Description

McMaster University, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Engineering Physics
Date of online posting: September 28, 2023
Job Posting ID: 58036

McMaster University is located on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga 
Nations and within the lands protected by the Dish with One Spoon wampum agreement.
Position Description
McMaster University’s Faculty of Engineering invites applications from female-identifying 
candidates for a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor in the Department of 
Engineering Physics, located on the main university campus to begin on or before July 1, 2024. 
Candidates with a superior track record of scholarly contributions, demonstrated leadership in 
research and innovation, and a strong international reputation may be considered at the rank of 
Associate or Full Professor.

The Department of Engineering Physics at McMaster University incorporates a unique blend of 
research topics in applied and engineering physics, with research clusters in optics/photonics, 
nano/micro devices, biophotonics/biosensing, and nuclear engineering. The Department hosts one of 
the largest accredited undergraduate Engineering Physics programs in Canada, along with graduate 
programs at the Master’s and PhD levels. The Department and its faculty members also actively 
participate in the Faculty-wide 5-year undergraduate integrated biomedical engineering programs and 
the graduate-level School of Biomedical Engineering.

Ranked among the top engineering schools in Canada and worldwide, McMaster Engineering has a long 
history of excellence in cutting edge research, student-focused education, innovative programs, 
leading faculty, and achieving students. We integrate experiential learning into every facet of the 
student journey, offer Canada’s largest undergraduate research program, vibrant co-op 
opportunities, and much more. With 200 faculty members, about 7,500 undergraduate and 1,250 
graduate students, we are a world class centre for academic excellence and innovation.

Founded in 1887, McMaster University is one of only four Canadian universities ranked among the top 
80 in the world by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for 2022 and is home to 
more than 70 research centres and institutes. Named Canada’s most research-intensive university in 
2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 by Research Infosource, McMaster is dedicated to teaching, learning and 
service. With a student population of more to 36,000, McMaster welcomes students from 120 countries 
as well as Canada. Discover more of what McMaster Engineering and the Hamilton area can offer to 
academic professionals and their families by reviewing the Information Guide highlighting our 
research excellence, family-friendly resources and rich local culture. Opportunities for continuous 
personal and professional growth are also made available through our Faculty’s Fireball Academy and 
the MacPherson Institute.

Successful Candidate

The Department of Engineering Physics is seeking an outstanding woman for a tenure-track position 
in Engineering Physics. The position is at the rank of Assistant Professor and located on the main 
university campus. Consideration for a position at the rank of Associate or Full Professor will be 
given, based on

commensurate experience. Successful candidates will have the opportunity to readily access 
world-class research facilities including the Centre for Emerging Device Technologies, the 
Brockhouse Institute for Materials Research, the Canadian Centre for Electron Microscopy, the 
Centre for Advanced Light Microscopy, and/or the McMaster Biointerfaces Institute. The successful 
candidate is expected to develop research collaborations within and external to the University. 
Possible research topics may include but are not limited to areas within engineering that develop, 
utilize, exploit, or explore advanced device technologies in optoelectronics, photonics, 
electronics, micromechanics and/or microfluidics; for example, using nanoscale elements such as 
FETs, NEMS/MEMS, micro-ring resonators, photonic crystals, plasmonics, Josephson junctions, 
metamaterials or epitaxial semiconductor materials within micro-, or nano-scale devices and 
systems. The research topic should have strong linkages to technological applications, for example 
to communications, energy systems, space systems, computing (including quantum computing), 
biomedicine, or imaging/sensing (e.g., bioimaging & biosensing).

The successful applicant will teach both undergraduate- and graduate-level courses. Therefore, a 
demonstrated or strong potential for excellence in teaching and curriculum development in 
Engineering Physics at both the undergraduate and graduate levels is essential. Consistent with 
McMaster’s position as a research-intensive university, the successful applicant will be expected 
to develop a dynamic externally funded research program, supervise graduate students, and foster 
existing or new collaborations with other Departments and Faculties. Research excellence will be 
reflected in successful mentoring of graduate students, extramural grant acquisition and 
publication in high quality peer- reviewed journals. Relevant industrial experience, the ability to 
interact with other research groups (on- and off-campus), and interest in creating and maintaining 
ties with major industrial players within the broader community, will be essential. Applicants must 
demonstrate a willingness and ability to contribute to the Department’s collegial and collaborative 
intellectual community as well as University-wide inclusive excellence goals and priorities.

Applicants must have completed a Ph.D. in Engineering Physics, Physics, Electrical Engineering, 
Biomedical Engineering, or a closely related discipline, and have expertise in applied research in 
a related field of application. Successful candidates will be outstanding emerging scholars with a 
demonstrated potential to achieve a significant international reputation in the next five to ten 
years.

