Assistant or Associate Professor in Cardiac Arrhythmias

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The Opportunity
The Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology (BPK) invites applications for a full-time tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor in Cardiac Arrhythmias to commence July 1st, 2025, or a mutually agreed-upon date. The candidate’s laboratory will be based at The Cellular and Regenerative Medicine Centre (CRMC) at BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, which houses a cutting-edge core facility for the design and study of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived cardiomyocyte (CM) models.

Desired Research Area
The ideal candidate will lead a research program using hiPSC-CMs to investigate inherited arrhythmias and cardiomyopathies/channelopathies at the CRMC. Areas may include studies on genetic variants associated with arrhythmias (e.g., ion channelopathies, sarcomeric proteins) or other cardiac diseases. The ideal candidate will use available state-of-the-art infrastructure designed for optimal development and phenotyping of hiPSC-CMs to study cardiac dysfunction. The candidate will have a collaborative disposition and sufficiently broad expertise to collaborate with other researchers, including the C2HARM group, who focus on Cardiomyopathies, CHannelopathies, and ARrhythmia Mechanisms. The team is made up of investigators at SFU, UBC, BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH), the Centre for Heart and Lung Innovation at St Paul’s Hospital (HLI), the Centre for Cardiovascular Innovation at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH), and the broader cardiac arrhythmia community.

Core Duties of the Position in Cardiac Arrhythmias:
• Research: Develop an externally funded research program devoted to advancing channelopathy/cardiomyopathy research using hiPSC-CMs, supervise and mentor graduate students and other highly qualified personnel, and disseminate discoveries through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and other forums appropriate to the discipline.
• Teaching: Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in the areas of molecular cardiac physiology and contribute to curriculum and program development.
• Service: Contribute to committee work and departmental initiatives to serve the Department, the University, and the larger scientific community.

Qualifications for Assistant Professor
Excellence in research and teaching are the primary criteria for this position. The successful candidate must hold a PhD, MD, or equivalent degree in molecular cardiac physiology, biophysics, electrophysiology, biomedical engineering, or a related discipline by the employment start date.

The candidate must demonstrate:

• a strong record of research productivity commensurate with their experience
• establishment of, or potential for, a successful research program.
• potential for excellence in teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate level.
• potential for supervision of graduate students.

Qualifications for Associate Professor
Excellence in research and teaching are the primary criteria for this position. The successful candidate must hold a PhD, MD, or equivalent degree in molecular cardiac physiology, biophysics, electrophysiology, biomedical engineering, or a related discipline by the employment start date.

The candidate must demonstrate:

• a strong record of research productivity commensurate with their experience.
• establishment of a successful research program.
• sustained success in teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate level.
• potential for supervision of graduate students.
• demonstrated contribution to the academic community and potential to the Department Faculty and University’s academic community.

The typical workload distribution for assistant and associate professors in BPK is 40% research, 40% teaching, and 20% service. In carrying out these duties, the successful candidate will advance BPK’s goals to foster equity, diversity, and inclusion, for example, by working to eliminate the barriers that impede the ability of department members from historically underrepresented and marginalized populations to achieve their full potential. The successful candidate will foster a positive and inclusive working environment through respectful interactions with all faculty, staff, and students. The responsibilities, terms, and conditions of employment of faculty are listed in the SFUFA-SFU Collective Agreement.

The following qualifications are considered assets:
• Interest and capability in running patient-derived hiPSC-CM experiments to foster translation.
• Experience conducting research in diverse environments or from different perspectives.
• Evidence of potential to collaborate within and outside the University.
• Previous or existing collaborations with leading researchers.
• Experience in teaching of undergraduate courses, with strong pedagogical skills and effectiveness in fostering inclusive learning environments.
• Demonstrated experience in increasing diversity in their previous institutional environment(s) or in curricula.
• Goals to apply research to better understand and address health issues affecting underrepresented populations.
• Interest, experience, and expertise in entrepreneurship and technology development.
• Evidence of leadership potential, including previous formal leadership roles or training.

The Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology (BPK)
The mission of BPK is to advance the understanding of physiology and human health through fundamental and applied research, education, and service. BPK offers undergraduate degrees (BSc, BSc Honours) in biomedical physiology, behavioural neuroscience, and kinesiology, as well as graduate degrees (MSc, PhD). The Department includes 24 research faculty, 9 continuing teaching faculty members, 7.4 staff members, approximately 50 graduate students, and over 1,000 undergraduate majors. BPK features research clusters in cardiovascular physiology, chronic diseases, neuromechanics, and neuroscience. As a testament to BPK and SFU’s culture of innovation, BPK professors have founded four companies in the past 20 years, while World University Rankings for Innovation 2023 ranked SFU second globally in the Entrepreneurial Spirit category and 13th globally in the Innovative Universities category. Metro Vancouver offers burgeoning wearable technology and biomedical device ecosystems, with several start-up and mid-sized companies now operating who are keen to engage in academic-industry partnerships. Several BPK faculty who conduct clinical research maintain affiliations with local hospitals including the BC Children’s, Vancouver General, and St. Paul’s Hospitals.

SFU and the hiPSC-CM Research Environment at BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute
At the intersection of innovative education, cutting-edge research, and community engagement lies Simon Fraser University (SFU), Canada’s top-ranked comprehensive 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 and work on the traditional unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), q̓íc̓əy̓ (Katzie), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), Qayqayt, Kwantlen, Semiahmoo, and Tsawwassen peoples. Consistently ranked as one of Canada’s top employers, SFU’s excellence as an engaged university is derived from our shared commitments to equity, diversity, and inclusion, and the pursuit of decolonization, indigenization, and reconciliation.

