Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Applied Quality of Life Research in Aged Care

Competition 1685

This opportunity is open only to current employees of the Faculty of Nursing of the University of Alberta who currently hold a tenured or tenure-track appointment as Assistant or Associate Professor.

Canadian older adults consistently report significant gaps in access to timely and effective healthcare, barriers to aging in place with appropriate support and dignity, and the prevalence of ageist discourses and policies that do not align with their needs and desires. As the pandemic demonstrated, Canada’s social and healthcare systems are particularly ill-equipped to support the well-being of older adults during times of crisis. Many Canadians will face older age amidst economic and environmental instability, often lacking the support necessary to maintain a good quality of life.

This CRC will lead an innovative research program that integrates interdisciplinary and community-engaged, or patient-oriented, research to make a tangible impact on the quality of life for older adults, including those historically underrepresented. This program has the potential to drive transformational change, aligning with the University of Alberta’s strategic priority on improving quality of life as outlined in the SHAPE plan.

Duties and expectations:

The CRC will be an exceptional emerging health sciences researcher in the Faculty of Nursing, specializing in applied quality-of-life research in aged care. The successful candidate will either be, or have the potential to become, a national and international expert in this field. They will be expected to lead an innovative and productive research program that generates evidence to guide the design of interventions aimed at improving the quality of life for older adults.

The candidate's research will be grounded in and responsive to the issues that matter most to older adults and their families. They will also be expected to build networks with a wide range of collaborators and communities beyond academia. Additionally, the successful candidate will be expected to build capacity in applied aged care research, fostering greater representation in the nursing academic workforce by supervising trainees from underrepresented populations, including Indigenous students and members of racialized groups. The candidate will also support their gerontological colleagues within and beyond the Faculty of Nursing.

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will hold a PhD in nursing, have current operating research funds, and demonstrate a clear vision for expanding their research program over time. The candidate must demonstrate expertise in a diverse range of methodologies, enabling them to lead a research program that addresses emerging issues in gerontology.

Additionally, the candidate should be actively involved with national gerontological research associations, advisory committees that include individuals with lived experience, and provincial continuing care or community-based organizations that serve older adults. The applicant should also have an exemplary track record of interdisciplinary collaboration appropriate to their career stage, as well as experience in research collaborations with policy-making bodies, clinical settings, and community organizations.

CRC Requirements: Tier 2 CRCs are intended for exceptional emerging researchers (i.e., candidates 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 having earned their highest degree (and where career breaks exist, such as maternity, parental or extended sick leave, clinical training, etc.) may have their eligibility for a Tier 2 Chair assessed through the program’s Tier 2 Justification Process. Please consult the University of Alberta CRC Coordinator, Glen Thomas ( crcadmin@ualberta.ca ) for more information.  Full program information, including details on eligibility criteria, can be found on the Canada Research Chairs website: http://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/home-accueil-eng.aspx .  

The University of Alberta recognizes the legitimate impact that leaves (e.g., parental leave, leave due to illness) can have on a candidate’s record of research achievement and that these leaves will be taken into careful consideration during the assessment process.

The successful applicant will be nominated for a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair. Nominations are subject to review by the CRC Secretariat, and appointment as a Canada Research Chair is conditional upon their approval.

 To apply:

1. All applicants to this job posting are required to self-identify. Applicants will receive a questionnaire link from equity@ualberta.ca within 2-3 weeks of submitting their job applications. The survey will be sent to the email address that is listed on the application. Please be sure to check the spam box. Please do not forward the link as it is unique to the email address. For any questions or concerns, please contact equity@ualberta.ca.

NB:  The University of Alberta must collect self-identification data from all applicants as part of its participation in the CRC Program.  This data is used to ensure that the institution is progressing towards meeting its EDI targets as set by Ottawa.

2. Submit a current CV, including a one-page description of the proposed CRC research program in Applied quality of life research in aged care by clicking the "Apply" button below by December 6, 2024.

Questions about the competition can be sent to nudean@ualberta.ca.

Applicants requiring accessibility arrangements for the application, interview, or subsequent meetings can contact nurshrp@ualberta.ca to arrange appropriate accommodations.

Posted on: November 4, 2024