Director, Centre for Blood Research (CBR)

The Faculty of Medicine (FoM) at The University of British Columbia (UBC) invites applications for the position of Director, Centre for Blood Research (CBR). The appointment is for an initial term of five (5) years with the possibility of renewal, subject to satisfactory review. The position is expected to be filled by a candidate internal to UBC who currently holds a faculty appointment at UBC or is eligible to hold an adjunct, partner or clinical faculty position in an appropriate academic unit. The anticipated start date is April 1, 2024, or upon a date to be mutually agreed.

The CBR is a Senate approved Centre of the FoM, housed at the UBC Life Sciences Centre (LSC). The Director of the Centre will have overall responsibility for ensuring that the activities of the Centre are furthering the goals the FoM’s Strategic Plan “Building the Future”. The CBR is a multidisciplinary biomedical research institute, situated primarily at UBC and affiliated teaching hospitals, with nodes at the University of Northern British Columbia and at the University of Victoria. Over 40 research groups at the CBR are working together, using a broad range of leading edge basic science, biotechnological, engineering and clinical investigative approaches on blood and blood-related processes to improve health.

The CBR’s areas of special interest include the development of safe blood products and blood substitutes to meet increasing transfusion demands, the creation of new knowledge of the mechanism underlying the hemostatic balance and the design and validation of novel approaches to prevent excess bleeding and excess blood clotting. They also focus on the development of novel techniques to modulate the immune system to prevent and treat inflammatory, infectious and autoimmune diseases and to promote tissue repair and the discovery of blood biomarkers for early detection of disease and monitoring of response to therapy.

CBR teams are led by internationally recognized investigators who are chemists, biologists, biochemists, pathologists, immunologists, geneticists, engineers, psychologists, sociologists, dentists, pediatricians, hematologists, oncologists, virologists and microbiologists. Group leaders have appointments in the Faculties of Medicine, Applied Science, Arts, Dentistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Science. The interdisciplinary nature of the CBR places it in a unique position to create substantial partnerships with other programs and agencies, locally, nationally and internationally, thereby facilitating rapid progress.

The Director will report directly to the CBR Committee of Deans, that includes representation from the Faculties of Medicine, Dentistry, Applied Science and Science and continue to co-report to the Vice Dean, Research in the FoM at UBC and through this, to the CBR Committee of Deans of the various Faculties represented by the CBR faculty members (chaired by the Dean of Medicine) and ultimately to the UBC Vice-President, Academic/Provost. The Director, CBR, is responsible for implementing the research strategy, supporting the research of investigators and research scientists in the Centre, developing and maintaining partnerships to ensure faculty/research scientists are supported by the organization and host institutions to effectively conduct their scholarly activities. The Director oversees the activities of the CBR including grants, research contracts, and compliance with UBC research policies. The incumbent will be a member of relevant research committees of the UBC FoM.

Candidates should hold a PhD, MD or equivalent in a relevant discipline with a minimum of five years’ experience as an independent investigator including experience in the development, delivery, and implementation of collaborative research programs. Candidates should have a demonstrated track record of significant research achievement, commitment to multi-institute collaborations and ability to value the diversity of contributions from partners. Candidates should possess collaborative leadership skills, administrative experience, and ability to work effectively with learners, trainees, faculty and administrative leadership. In addition, the successful candidate will demonstrate willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own, and a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

A detailed job description is available in the Vice-Dean, Research’s Office, FoM for those who wish to review it. Please inquire at the email address below. The successful candidate will contribute to fostering an environment that promotes inclusivity and embodies values of respect, integrity, compassion, collaboration, and equity. Equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice are essential to academic excellence, as well as fostering an inclusive community for voices that have been historically underrepresented or discouraged. Candidates who bring diverse perspectives and lived experiences are encouraged to apply as we strive to enhance diversity, inclusiveness, socio-cultural representation, and perspective of the Centre.

An application package should include a letter of application that addresses scholarly, professional and creative work, teaching, administrative service and experience in fostering collaboration, accompanied by a detailed curriculum vitae, names of four references, a vision document (1-2-page) outlining a plan to enhance the vision and leadership of the research centre, and up to five recent publications that you would consider representative of how your research relates to the research centre. Please provide a brief statement (1-2 pages) of your current or previous contributions to advancing anti-racism, equity, diversity, decolonization, Indigenization and inclusion in an academic, professional or community context. Applications should be directed to:

Robert McMaster, D. Phil
Vice-Dean, Research
c/o Meredith Ladner
Room 317, IRC, UBC
2194 Health Sciences Mall
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3

Email: Meredith.Ladner@ubc.ca with subject line: Director, Centre for Blood Research

Review of applications will begin December 11, 2023 and continue until the position is filled.

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

The University is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and equitable work environment for all members of its workforce. An inclusive work environment presumes an environment where differences are appreciated, recognized, and integrated into current structures, planning, and decision-making modes. Within this hiring process we are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable process for all candidates (including but not limited to people with disabilities).  Confidential accommodations are available on request for applicants who are short-listed. Please contact Meredith Ladner via email at Meredith.Ladner@ubc.ca.

To learn more about UBC’s Center for Workplace Accessibility, visit the website here https://hr.ubc.ca/CWA.

The UBC Vancouver Campus is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of thexʷm əθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) people. The City of Vancouver is located on Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations territory.