SFU offers several unique assets to its research faculty that are particularly relevant to this position. This includes the newly established Cellular and Regenerative Medicine Centre at BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute (BCCHRI), an SFU affiliated institute located in Vancouver proper. The successful candidate will have dedicated research space within the CRMC and have primary access to its array of cutting-edge technologies. This institute hosts numerous core facilities including those in imaging, flow cytometry, and MS proteomics. Within the CRMC is the RoboCult, a unique instrument built by STEMCELL Technologies that facilitates maintenance and passaging of hiPSCs in a hands-free manner, Eppendorf bioreactors for the differentiation of hiPSCs to both ventricular and atrial cardiomyocytes, and phenotyping rigs for multiple electrode array assays, automated patch clamping, and high-speed optical mapping.

The RoboCult allows maintenance and passaging of up to 105 hiPSC lines simultaneously with minimal human intervention. The Eppendorf DASBox Bioreactor is used for the roboticized 3D differentiation of hiPSCs into hiPSC-CMs and cardioids that reflect a dramatic increase in the quality and quantity of cardiomyocytes generated to facilitate 3D bioprinting (Cellink BIO X6) of both ventricular and atrial tissue. The phenotyping of these hiPSC-CMs is assisted by dedicated transcriptomics and MS proteomics infrastructure, multiple electrode array (Axion Maestro Pro) instrument, automated patch clamping (Nanion SyncroPatch 384, high speed (>1,000 fps) optical mapping (SciMedia miCAM05-M256), confocal optical mapping (Leica SP8), SarcTrack contractile analysis (Nikon CSU-X1 Spinning Disk Confocal microscope) and other infrastructure. Also critical is the interaction with the C2HARM team, composed of leading investigators in basic, pre-clinical, and clinical cardiac physiology in BPK at SFU, UBC, BCCH, VGH, HLI, and beyond. The C2HARM group focuses on an array of cardiac ion channels (including RyR2, hERG, HCN, SK) and sarcomeric proteins (including TnI, TnT, Tn) that are associated with inherited arrhythmias and cardiomyopathies. The C2HARM team has expertise in a broad range of elegant techniques (e.g., cryo-EM, patch clamping, super-resolution microscopy) and is actively engaged in productive knowledge exchange events that integrate basic research and clinical practice to better understand and improve care and treatment of patients with arrhythmias. The elegant CRMC infrastructure makes the interaction with C2HARM most productive and at the forefront of this field.

Simon Fraser University 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. It pledges SFU to “foster a culture of inclusion and mutual respect, celebrating the diversity reflected among its students, faculty, staff, and our community.” SFU is committed to ensuring that no individual is denied employment opportunities for reasons unrelated to ability or qualifications. Consistent with this principle, SFU will advance the interests of underrepresented members of the workforce, 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. Candidates who belong to underrepresented groups are particularly encouraged to apply.

Faculty salaries at SFU are based on the salary scales bargained between the University and the SFU Faculty Association. A reasonable estimate of the base salary range for this role at the Assistant Professor rank is $104,700 – $133,322 (dependent on experience). A reasonable estimate of the base salary range for this role at the Associate Professor rank is $130,142 – $155,584 (dependent on experience).

SFU offers several benefits and services to create a more inclusive and accessible campus community for faculty; please see the Faculty Relations, Benefits, and Service page for more details. SFU is also committed to ensuring 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.

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

The position is subject to availability of funding and approval by the SFU Board of Governors.

Inquiries regarding this posting may be directed to the BPK Chair’s Assistant, [email protected].

How To Apply
Candidates should address their applications to Dr. Glen Tibbits, Chair of the Search Committee. Applications should consist of a single PDF file inclusive of and bookmarked for the following components. Please also specify the rank you are applying for in your application.

• A cover letter (maximum two pages) that includes a narrative addressing 1) reasons for applying to the position and 2) evidence the candidate meets the qualifications, as detailed below.
• A complete, up-to-date curriculum vitae that lists the candidate’s education and employment history, publications and conference presentations, funding and awards, student supervision experience, collaborations/partnerships, teaching experience, and service activities.
• A research statement (maximum two pages) that describes the candidate’s research experience, goals, and a five-year plan for their research program.
• Three examples of peer-reviewed published scholarly work.
• A teaching statement (maximum one page) that describes the candidate’s teaching philosophy, teaching experience, and evidence of teaching effectiveness.
• A statement (maximum one page) describing past or potential contributions to enhancing equity, diversity, and inclusion within research, service, and teaching. Regarding the latter component, candidates should discuss their experience with and/or understanding of inclusive teaching and mentoring, and how the candidate would meet the needs of equity-deserving students.
• The names, titles, and email addresses of four referees qualified to assess the candidate’s research capabilities, at least one of whom can assess teaching potential. Referees will be contacted by SFU for candidates advancing to the later stages of the selection process.
• Please indicate your legal status to work in Canada.

Candidates should submit their applications by email to [email protected] with the subject line hiPSC- CMs<lastname>_<firstname>. Full consideration will be given to applications received by 15 March 2025. Applications received after this deadline may be reviewed if the position remains open.

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 considered carefully. Candidates are encouraged to highlight how alternative paths and/or interruptions have impacted them in their application. SFU also recognizes the value of mentoring and research training, outreach, professional service, and non-traditional areas of research and/or research outputs.

Please refer to the full job ad at https://www.sfu.ca/vpacademic/academic-careers/faculty-positions/science.html.

Please address your application to Dr. Glen Tibbits, Chair of the Search Committee and submit your PDF file to [email protected] and specify the rank you are applying for.

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