Assistant Professor (Probationary) or Associate Professor (Probationary)

Number of Positions

1

Posting Date

October 16, 2026

Closing Date to Apply

Review of applications will begin on November 16, 2026.

Anticipated Start Date

Anticipated start date for this position is July 1, 2027, or as negotiated.

Position Profile

The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University is inviting applications for a tenure-track translational cancer research position to hold a Joint Appointment with the Department of Oncology and either the Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology or the Department of Biochemistry, based on the expertise of the successful candidate. We are seeking an innovative, ambitious, and collaborative early career researcher who will apply integrative approaches to develop novel cancer biotherapeutics, with the goal of translating discoveries into products and interventions that improve the survival and quality of life of cancer patients. Applicants should have demonstrated expertise in any emerging area of translational cancer research.

This position is part of a strategic initiative to invest in emerging cancer researchers whose work aligns with the Departments’ and Schulich’s research priorities. The overall goal of the role is to lead, champion, support, and grow cancer research, knowledge mobilization, innovation, and capacity. The successful candidate will be part of larger strategic investment in advancing cancer biotherapeutics at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry.

Academic Expectations

This research opportunity is supported by resources and mentorship designed to ensure that the successful candidate has a thriving research program. It is expected that the successful candidate will lead an internationally recognized externally funded research program built on a platform of tri-council and other external funding sources, as well as to develop collaborations with fundamental, translational, and clinical researchers across the cancer research community in London. In addition, the successful candidate will be expected to mentor and train undergraduate and graduate students and carry out assigned teaching responsibilities, as well as to contribute to service internally (at the departmental, faculty, and/or university levels) and externally.

Qualifications or Experience and Skills Required

The successful candidate will hold a PhD or equivalent, have completed postdoctoral or equivalent training in a discipline relevant to cancer research, exhibit a strong record of peer-reviewed publications as assessed by the principles of DORA, and have high potential to acquire independent and collaborative grant support. The successful candidate should have an emerging track record of: (1) interdisciplinary collaborative research; (2) teaching and mentorship; and (3) the ability to establish working relationships with clinicians and other health professionals to develop research initiatives. Demonstrated ability to secure career-stage appropriate external peer-reviewed funding (e.g., CIHR, NIH) would be an asset. Successful candidates are expected to have a strong commitment to EDID principles and incorporate these into their research, teaching and mentorship. Fluent written and oral communication skills in English are required.

Compensation Details

The salary for this position will be $130,000 to 170,000 CAD commensurate with qualifications and experience. This position includes a comprehensive benefit package. Further details can be accessed at: http://www.uwo.ca/hr/benefits/your_benefits/faculty.html.

Affirmation Policy Statement

Western, like many postsecondary institutions in Canada, is moving beyond sole reliance upon Indigenous self-identification in its hiring processes. This is to safeguard against the use of incorrect, incomplete, or misleading information in circumstances in which a candidate has made a declaration of Indigenous citizenship or membership. Candidates who are invited for an interview or who are short-listed, and who have made a declaration of Indigenous citizenship or membership for material advantage at Western, including where required or preferred for the position, will be asked to have their declaration of Indigenous citizenship or membership affirmed through a relational accountability process, led by the Office of Indigenous Initiatives (OII), that is consistent with Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing. Please contact the OII directly for details on the affirmation processes: https://indigenous.uwo.ca/. The policy can be viewed at: POLICY 1.58 - Affirming Declarations of Indigenous Citizenship or Membership at Western University.

The Department(s)

The candidate will join a diverse cancer research community in London, including established multidisciplinary and translational cancer research groups in areas such as breast, prostate, ovarian, pancreatic, and head and neck cancer; as well as metastasis and immuno-oncology. These groups include researchers within the Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre and at Western’s main campus.

The Department of Oncology in Western’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, conducts clinical, translational and basic cancer research in collaboration with our citywide partners and facilitates education programs at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The Department is closely linked to the Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre Cancer / London Health Sciences Centre and shares a vision of integrated cancer care, research and education. As the academic hub for cancer care in the region, the Department combines three essential forces: the delivery of complex, person-centered care; the education of the next generation of oncologists, scientists and health professionals; and the pursuit of discovery that drives new treatments and cures. The Department’s goal is to align the strengths of clinicians, scientists, educators, and partners to reduce the burden of cancer and improve lives in London, across Canada and globally.

The Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology is a multidisciplinary basic science department within the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University, which includes a strong and growing community of cancer researchers. The Department fosters world-class research and training in cell biology, neurobiology, clinical anatomy, and scholarship of teaching and learning. These foundational research strengths are applied to multiple disease areas, including cancer, through productive academic and research collaborations with the other basic science and clinical departments at Western, affiliated hospitals, research institutes and industry partners in London and worldwide. The Department offers high-quality graduate and undergraduate training programs with a strong emphasis on experiential learning, intimate class sizes, and development of critical thinking/research skills. In addition, the Department provides instruction to students in a variety of undergraduate and professional programs including Medicine, Dentistry, Health Sciences and the Bachelors of Medical Sciences Program.

The Department of Biochemistry is a research-intensive department in the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry. The Department’s missions include basic and applied research, graduate training, and undergraduate teaching in the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, and the Faculty of Science. The Department offers a collaborative research environment focusing on molecular mechanisms and approaches to both understand and improve human health. The Department has long-standing research strength in structural biology, proteomics and human genetics, and has recently expanded its mandate to include bioinformatics, systems and synthetic biology, and chemical biology. Research in the Department is supported by an active PhD-intensive graduate program and numerous core facilities.

The Faculty

The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western University is one of Canada’s preeminent medical and dental schools. Established in 1881, it was one of the founding schools of Western University and is known for being the birthplace of family medicine in Canada. For more than 130 years, the School has demonstrated a commitment to academic excellence and a passion for scientific discovery. The Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry is home to several research facilities and state-of-the-art core facilities at Western that have been revitalized through recent major investments. At the molecular level, the School has the London Regional Genomics facility that support genomics and transcriptomics at the single cell level; the BioCORE that contains facilities for Mass Spectrometry for proteomics, NMR facilities for both protein and small molecule characterization and facilities for biophysical characterization of proteins and metabolites; and the Flow Cytometry and Molecular Pathology Cores. At the macroscopic level these facilities include a Biomedical Research Facility for animal housing, an Animal Cognition and Behavioral Neuroscience Core, Translational Imaging Cores including the Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping (CFMM), and an Imaging Pathogens for Knowledge Translation (ImPaKT) Facility with Containment Level 3 cell culture laboratories and animal housing. More information can be obtained at: https://www.schulich.uwo.ca/research/research_excellence/core_facilities.html

The University

With annual research funding exceeding $300 million, and an international reputation for success, Western ranks as one of Canada’s top research-intensive universities. Our research excellence expands knowledge and drives discovery with real-world application. Western also provides an exceptional employment experience, offering competitive salaries, a wide range of employment opportunities, and one of Canada’s most beautiful campuses.

The City

Western’s campus is in London, Ontario, a city with a population of approximately 400,000, located midway between Toronto and Detroit. With an extensive park system, river valleys, tree-lined streets, and bicycle paths, London is known as the "Forest City". London has a reasonable cost-of-living and hosts an international airport, galleries, theatre, music, sporting events, and excellent restaurants. London also boasts an extensive educational and health care community including three teaching hospitals, two research institutes, an Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) node, and an academic health sciences network across Southwestern Ontario.

To Apply

Applications will be reviewed by a multi-disciplinary committee and must include the following:

• A completed and signed application form at the following link: https://www.uwo.ca/facultyrelations/careers/full-time-application-form-new.pdf
• A cover letter addressing how your expertise fits this position and complements existing strengths at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry
• A detailed curriculum vitae
• A proposed research plan identifying significant contributions to the field of translational cancer research. In your statement, describe how your past contributions connect with your research plan and how your research plan will build research capacity, collaborations, networks, and knowledge translation locally and beyond (up to five single-spaced pages).
• A statement of your overall teaching and mentoring philosophies. This statement should include descriptions of past formal and informal teaching and mentorship experience, and plans for mentorship and training at Western (up to two single-spaced pages).
• A statement on how your track record and plans create an equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment for research, teaching and/or mentorship (up to one single-spaced page).
• The names and contact information for 3 academic references.

Please send completed application packages as a single compiled PDF to:

Dr. Lauren Flynn
Chair, Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology
c/o Bryan Wood
Medical Sciences Building, MSB 443A
Western University
London, Ontario Canada N6A 5C1
Email: anatomy@uwo.ca

Existing Vacancy Disclosure Statement

This position is an existing vacancy.

Positions are subject to budget approval. Applicants should have fluent written and oral communications skills in English. The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Western is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from women, members of racialized groups, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, and persons of any gender identity or gender expression.

In accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you require accommodations for interviews or other meetings, please contact Chelsea Johnson at chelsea.johnson@schulich.uwo.ca.