Position Description
Applications are invited from emerging scholars for a Tier II Canada Research Chair (CRC), specializing in in the area of Creativity in STEM post-secondary education. The CRC Chair will be appointed to a tenure-track position at the Assistant or Associate Professor level. This is a joint appointment with the Faculty of Science and Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary. Details for this position appear at: http://www.ucalgary.ca/chem/career_opportunities
Creative thinking and innovation are critical in today’s knowledge-based economy and are essential to ensure the next generation of scientists are equipped to address global grand challenges around energy resources, environmental changes and healthcare systems. However, the explicit and intentional inclusion of creative practice as a skill instructed within STEM programs is rare, and often overshadowed by the focus on emphasizing disciplinary content knowledge.
The proposed CRC in Creativity will provide expertise and leadership in developing and researching how creative practice can be explored, expressed, and enabled in STEM classrooms and laboratory learning environments in higher education. This groundbreaking area of research will be the first CRC in STEM education focused on creativity and understanding how the creative process is developed in higher education, and the first research program of its kind in Canada.
The ideal candidate is someone established in the field of post-secondary STEM education in higher education with a record of research, preferably in the area of creativity and innovation. To qualify, applicants must have a demonstrated and consistent record of scholarship in this field over at least five years. The ideal candidate would understand and have experience in both the education and science disciplines and would be able to establish strong research connections across the Faculty of Science and Werklund School of Education, while expanding national and international collaborations.
The successful candidate would have a background in both education and science with some experience in chemistry being an advantage. Potential degrees would be a PhD (or EdD) in Education or Science Education (in a Faculty of Science or Education) or a PhD in Psychology (with expertise in learning) with a BSc or MSc in a science discipline, or equivalent degrees at the doctoral level. They may also hold a PhD in Science and have significant postdoctoral experience in education research relating to creativity and innovation practices.
The CRC is expected to establish a dynamic research group in post-secondary STEM education focusing on creative practice. They will demonstrate success in securing Tri-Council and other major sources of funding to support their program of research.
Summary of Duties:
Conduct scholarly research on creativity in science education in higher educational contexts.
Solicit external funding to support the research and professional development goals of the Chair.
Supervise and teach graduate and undergraduate courses in science and/or STEM education and mentor graduate students in science and/or STEM education.
Participate in an interdisciplinary campus-wide academic team committed to effective graduate and undergraduate education through teaching, mentoring and service.
Lead planning efforts for creativity and interdisciplinary STEM education.
Develop and maintain collaborative partnerships with professionals in regional universities and
Initiate and participate in STEM education initiatives at the local, provincial and national levels.
The Chair will have ample opportunities to develop collaborations with a broad range of peers at the University of Calgary. We foresee potential collaborations with a strong cohort of educators currently engaged with STEM education innovation in the Faculty of Science (particularly in Chemistry and Biological Sciences). There are also many opportunities with the Werklund School of Education, which has already developed significant research capacity in the STEM K-12 area: two externally funded STEM initiatives, two research chairs, one research professorship, and five postdoctoral scholars. Moreover, there exist potential collaborators with creativity experts in other Faculties such as Arts and Schulich School of Engineering as well as teaching experts in the U of C’s Taylor Institute of Teaching and Learning. The Taylor Institute, which will comprise of three areas; the Office of Experiential Learning, the College of Discovery, Creativity and Innovation, the Educational Development Unit (already in operation) will take the lead in education innovation on our campus in 2016.
The University is aggressively pursuing an ‘Eyes High’ strategy that aims to have the U of C recognized as a top-five research-intensive university by our fiftieth anniversary in 2016. Plans for this Chair are aligned with the University’s Strategic Research Plan and will help to provide the research leadership needed to achieve our ‘Eyes High’ goal. Aligned with the Strategic Research Plan, the CRC will contribute to the Energy Innovation, Engineering Health Solutions and Human Dynamics in a Changing World areas of research. Calgary is a multicultural city and the fastest growing in Canada. Calgary enjoys a moderate climate and is located beside the natural beauty of the Rocky Mountains.
Application Process:
Applicants must possess a doctorate in a cognate discipline at the time of appointment, and have a stellar record of research. The successful applicant will be enthusiastic about contributing to both teaching and research, and will be appointed at either the Assistant or Associate Professor level, depending on relevant experience. In accordance with the regulations of a CRC Tier II, the successful candidate must be within 10 years of receiving their PhD. This appointment is conditional upon a successful CRC application, reviewed by the University of Calgary and the Social Sciences and Humanities Council of Canada (SSHRC).
Applicants should send a CV, a concise description of their research area and program including a research proposal prepared in SSHRC format, a statement of teaching philosophy, and arrange to have at least three reference letters sent to:
Dr. David Cramb, Head
Department of Chemistry
University of Calgary
2500 University Drive NW
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
T2N 1N4
Or email to: search@chem.ucalgary.ca
Completed applications received by May 19, 2015 will receive full consideration. The review process will continue until the position is filled.
The University of Calgary believes that a respectful workplace, equal opportunity and building a diverse workforce contribute to the richness of the environment for teaching, learning and research, and provide faculty, staff, students and the public with a university that reflects the society it serves. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada. In this connection, at the time of your application, please answer the following questions: Are you legally entitled to work in Canada (Yes/No) and are you a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada? (Yes/No)
Additional Information
About the University of Calgary
The University of Calgary is a leading Canadian university located in the nation's most enterprising city. The university has a clear strategic direction to become one of Canada's top five research universities by 2016, where innovative teaching and groundbreaking research go hand in hand, and where we fully engage the communities we both serve and lead. The strategy is called Eyes High, inspired by our Gaelic motto, which translates to 'I will lift up my eyes'.
To succeed as one of Canada's top universities, where new ideas are created, tested and applied through first-class teaching and research, the University of Calgary needs more of the best minds in our classrooms and labs. We're increasing our scholarly capacity by investing in people who want to change the world, bringing the best and brightest to Calgary to form a global intellectual hub and achieve advances that matter to everyone.
To view a listing of all available academic opportunities and to find out more about what the University of Calgary has to offer, please visit our Academic Careers website.
About Calgary, Alberta
Named a cultural capital of Canada and one of the best places to live in the world, Calgary is a city of leaders - in business, community, philanthropy and volunteerism. Calgarians benefit from the strongest economy in the nation and enjoy more days of sunshine per year than any other major Canadian city. Calgary is less than an hour's drive from the majestic Rocky Mountains and boasts the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway network in North America.