Director, Institute for Smart Augmentative and Restorative Technologies and Health Innovations (iSMART)

Competition 1645

This competition is restricted to internal applicants of the University of Alberta. Please log in to verify your internal candidate status.

Location - Work primarily takes place at North Campus Edmonton. This role is hybrid with a mix of remote and in-person.

Working at the University of Alberta

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all FirstPeoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is a community of knowledge seekers, change makers and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to over 14,000 faculty and staff, more than 40,000 students and a growing community of 300,000 alumni worldwide.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross-section of people — from our students and community members, to our renowned researchers and innovators, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger and more just. Learn more.

Working for the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry

The Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry invites applicants for the position of Director, Institute for Smart Augmentative and Restorative Technologies and Health Innovations (iSMART) from current tenured or tenure track UofA academic faculty with a PhD or MD (or equivalent).

This is a 0.3 FTE position, reporting to the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry or delegate. The Director of iSMART, an official University of Alberta research institute, is responsible for the strategic leadership of the institute in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry Vice-Deans (Research); and in consultation with various strategic partners/constituencies (internal and external to the University of Alberta). The Director is responsible for ensuring the execution of strategic deliverables that contribute to the success of the institute.

The vision of the iSMART is to develop innovative and accessible interventions for preventing injury, enhancing quality of care, and improving people’s functional, psychosocial, and quality of life outcomes, through interdisciplinary collaborations that engage the full spectrum of research, healthcare, consumer needs, and industry.

The successful candidate will be a visionary and strategic leader who inspires excellence and engages Institute members and partners in effective collaboration. They will have outstanding interpersonal skills and show evidence of building, managing, and maintaining high-quality and productive relationships across diverse groups of individuals. They will have a personal record of research accomplishment and commitment to service and leadership. The successful candidate will demonstrate creativity and innovative ideas to advance research and technology related to neural injuries and diseases. The appointment is for a five-year term, renewable upon favourable review by the Dean, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry.

Duties 

Responsibilities of the Director include:

1.  Develop an environment to support high-impact and cutting-edge research that will lead to improved quality of care, functional outcomes and quality of life for people with neural injuries and diseases.
2. Promote a collaborative interdisciplinary environment that nurtures breakthroughs into intelligent medical devices and revolutionary rehabilitation interventions.
3. Foster excellence in discovery, clinical, health service, population and technology-related health research in the areas of motor control, neural interfaces, neuro-inflammation, machine learning, prosthetic interventions, and innovations in remote care.
4. As a University Institute, collaborate and strengthen links with local and provincial healthcare and industry, and identify and move forward research priorities provincially, nationally, and internationally.
5. Collaborate with national and international research organizations to ensure that the institute's activities are well integrated with opportunities and influence trends in research.
6. Maintain effective relationships and work collaboratively with other Institutes, Centres, Departments, Faculties, Colleges, and partners to advance knowledge, care and health through research.
7. Identify emerging research themes and priorities, and help mobilize investigators to develop large-scale iSMART projects (including research infrastructure and core facilities).
8. Develop and coordinate career, educational, and training opportunities for iSMART trainees.
9. Lead the development and implementation of funding support collaboratively with Development.
10. Plan and manage the iSMART annual budget and staff, ensure efficient operation and disbursement of funds, and develop and implement a business model for financial self-sustainability.
11. Advocate for iSMART and neural injuries and diseases research to the public.

Applicants are asked to submit the following documents:

• A statement of interest outlining their vision and goals for iSMART and how their experience makes them an appropriate candidate for the director position (submit under the cover letter tab);
• A description of their research leadership philosophy (maximum 1 page, submit under the Research Plan tab); 
• A description of how they plan to collaborate with both internal and external partners (maximum 1 page submit under Interests tab);
• An equity diversity and inclusion (EDI) statement outlining past contributions to EDI and the resulting impact on academic (research/scholarship, teaching/learning), professional (non-academic or clinical work), and/or community (local, national, international community-based) settings (maximum 1 page);
• Academic Curriculum Vitae; and 
• A letter from their department chair (if from the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry), or chair (if relevant) and dean (if from outside the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry) confirming support for the application and the 0.3 FTE time commitment that it will require (Submit under Other tab).

Please submit an application in PDF format online. The posting will remain open until December 1, 2024.

Further information with respect to the position may be sought from the Vice-Dean of Research (Basic), Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry (Dr. Richard Lehner, richard.lehner@ualberta.ca).

The FoMD has adopted the Okanagan Charter and is committed to health-promoting learning and working environments supporting psychological safety and well-being.