting opportunities in hiring, promotion and tenure (where applicable) for systemically marginalized groups who have been excluded from full participation at the University and the larger community including Indigenous Peoples, women, racialized persons, persons with disabilities and those who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, questioning, intersex, asexual and other diverse sexual identities).
If you require accommodation supports during the recruitment process, please contact [email protected] or 204-474-7195. Please note this contact information is for accommodation reasons only.
Application materials, including letters of reference, will be handled in accordance with the protection of privacy provisions of "The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act" (Manitoba). Please note that curriculum vitae will be provided to participating members of the search process.
