health sciences

Simon Fraser University (SFU) is Canada’s leading comprehensive university. The Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) is the largest hospital-based research organization in Western Canada and the 5^th largest in Canada. In collaboration, SFU and the VCHRI seek applicants for The Legacy for Airway Health Chair in Health Communication. This full-time tenure-track opportunity in the Faculty of Health Sciences at SFU is intended for emerging scholars at the rank of assistant professor (or those who possess the necessary qualifications to be appointed at that level). The anticipated start date is September 1, 2025.

The Position

The primary focus of the Chair is research, education, and leadership in health risk communication on vulnerability and susceptibility to airways disease, including asthma and COPD, and its prevention. We seek a colleague to:

• ·Engage in world-class research and education on this thematic focus, targeting resilience and adaptation to threats to lung health such as vaping/tobacco products, exposures in occupational, environmental and/or residential settings, climate change, infectious agents/pandemics, and mis/disinformation.
• Establish a robust interdisciplinary, multi-method research program in one or more relevant areas including health risk communication, health literacy, and health promotion. Other foci consistent with the overall intent of the position will be considered.
• Educate and equip the next generation of airway health researchers to become future leaders in health risk communication.
• Adopt an integrated knowledge translation lens, rooted in strong collaboration with affected parties, to inform development and implementation of policy and practice on risk decision-making.

The successful applicant will:

• Hold a PhD degree in a relevant field such as public health, epidemiology, environmental health, Indigenous health, information/data science, journalism, media studies, and/or health risk communication; or hold an MD degree with graduate-level training in a relevant field.
• Have attained or have the potential to attain national, and ultimately international, recognition as a leader in risk communication for airways health.

The Faculty of Health Sciences

The Faculty is located on the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples, including the səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations at the SFU Burnaby campus. Created in 2005, the Faculty's mission is to improve the health of individuals and populations and to reduce health inequities through excellence in interdisciplinary research and education, in partnership with local, national and global communities. The Faculty is committed to social justice, respect for human dignity, and equity. The successful candidate will join a diverse and dynamic team of more than 50 multi-disciplinary faculty members and will have the opportunity to engage with and teach outstanding students in the PhD, MSc, MPH, and BA/BSc programs. The Faculty maintains collaborative agreements and partnerships with the BC government, regional health authorities, the First Nations Health Authority, research centres, and other health agencies.

Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute

VCHRI is located on the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples, including the səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations. VCHRI’s mission is to lead and excel in the generation of health knowledge through discovery, education, application and evaluation. The core values of VCHRI are integrity, accountability, collaboration, equity, and community/patient-focus.

Legacy for Airway Health (LAH)

LAH is embedded within VCHRI and its mission is to lead and accelerate the creation and translation of knowledge into world-class prevention of, and care for, persons living with asthma and COPD. LAH is rooted in the philosophy that remediating the huge burden of asthma and COPD requires strategic research to understand and apply evidence-based tactics for prevention and delivery of optimal care for those who suffer from these airway diseases.

Application Process

Please submit a single PDF containing:

• A cover letter.
• A full curriculum vitae that includes details of research and teaching, scholarly record, and funding.
• A brief statement of research plans for the next five years (two page maximum).
• A statement detailing teaching and mentorship interests, experience, and philosophy (one page maximum).
• The names and contact details of three academic references.

This package should be submitted electronically to fhs_recruit@sfu.ca with the subject “Chair in Health Communication.” Please indicate your legal status to work in Canada in your letter of application.

The search committee will review complete applications starting March 17, 2025 until the position is filled. Any general inquiries regarding this posting may be directed to Cheri Danton, FHS Confidential Secretary, at fhssecy@sfu.ca.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. This position is subject to approval by the SFU Board of Governors.

SFU recognizes that alternative career paths and/or career interruptions (e.g., parental leave, leave due to illness) can impact research achievements and commits to ensuring that leaves are taken into careful consideration. Candidates are encouraged to highlight in their application how alternative paths and/or interruptions have impacted their careers. SFU also recognizes the value of mentoring and research training, outreach, professional service, and non-traditional areas of research and/or research outputs; demonstrated experience in increasing diversity in the previous institutional environment, and in curriculum, is also an asset.

Faculty salaries at SFU are based on the salary scales bargained between the University and the SFU Faculty Association. A reasonable estimate of the salary range for this role at the Assistant Professor rank is $104,700 - $133,322 (dependent on experience).

