Dalhousie University
Faculty of Science
Department of Biology

The Department of Biology at Dalhousie University (http://biology.dal.ca) is accepting applications for two Industrial Research Chairs, a Senior and an Associate Chair, both to work in collaboration with AMIRIX-VEMCO (http://www.vemco.ca). The successful candidates will be expected to go through the proposal and peer review process run by NSERC (http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Professors-Professeurs/CFS-PCP/IRC-PCI_eng.asp). The appointment of a Senior Chair will be at the tenured, full Professor level; the appointment of an Associate Chair will be at the probationary tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professor level. A PhD is required for both positions. The successful candidate for the Senior Chair will be an internationally recognized, outstanding scientist with demonstrated success in research, graduate training and undergraduate teaching, as well as in service to the academic community. The successful candidate for the Associate Chair will be a scientist with demonstrated potential to become an internationally recognized and outstanding scientist.

One of the appointments is for a FIELD-ORIENTED MARINE BIOLOGIST with expertise and interest in the use of acoustic tracking, telemetry and bio-logging approaches as a backbone for interdisciplinary studies linking organism condition, behaviour and other attributes with the environment. The other appointment is for a QUANTITATIVE ECOLOGIST with expertise and interest in advancing the analysis of electronic tracking data to assist in the understanding of marine animal movement patterns, behaviour, and distribution in conservation and resource management contexts.

VEMCO is looking to take its product development to the next level. Their strength is in electronic design and creating innovative products based on what scientific questions need to be answered. VEMCO wants to invest now beyond acoustic telemetry. The research programs of the two chairs will help define the technologies needed to augment VEMCO’s current acoustic telemetry portfolio and will help advance the use of that technology through advancing the analysis and use of data obtained. It is anticipated that the field-oriented biologist will develop a research program in the area of marine animal movement, and may include laboratory components utilizing Dalhousie’s Aquatron wet lab facilities. An advanced understanding of electronics and their use in biological research including the ability to interact with engineers in the development and testing of electronic tags is expected. The successful candidate for the quantitative ecologist position will have expertise in the development and application of advanced statistical tools (e.g., state-space models, mark-recapture models, network analysis) for the analysis of the movement of marine animals using a variety of tracking data. An ability to develop regional, national and international collaborations with animal trackers, ecologists, oceanographers and statisticians in government and academic institutions is an asset. Both chairs and their students are expected to interact and partner with VEMCO staff engineers and promote technological advances in both the industry and science; in both cases an ability to work in a team environment is required. Chair holders are expected to focus their activities on conducting research and training highly qualified personnel, while carrying a reduced administrative and teaching load.

The successful candidates will complement existing strengths in the Department of Biology and will join a stimulating research environment in Ocean Sciences, one of Dalhousie’s Strategic Research foci involving more than 100 faculty interested in marine research and including large scale initiatives such as the Ocean Tracking Network (http://oceantrackingnetwork.org), and a recently awarded Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Ocean Science and Technology (for further information see: http://dalnews.dal.ca/2010/05/17/ocean.html).

Applicants should submit a Letter of Intent including a statement of research and teaching interests and specifying whether they want to be considered for a Senior or an Associate Chair, a Curriculum Vitae and up to five publications, and they should arrange for three letters of reference to be sent by e-mail to: biochair@dal.ca. The committee will begin reviewing applications on November 30th, 2010 but will continue receiving applications until the positions are filled. Anticipated start date would be Fall 2011/Winter 2012. (E-mail contact for enquiries: daniel.ruzzante@dal.ca).

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. Dalhousie University is an Employment Equity/Affirmative Action employer. The University encourages applications from qualified Aboriginal people, persons with a disability, racially visible persons and women.

Address for applications:

Selection Committee Chair,
NSERC/AMIRIX-VEMCO Industrial Research Chair
Department of Biology,
Dalhousie University,
Halifax, Nova Scotia,
Canada B3H 4J1

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