Applicants should also possess outstanding leadership and communication skills, a commitment to 
excellence in service, and ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds. 
All candidates will be expected to participate in the normal administrative, educational, and 
professional activities of the Department, Faculty and University. Applicants are expected to have 
a license for the practice of engineering in Canada or the ability and eligibility to apply for an 
engineering license with the Professional Engineers of Ontario within 3 years.

In addition to competitive salaries, McMaster University provides one of the best benefit packages 
amongst Canadian universities, which includes supplementary medical and dental coverage, a defined 
benefits pension plan, external tuition benefit, long term disability insurance and family-friendly 
supports such as a childcare allowance, and funded pregnancy/parental leaves. University policies 
include provisions for such leaves in the tenure process and in annual merit evaluations. The 
Faculty of Engineering has additional supports in place, such as funding from the Engineering Life 
Event Fund, to help maintain continuity in scholarship during pregnancy/parental, medical, or 
family-related leaves.

Commitment to Inclusive Excellence

The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengths our 
research and teaching excellence. In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community 
with a Shared Purpose, McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration, 
and diversity, and has a strong commitment to employment equity.

McMaster has a vision to achieve international distinction for creativity, innovation and 
excellence as a research-intensive, student-centred university. In committing to that vision, we 
are also focused on the promotion of inclusive excellence, recognizing the critical role that 
diversity of identity, background and perspective play in harnessing creativity and innovation, and 
the importance of building inclusive and collegial teams within our community. The University seeks 
qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, who will contribute to the 
diversification of ideas and perspectives, and especially welcomes applications from First Nations, 
Métis and Inuit peoples, members of racialized communities (“visible minorities”), persons with 
disabilities, women, and persons who identify as 2SLGBTQ+.

We invite all applicants to complete a brief Diversity Survey as part of the application process. 
It takes approximately two minutes to complete during the online application process. All questions 
are voluntary, with an option to decline to answer. All information collected is confidential and 
will be used to support efforts to broaden the diversity of the applicant pool and to promote a 
fair, equitable and inclusive talent acquisition process. Inquiries about the Diversity Survey may 
be directed to hr.empequity@mcmaster.ca.

Applicants requiring accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact the Human 
Resources Service Centre at 905-525-9140 ext. 222-HR (22247) or the Executive Officer in the 
Faculty of Engineering at 905-525-9140 ext. 24900 to communicate accommodation needs.

How to apply:

Please visit our Current Opportunities webpage https://hr.mcmaster.ca/careers/current- 
opportunities/ to submit your application to job opening 58036 by November 1, 2023, addressed to

Rafael Kleiman, Professor and Chair Department of Engineering Physics, JHE-A315 Faculty of 
Engineering
McMaster University Hamilton, ON L8S 4L7 Canada

and submit the following materials:

•  letter of application together with a Curriculum Vitae. Describe the impact that career 
interruptions may have had on research productivity (1 page, if applicable);
•  research statement, including a selection of research publications (no more than four 
examples);
•  statement on teaching interests and philosophy (including evidence of teaching 
effectiveness);
•  statement on contributions to inclusive excellence in teaching, research, and service, including 
a description of how you will contribute to advancing the University’s Equity, Diversity and 
Inclusion Strategy: Towards Inclusive Excellence within the Faculty of Engineering (2 pages 
maximum)
•  contact information for at least three referees. Please note that letters of reference are not 
required and will not be reviewed at the application stage. The Department will request letters of 
recommendation from referees at later stages of the search process.

Referees should not be in a conflict of interest and at least one should be recognized as an 
international authority in your field and not residing in the country in which you are currently 
working. In cases where the applicant is a Canadian Indigenous researcher (First Nations, Inuit or 
Métis) based in Canada, the name and contact information of an international referee is not 
required.

McMaster University recognizes the potential impact that career interruptions and personal 
circumstances (e.g., pregnancy, early childcare, eldercare, illness, etc.) can have on an 
applicant’s record of research achievement. We encourage applicants to explain in their 
applications the impact that career interruptions, or other issues may have had.

Review of applications will begin November 1, 2023. Applications will continue to be accepted until 
the position is filled. The effective date of appointment is negotiable, but July 1, 2024 is 
preferred.  All applicants will receive an online confirmation of receipt of their application; 
however, only short-listed applicants will be contacted for interviews. Applicants with questions 
regarding this recruitment should contact Robert Laidler, laidlerr@mcmaster.ca

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent 
residents will be given priority. To comply with the Government of Canada’s reporting requirements, 
the University gathers information about applicants’ status as either a permanent resident of 
Canada or Canadian citizens. Applicants need not identify their country of origin or current 
citizenship; however, all applications must include one of the following statements:
Yes, I am a citizen or permanent resident of Canada No, I am not a citizen or permanent resident of 
Canada

Questions regarding the above requirements or any accommodation requests through the recruitment
process can be directed to hr.mcmaster@mcmaster.ca.