SFU is an equity employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including women, persons with disabilities, racialized persons, Indigenous Peoples, people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of the University. SFU is committed to ensuring that no individual is denied access to employment opportunities for reasons unrelated to ability or qualifications. Consistent with this principle, SFU will advance the interests of underrepresented members of the work force, ensure that equal opportunity is afforded to all who seek employment at the University, and treat all employees equitably. Candidates who belong to equity-deserving groups are particularly encouraged to apply.

SFU offers several benefits and services aimed at creating a more inclusive and accessible campus community for faculty; please see the Faculty Relations, Benefits and Services page for more details. SFU is also committed to ensuring that the application and interview process is accessible to all applicants. If you require accommodations or have questions about SFU benefits, services, accommodations policies, or equity considerations, please contact the Specialist, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Faculty Relations.

Under the authority of the University Act, personal information that is required by the University for academic appointment competitions will be collected. For further details see the Collection Notice on the Academic Careers webpage.

At the intersection of innovative education, cutting-edge research, and community outreach lies Simon Fraser University, Canada’s engaged university. With three campuses located in beautiful British Columbia’s largest municipalities—Vancouver, Burnaby and Surrey—our students, faculty and staff are privileged to live, work, and play on the traditional unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), q̓íc̓əy̓ (Katzie), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), Qayqayt, Kwantlen, Semiahmoo and Tsawwassen Peoples.

Simon Fraser University (SFU) is an institution whose strength is based on our shared commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion. Diversity is an underlying principle of our Strategic Vision, which pledges SFU to “foster a culture of inclusion and mutual respect, celebrating the diversity reflected among its students, faculty, staff and our community.” SFU has a long history of engaging with Indigenous communities and Indigenous issues, and is committed to ensuring no individual is denied access to employment opportunities for reasons unrelated to ability or qualifications. Consistent with this principle, SFU will advance the interests of underrepresented members of the work force, including Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, racialized persons and women; embrace gender and sexual diversity; ensure that equal opportunity is afforded to all who seek employment at the University; and treat all employees equitably.

Pursuant to Section 42 of the B.C. Human Rights Code, the selection for this position will be limited to candidates who self-identify as a Canadian Indigenous person (First Nations, Inuit or Metis) and will bring to their research and teaching a perspective that comes from the lived experiences of Indigenous peoples. Candidates must self-identify using the Applicant Demographic Survey in order to be considered for this position (https://www.surveymonkey.ca/r/YM6VTY3)

Candidates who do not complete the Applicant Demographic Survey will not be considered for this position. The Faculty of Health Sciences will rely on the Tri-Agency Policy and Directive on Indigenous Citizenship and Membership Affirmation in selecting qualified candidates: https://www.canada.ca/en/research-coordinating-committee/programs/policies-directives/tri-agency-policy-indigenous-citizenship-membership-affirmation.html

The Opportunity

The Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) invites applications for full time tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Professor and a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Indigenous Health and Well-Being with an anticipated start date of October 1, 2026. This position is contingent upon the successful candidate receiving a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair prior to their appointment start date. This opportunity is open to applicants who do not hold a continuing faculty position at SFU. The applicant’s research area should primarily align with the mandate of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). However, applicants with research profiles aligned with the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), or the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) as outlined in the Guidelines for Selecting the Appropriate Federal Granting Agency will also be considered if their research focus is on Indigenous health and well-being.

The Canada Research Chairs Program stands at the centre of a national strategy to foster research excellence in Canada and improve our depth of knowledge and quality of life, strengthen Canada's international competitiveness, and help train the next generation of highly skilled people through student supervision.

This CRC appointment opportunity is intended for outstanding researchers acknowledged by their peers as world leaders in Indigenous Health research. Applicants must hold a PhD (or equivalent) and be full Professors. Associate Professors who are expected to be promoted to the full professor rank within one or two years of the nomination may be considered for appointment at the Associate Professor rank.

Alternatively, if they come from outside the academic sector, applicants must possess the necessary qualifications to be appointed at these ranks. Since qualifications will vary, a conversation with Dr. John O’Neil, Search Committee Chair, is advised before applying (Please contact Pathways to set up an appointment: Applications@PathwaysExecutiveSearch.com). For more information about eligibility and requirements for appointment at each rank, please see SFUFA/SFU Collective Agreement Article 28 (https://www.sfu.ca/faculty-relations/collectiveagreement.html) and the Faculty’s Tenure and Promotion Criteria (https://www.sfu.ca/fhs/faculty-staff-resources/committees/standing-committees/tpc.html).”

