The Department of Chemistry (ualberta.ca/chemistry/) at the University of Alberta invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the Assistant Professor level in the field of Machine Learning in Theoretical and Computational Chemistry. We are seeking scholars to join our team with expertise in artificial intelligence (AI) and/or machine learning (ML), including but not limited to the development of new ML techniques and/or the creation/curation of ML datasets for applications in chemistry. The desired research focus is broadly defined and can include foundational areas (e.g., electronic structure methods, force fields for biosimulations and quantum dynamics) and/or applications (e.g., materials chemistry, drug design, chemical reaction prediction). The successful candidate will also teach undergraduate and graduate courses, supervise research staff and students, and contribute to the future of the department and university through service.
The successful candidate will be nominated for a Canada CIFAR Artificial Intelligence (CCAI) Chair by the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii). Amii is one of three institutes named in the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy and represents more than 35 artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) researchers at the U of A, as well as CCAI Chairs at post-secondary institutions across Western Canada. The CCAI Chair includes research funding for at least five years.
This position is part of a University of Alberta cluster hire in the areas of research strength that include Health, Energy and Indigenous Initiatives in health and humanities, among others. The University of Alberta is world-renowned for its strength in AI; this cohort will bring together and foster the next generation of scientists leading the development of machine learning for societal benefit, fulfilling Amii's mandate of AI for good and all.
With a complement of 32 faculty members, the Department of Chemistry has vibrant research programs encompassing most areas of modern chemistry, including materials and nanoscience, catalysis, analytical chemistry, environmental chemistry, spectroscopy, synthesis and medicinal chemistry, chemical biology, theoretical and computational chemistry, and instrumentation and analysis. An outstanding research environment, with access to excellent support facilities including computing facilities through the Digital Research Alliance of Canada, is offered. Our undergraduate and graduate programs offer superb educational and research opportunities for students, and present enrolments are approximately 400 and 200 students, respectively. Inquiries regarding the position can be addressed to the Department Chair, Professor Alex Brown (chmchair@ualberta.ca).
Candidates must hold a Ph.D. degree in the relevant field to the role or in a closely related field. Research experience and potential will be evidenced by a record of publication in reputable, peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings and a summary of planned research projects. Successful candidates must demonstrate potential to develop an innovative and sustainable research program that is externally funded by grants and partnerships, to engage in relevant national and international research networks, and to provide high-calibre teaching and mentorship at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Candidates with a demonstrated record of service and volunteerism broadly related to their research, teaching, and/or equity, diversity, and inclusivity will be considered. Teaching and supervisory potential will be evidenced by previous teaching experiences, letters of reference, and a statement of teaching philosophy.
The University of Alberta is one of Canada's top teaching and research universities, with an international reputation for excellence across the humanities, sciences, creative arts, business, engineering, and health sciences. The University of Alberta offers close to 900 undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs in 18 faculties on five campuses, including one rural and one francophone campus, and has more than 275,000 alumni worldwide. The university and its people remain dedicated to the promise made in 1908 by founding president Henry Marshall Tory that knowledge shall be used for "uplifting the whole people".
The University of Alberta is in Edmonton, home to over one million people and Alberta’s capital. Edmonton offers a vibrant start-up ecosystem and a major industrial corridor with several opportunities for partnerships. The city offers the amenities of a large urban center while maintaining a friendly atmosphere. Edmonton is known internationally for its thriving arts scene with a variety of family activities, an array of indoor and outdoor sports and fitness opportunities, one of North America’s largest stretches of urban parkland, and top-ranked health care services. Campus offers child care, and there are multiple housing options within steps of campus. Faculty members are offered parental and medical leaves, retirement benefits, and healthcare benefits. We invite you to visit these websites for information about working at the University of Alberta (www.ualberta.ca/faculty-and-staff/index.html), the Faculty of Science (https://www.ualberta.ca/science/index.html), the Faculty of Engineering (www.ualberta.ca/engineering/index.html), and the City of Edmonton (www.edmonton.ca).
The University of Alberta is committed to an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workforce, as documented in the Strategic Plan for EDI and the Indigenous Strategic Plan. We welcome applications from all qualified persons. We encourage women; First Nations, Métis, and Inuit persons; members of visible minority groups; persons with disabilities; persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity and expression; and all those who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas and the University to apply. Successful candidates must also demonstrate how they will contribute to increasing the diversification of ideas within their Department through a statement about equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). In their EDI statement, candidates should describe how they plan to incorporate EDI into their teaching, research, mentoring, and service.
How to Apply
Please submit a curriculum vitae, a proposal that details innovative and original research plans, a statement of teaching philosophy, an EDI statement, and the names plus contact information of three references. Letters of reference will only be requested from short-listed candidates. A cover letter should be submitted as the first page(s) of the curriculum vitae. Please highlight potential synergies, complementarity of research and potential collaborations with respect to the Department of Chemistry, and if relevant, also with the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, in your cover letter.
To assist the University in complying with mandatory reporting requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (R203(3)(e)), please include the first digit of your Canadian Social Insurance Number in your application. If you do not have a Canadian Social Insurance number, please indicate this in your application.
Review of applications will begin February 2023 and will continue until the position is filled, with a targeted start date of July 1, 2023.
