Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Artificial Intelligence and Healthy Aging

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The Faculties of Computer Science and Health at Dalhousie University invite applications for a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Artificial Intelligence and Healthy Aging. This position is designated to candidates who self-identify as women or gender equity-seeking persons with a disability. The Tier 2 CRC in Artificial Intelligence and Healthy Aging will be a probationary tenure-track or tenured position at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor (commensurate with experience) jointly appointed to the Faculties of Computer Science and Health, with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2025. The successful candidate will have demonstrated potential and capacity to develop and lead an internationally recognized research program that develops new machine-learning techniques and looks to apply them to applications in health and healthcare-related fields focusing on healthy aging. The successful applicant’s research program will crosscut the priority areas of ‘AI & Machine Learning’ in Computer Science and ‘Body function and mobility across the health continuum’ in the Faculty of Health and align with ‘AI & Digital Innovation’ and ‘Healthy People, Communities, & Populations’, two of Dalhousie’s six Strategic Research Clusters.

The successful candidate will have a completed PhD in computer science or a related field, have a demonstrated capacity to lead an AI research program, and supervise graduate students in Computer Science. They will propose an innovative and original program of research that seeks to develop artificial intelligence-based interventions for deployment in healthcare especially, but not limited to, a focus on frailty, healthy aging, chronic and complex care, and clinical aspects of physical activity, sedentary behaviours, exercise, mobility, and other health-related and frailty markers. In concert with a senior research Chair in AI and Healthy Aging funded by Shannex Inc. to be recruited concurrently, the CRC will be expected to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with post-secondary institutions, the provincial health authority, and other community partners in the health sector. The partnership of this Chair and the long-term care sector provides a unique opportunity to take a data-driven approach to optimize care delivery, enhance resident experience, and drive sustained improvements in long-term care and for older adults across the continuum. Commensurate with experience, the candidate will have proven capacity or demonstrable potential to obtain external research funding, supervise graduate students, and disseminate knowledge appropriate for the field of study. The successful candidate will engage in the research leadership and promotion of interdisciplinary scholarship to create new opportunities and drive strategic directions at the intersection of computer science and health. The successful candidate will also contribute to complementary areas of research within the University and teach at a reduced course load.

Dalhousie is the leading graduate and research university of Atlantic Canada, with more than 18,500 students, including 3500 in graduate programs, from 115 countries. Dalhousie secured more than $258 million in external research funding in 2023-24 with health and interdisciplinary AI-based research significantly contributing to its research revenue. Acceleration of research in the areas of healthy aging, frailty, and artificial intelligence at Dalhousie and partners throughout Atlantic Canada provide an ideal environment for the successful candidate to effect change. Dalhousie ranks as the #1 institution worldwide in frailty, with the top two researchers in the field worldwide. Research in aging and frailty spans six Faculties at Dalhousie, with more than 75 researchers actively engaged. Opening in Fall 2025, the nearly 5000ft2 Healthy Aging and Frailty Research Hub provides a state-of-the-art facility for the study of aging and frailty. Led by the Big Data Analytics, AI and Machine Learning research cluster in the Faculty of Computer Science, research in artificial intelligence is being applied from oceans to healthcare to impact on some of society’s biggest problems. Spanning all research Faculties and over 100 researchers, Dalhousie’s capacity in artificial intelligence is growing, including recruitment of the Shannex Research Chair in Artificial Intelligence and Healthy Aging.

Dalhousie University commits to achieving inclusive excellence through continually championing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. In keeping with the principles of employment equity and the CRC program’s equity targets, this position is designated to candidates who self-identify as women or gender equity-seeking persons with a disability. Dalhousie recognizes that candidates may self-identify in more than one equity-deserving group, and in this spirit, the university also encourages applications from Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island (especially Mi’kmaq), persons of Black/African descent (especially African Nova Scotians), and members of other racialized groups, persons identifying as members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, and all candidates who would contribute to the diversity of our community. In accordance with our Employment Equity Policy, preference will be given in hiring processes to candidates who self-identify as members of one or more of the equity-deserving groups listed above. For more information, including details related to our Employment Equity Policy and Plan and definitions of equity-deserving groups please visit www.dal.ca/hiringfordiversity.

The CRC program was established by the Canadian Federal Government with the purpose of attracting outstanding researchers to the Canadian university system. Tier 2 Chairs are intended for exceptional emerging scholars (i.e., the candidate must have been an active researcher in their field for fewer than 10 years at the time of nomination). Applicants who are more than 10 years from their highest degree (and where career breaks exist, including maternity leave, extended sick leave, etc.) may have their eligibility for a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair assessed through the program’s Tier 2 justification process. Please contact the research grants office and see the CRC website (www.chairs.gc.ca) for more information on eligibility. Dalhousie recognizes that career paths can be diverse and that career interruptions may occur. Applicants are encouraged to include, in their cover letter, an explanation of the impact that any career interruptions may have had on their record of research achievement. These leaves will be taken into careful consideration during the assessment process.

Dalhousie is in Kjipuktuk (Halifax), the major centre in the scenic Atlantic region and a city widely known for its high quality of life. Further information about the University can be obtained at www.dal.ca.

Dalhousie University operates in the unceded territories of the Mi’kmaw, Wolastoqey, and Peskotomuhkati Peoples. These sovereign nations hold inherent rights as the original peoples of these lands, and we each carry collective obligations under the Peace and Friendship Treaties. Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 recognizes and affirms Aboriginal and Treaty rights in Canada.

Please download and complete our CRC self ID form via the link: https://cdn.dal.ca/content/dam/dalhousie/pdf/dept/hr/Employment-Equity/SelfID-External-Questionnaire-CRC-Only.pdf. A complete application package includes this self-id form.

Submissions received on or before January 13, 2025 will be granted full consideration. Applications should be made by submission of a cover letter, a detailed curriculum vitae, a three-page summary of the candidate’s research program, a one-page statement of teaching interests and philosophy, the names and contact details of three referees, and the additional self-id form. All applications are to be made through the following link: https://dal.peopleadmin.ca/postings/17948

This position is a part of the Dalhousie Faculty Association (DFA) Bargaining Unit.

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

If you require any support for the purpose of accommodation, such as technical aids or alternative arrangements, please let us know of these needs and how we can be of assistance. Dalhousie University is committed to ensuring all candidates have full, fair, and equitable participation in the hiring process. Our complete Accommodation Policy can be viewed here.

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