Introduction to the Faculty of Health Sciences:

FHS is located on the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples, including the səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations at the SFU Burnaby campus. Created in 2005 as a multidisciplinary, non-departmentalized Faculty, its mission is to improve the health of individuals and populations, and to reduce health inequities through excellence in interdisciplinary research and education, in partnership with local, national, and global communities. FHS is committed to social justice, respect for human dignity, and equity. The successful candidate will join a diverse and dynamic team of more than 50 multi-disciplinary faculty members, and will have the opportunity to engage with and teach outstanding students in the PhD, MSc, MPH, and BA/BSc programs.

This position will align with SFU's goal of supporting the health and wellness of individuals, populations, and communities, and to respect and incorporate Indigenous perspectives and knowledge(s) into research at SFU, as described in the SFU Strategic Research Plan. The FHS academic plan has as its first aim regarding faculty renewal to hire and mentor Indigenous health scholars.

FHS has built a strong foundation in Indigenous health and wellbeing research with three outstanding Indigenous scholars (Dr. Jeff Reading, Dr. Lyana Patrick and Dr. Krista Stelkia). Dr. Reading is appointed to the First Nations Health Authority Chair in Heart Health and Wellness at St. Paul's Hospital. Dr. Patrick (www.lyanapatrick.ca) is the holder of a prestigious Michael Smith Foundation Health Research BC Health Scholar award, and Dr. Stelkia is the Nominated Principal Investigator of the British Columbia Network Environment for Indigenous Health Research (BC NEIHR) and the Director of the Centre for Collaborative Action on Indigenous Health Governance (https://www.sfu.ca/ccaihg.html). FHS includes additional settler faculty working in Indigenous health and who have strong local networks in Indigenous communities, the First Nations Health Authority, and provincial, national, and international networks of Indigenous health researchers. (e.g., https://nuuchahnulth.org/ihelti/steering-committee).

The recipient of the proposed Tier 1 CRC position in Indigenous Health and Well-Being will have the opportunity to integrate themselves into this outstanding cluster of scholars and resources.

The Successful Candidate:

We seek a scholar whose program of research integrates Indigenous perspectives and methodologies to better understand the determinants of Indigenous peoples’ health and well-being. The successful applicant will have established partnership/partnerships with Indigenous Nations, communities, and/or organizations, ideally in British Columbia (BC), but also in Canada and globally.

The ideal applicant will be expected to engage in research on Indigenous health and well-being in collaboration with local, national, and global partners. In BC there will be an opportunity to partner with the BC First Nations Health Authority (FNHA). FNHA is the health and wellness partner to over 200 diverse First Nations communities and citizens across BC, and has a Research Affiliation Agreement with SFU. The candidate will help FHS support and enforce reciprocal recognition and respectful relationships with Indigenous peoples and communities. A reduced teaching load (50%) will be provided during the term of the Tier 1 Chair, and the successful applicant will be expected to actively contribute to teaching in Indigenous health, as well as mentoring junior faculty, and supervising graduate students.

CRC appointments use a two-step application process where candidates must first apply for the open faculty position at the university. SFU’s Institutional Strategic Awards Office will then work with the successful candidate to develop a complete nomination package to the CRC Secretariat.

Candidate Requirements:

The search committee acknowledges that no single applicant is likely to meet all of the following criteria in equal measure and interested candidates of all disciplinary backgrounds are encouraged to apply. The ideal candidate will be expected to demonstrate:

Experience:

• Strong, respectful, reciprocal relationships, and engagement with Indigenous peoples and communities;
• A network of colleagues and organizations engaged in collaborative efforts related to Indigenous knowledges and health;
• Capacity to build sustainable partnerships and secure external research grant funding;
• Success in working collaboratively with colleagues, students, and staff in academic, research, professional, and community contexts;
• Commitment to supporting research interests driven by Indigenous communities, in addition to their own individual professional achievements;
• Use of Indigenous methodologies;
• Contributions to knowledge exchange, integration, and mobilization with Indigenous communities related to Indigenous people’s right to self-determine their own health and wellness journeys; and

Interpersonal Skills:

• Ability to foster respectful and reciprocal relationships across disciplinary, cultural, and community differences, within academia, with external partners and in the province;
• Ability to cultivate a sense of respect, trust, and leadership among elders, knowledge keepers, research collaborators, community partners, faculty, staff, students, and trainees;
• Ability to communicate Indigenous and academic approaches to complex and sensitive issues in ways that promote dialogue, understanding, and the building of consensus within the academy, with Indigenous communities, and among wider audiences; and
• Ability to foster collaborative work environments that promote equity and diversity, including accessibility, in process, procedures and outputs.

