Associate Professor - Edwin S.H. Leong Chair in Data Science for Child Health

Date Posted: 05/15/2024
Closing Date: 09/30/2024, 11:59PM ET
Req ID: 36664
Job Category: Faculty - Tenure Stream (continuing)
Faculty/Division: Dalla Lana School of Public Health
Department: Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)

 

Description:

 

The Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto (hereinafter, the Institute), invites applications for a full-time tenure stream faculty position in the area of Data Science and Child Health Equity at the rank of Associate Professor. The successful candidate may be named to the Edwin S.H. Leong Chair in Data Science and Child Health Equity for a five-year term, renewable following a favourable review. It is anticipated the position will commence July 1, 2025.

 

The successful candidate may also hold an additional appointment at the Child Health Evaluative Sciences Program in the Research Institute at the Hospital for Sick Children. This position is in partnership with the Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Children at the University of Toronto and The Hospital for Sick Children (hereinafter, the Leong Centre).

 

With disciplinary depth and collaborative commitment, the successful candidate will be based in Toronto, Canada and lead innovative data science research in collaboration with researchers at the Leong Centre, a child health equity research centre with a vision of “harnessing interdisciplinary research to promote the flourishing of every child and family.” The Chair will have an established and productive program of research focused on evidence generation addressing social and health inequities and child well-being.

 

The expectations of the Edwin S.H. Leong Chair in Data Science for Child Health Equity include growth of a successful independent research program, mentoring students/trainees, supervising graduate students, teaching, capacity-building and collaborating with interdisciplinary researchers and policymakers. The selected candidate is expected to play a prominent role raising the profile of data science for health equity research focused on children and their families, and work closely with Leong Centre Co-Directors and endowed Chairholders to advance Centre aims.   

 

We seek candidates who demonstrate collegial service, and  whose research and teaching interests complement and bolster our existing strengths - Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research, Health Systems Research, and Child Health Evaluative Sciences”.

 

Eligible candidates must hold a PhD in one of the following related fields: applied mathematics, economics, statistics, biostatistics, epidemiology, informatics, computer science, engineering, or other relevant quantitative discipline. They must also have a clearly demonstrated record of excellence in research and teaching.

 

Applicants must demonstrate scientific and academic leadership in high-impact research that addresses important problems in population health and health systems, with emphasis on child health and equity, through innovation in data science methods.  Candidates must provide strong evidence of research excellence of an internationally competitive calibre, as evidenced by a record of sustained high-impact contributions and publications in leading journals in the field, as well as presentations at significant conferences, accolades or awards, other noteworthy activities that contribute to the visibility and prominence of the discipline, and strong endorsements by referees of high standing.

 

Candidates will demonstrate excellence in research that is clearly aligned with the vision of the Leong Centre and will be expected to significantly advance their field internationally. Candidates will have an established international reputation and will be expected to sustain and lead an innovative independent, competitive, and externally-funded robust research program at an international level.

 

Candidates should have an excellent track record of teaching at the university level and mentoring graduate-level students.  Evidence of excellence in teaching will be demonstrated through teaching accomplishments and innovations. The teaching dossier submitted as part of the application package includes personal statement of teaching philosophy, sample course materials, teaching evaluations, as well as strong letters of reference. 

 

Evidence of readiness for entrepreneurship e.g. research applications/partnerships in and beyond academia (e.g. patents, research commercialization) and demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across disciplines and sectors, are valued assets.

 

Resources for the Edwin S.H. Leong Chair in Data Science for Child Health Equity includes support from a $5.5 million endowment, including salary (commensurate with experience) and operating funds. Applications will be evaluated by a panel of senior members from the Leong Centre, the Institute, and the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, focused on the applicants’ track record of leading successful data science research.

 

Established by Royal Charter in 1827, the University of Toronto is the largest and most prestigious research-intensive university in Canada, located in one of the world’s greatest cities. The University has more than 19,000 faculty and staff, some 73,000 students enrolled across three campuses, and annual budget of $1.8 billion, including $376 million in externally funded research, an additional $469 million in research funding in the affiliated teaching hospitals, and one of the premier research libraries in North America.

 

The Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME) is one of the largest units of its kind in Canada. It is internationally competitive in the fields of health policy and governance, organizational management and leadership, performance management, comparative health systems, health services research, clinical epidemiology and health care research, knowledge transfer, health economics, quality improvement, and patient safety. It offers rigorous research and professional graduate degree programs, as well as continuing education. Multidisciplinary and collaborative, the Institute’s more than 500 faculty members represent a wide range of disciplines including health policy, economics, law, clinical epidemiology, innovation, e-health and technology, sociology, and political science.

 

This Institute—unique in Canada—brings together leading researchers from across the world and from a wide variety of disciplines to develop and to translate innovative ideas into evidence-informed practices that improve the planning, delivery and outcomes of health care. The current Director, Professor Audrey Laporte, was appointed January 1, 2020. For detailed information on the institute, visit its website.

 

The Institute is located within the Dalla Lana School of Public Health (DLSPH). This School was founded in 1927 and has grown to be the largest and most productive cluster of public health scholars in Canada. The Dalla Lana School of Public Health has an illustrious history that began in the 1920’s and continued with a recent renaissance beginning in 2008 (see synopsis). The most prominent School of Public Health in Canada, the DLSPH now has a roster of over 800 students, and greater than $27 million in annual research expenditures. In addition to the Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation, the DLSPH houses the graduate unit of Public Health Sciences, the Waakebiness Institute for Indigenous Health, major initiatives related to Healthy Cities, Big Data for Health, Quality Improvement, and partnerships with institutions throughout Toronto that comprise the largest health-science research complex in Canada, alliances with multiple international partners and a central location in one of the most dynamic, multi-ethnic, and cosmopolitan cities in the world. The current Dean, Professor Adalsteinn Brown, was appointed July 1, 2018 and re-appointed on July 1, 2023.

 

The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), affiliated with the University of Toronto, is Canada's most research-intensive hospital and the largest centre dedicated to improving children's health in the country.

 

All qualified candidates are invited to apply by clicking on the link below. Applications must include a cover letter, a current curriculum vitae, teaching dossier (including a statement of teaching philosophy, teaching evaluations, a record of teaching accomplishments and innovations, and sample course materials), up to three sample publications/working papers, and a statement outlining current and future research interests.

 

Applicants must provide the name and contact information of three references. The University of Toronto’s recruiting tool will automatically solicit and collect letters of reference from each referee the day after an application is submitted. Applicants remain responsible for ensuring that referees submit recent letters (on letterhead, dated and signed) by the closing date. More details on the automatic reference letter collection, including timelines, are available in the candidate FAQ.

 

All application materials, including recent letters of reference, must be received on or before September 30, 2024.

 

Submission guidelines can be found at http://uoft.me/how-to-apply. Your CV and cover letter should be uploaded into the dedicated fields. Please combine additional application materials  into one or two files in PDF/MS Word format. If you have questions about this position, please contact ihpme.director@utoronto.ca.

 

The University of Toronto has adopted the AAU Principles on Preventing Sexual Harassment in Academia, including the requirement that applicants release personnel information from prior employers regarding sexual misconduct. Full details and requirements can be found here.

 

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

 

Diversity Statement
The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.

 

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see http://uoft.me/UP.

 

Accessibility Statement
The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.

 

The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.

If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact uoft.careers@utoronto.ca.