Research & Collaborative Values:

• The highest standards of ethics and integrity, according to both academic and Indigenous traditions of right action and ethical relationality;
• A respectful and open approach informed by Indigenous values and traditions, and a commitment to the building and sharing of advanced knowledge in academic and public institutions honouring relational accountability;
• A willingness to think creatively and ability to innovate, including ongoing engagement with a diversity of approaches to knowledge creation; and
• Values diverse perspectives and continuous learning.

Teaching and mentorship:

• Knowledge and experience with Indigenous pedagogies;
• Incorporation of Indigenous ways of knowing, teaching, and learning into instructional and mentorship practice; and
• Commitment to decolonizing approaches to education and creating inclusive learning environments.

How To Apply

To apply, applicants should provide:

• A cover letter that addresses the full scope of the job requirements, including how you would contribute positively to SFU’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, and to which rank you are applying for;
• An up-to-date, full curriculum vitae (include details of research and teaching, scholarly record, funding, and list of collaborations/partnerships);
• Two examples of scholarly work (i.e., refereed published or alternative forms of knowledge mobilization);
• A teaching portfolio including a two-page statement of teaching philosophy and experience, including experience with and understanding of inclusive teaching and diverse student needs, as well as other evidence of teaching strengths;
• The names and email addresses of 5 referees, two of whom should be able to discuss research and teaching capabilities. While academic references are preferred, we also encourage 1-2 references from Indigenous community partners, and
• Complete the Applicant Demographic Survey administered by the Equity Office. Candidates who do not complete the Applicant Demographic Survey will not be considered for this position.

SFU recognizes that alternative career paths and/or career interruptions (e.g. parental leave, leave due to illness) can impact research achievements and commits to ensuring that leaves are taken into careful consideration. Candidates are encouraged to highlight in their application how alternative paths and/or interruptions have had an impact on their career. SFU also recognizes the value of mentoring and research training, outreach, professional service, and nontraditional areas of research and/or research outputs; demonstrated experience in increasing diversity in the previous institutional environment, and in curriculum, is also an asset.

All applications should be submitted in a single pdf named Lastname-Firstname-Tier1-IndigenousHealth to:

Ms. Laurie Sterritt
Managing Partner,
Pathways Executive Search
 Applications@PathwaysExecutiveSearch.com
Phone: 1-778-838-4569

Applications received by March 31, 2025 will be given full consideration. Applications received after this date may be considered until the position is filled. We are committed to ensuring that the application and interview process is accessible. If you require accommodations, please contact edi@sfu.ca. Any general inquiries regarding this posting may be directed to Ms. Laurie Sterritt as above.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.

Faculty salaries at SFU are based on the salary scales bargained between the University and the SFU Faculty Association. A reasonable estimate of the salary range for a tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Professor is $149,225 - $196,027 and Associate Professor is $130,142 - $170,584 (dependent on experience), plus a CRC salary stipend to be negotiated, available only for the term of the CRC appointment.

The position is subject to the availability of funding and to final approval by the University Board of Governors and the Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat (TIPS). The Canada Research Chair is tenable for seven years and may be renewed once, subject to the Chairholder demonstrating that they have achieved their objectives from their first term. Interested applicants are invited to review the initial appointment and chair renewal details of the CRC Program (Canada Research Chairs Program).

SFU offers several benefits and services aimed at creating a more inclusive and accessible campus community for faculty; please see the Faculty Relations, Benefits and Services page for more details. SFU is also committed to ensuring that the application and interview process is accessible to all applicants. If you have questions about SFU benefits, services, accommodations policies, please contact a Faculty Relations Advisor. For equity considerations, please contact the Director Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the SFU Equity Office for Faculty.

Personal information that forms part of an application is collected under the general authority of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, applicable University Policies, and the SFUFA/SFU Collective Agreement. For further details see the full Collection Notice