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Two (2) Tenure Track Positions - Precision Agriculture, Water Management & Food Processing - Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering

Competition Number:
41A18
Position Type:
Academic Opening
Closing Date:
Date of Posting:
Department:
Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering
Position:
Two (2) Tenure Track Positions - Precision Agriculture, Water Management & Food Processing
Contract:

The Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering (FSDE) at the University of Prince Edward Island, located at 550 University Avenue in Charlottetown, PEI, is seeking outstanding candidates for two full-time tenured or tenure-track positions encompassing all academic ranks. Applicants must have a proven track record of excellence in teaching and research with extensive expertise in one or more of the following research areas:

• Precision agriculture
• Irrigation, hydrology, and water management
• Sustainable methods of automation and food processing

The successful candidates will be expected to prepare and submit applications for the prestigious NSERC Industrial Research Chair (IRC) program within six months of hiring with the goal of establishing (for example) the NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Precision Agriculture. Generous funding from an industry partner has been secured to support two IRC positions:

• A Senior IRC for a distinguished researcher to be appointed at the rank of Full Professor with tenure. The successful candidate must have a proven track record of excellence in one of the proposed research areas and must be an internationally recognized authority in his or her field.
• An Associate IRC at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor. This position may be either tenured or tenure-track depending on the qualifications. Although candidates can be early-stage researchers, they must clearly demonstrate exceptional promise and distinction amongst their peer group.

“Engineering by Design”

The Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering is devoted to developing engineers with exceptional design skills combined with a global perspective; engineers that are broadly capable, globally aware, creative, communicative, and entrepreneurial.

UPEI’s four year degree program in Sustainable Design Engineering provides students with an unprecedented opportunity to gain their Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design Engineering via a client-focused, project-based model delivered in an intimate learning environment. The undergraduate program is accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB) and is characterized by team work, mentoring, professional skills development, and close collaboration with faculty, industry, and community organizations.

Engineers can only become proficient at design by practicing design. In recognition of this, the Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering focuses on experiential learning; learning by doing in a project-based learning environment. Design projects, which are integrated into every academic semester of the program, are based on real-world problems and external clients. Through these design courses, students are immersed in a realistic engineering environment where they are expected to interact with industry clients, develop design solutions, and conform to the best practices of the profession.

Close collaboration with industry is also the hallmark of the FSDE graduate programs with faculty members engaged in mutually beneficial research and development projects with a range of private and public sector partners.

State-of-the-Art Facilities

UPEI’s Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering is housed in a cutting-edge 75,000 square-foot facility specifically designed to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and industry-university collaboration. With a view of enhancing the student learning experience, the new facility represents a move away from the traditional classroom and includes design studios, ideation spaces, and state-of-the-art laboratories.

To better foster industry collaboration and partnerships, the new facility is home to a number of state-of-the-art research laboratories closely aligned with the Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering’s strategic focus areas; namely, Mechatronics, Bioresources, and Sustainable Energy. These laboratories allow undergraduate and graduate students, research professionals, and faculty to liaise with onsite industrial partners on a wide range of pilot-scale, collaborative R&D projects.

Application Instructions:

Applicants must have an earned doctoral degree in an engineering discipline that is closely aligned with one or more of the Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering’s strategic focus areas. In addition, successful candidates must be eligible for registration as a Professional Engineer in the Province of Prince Edward Island. Industry experience as a practicing professional engineer, or experience gained through collaborative R&D projects with industry clients is essential.

The successful candidates will benefit from a reduced teaching load and will be expected to develop and maintain an ongoing, world-class research program commensurate with the prestigious NSERC Industry Research Chair program. Close collaboration with the industry partner and other relevant collaborators is essential. Candidates are expected to attract significant external research funding, supervise graduate students and other highly qualified personnel, and teach both undergraduate and graduate courses.

Applicants must submit a cover letter citing the competition number listed above, a full curriculum vitae, and arrange for three (3) letters of reference to be sent directly to the individual below prior to the closing date. Three additional documents must also be submitted for the application to be considered complete:

1. A teaching statement outlining the candidate’s experience with hands-on, activity based learning, engineering design education and the development of innovative teaching methods including the use of technology in the classroom.

2. A research statement outlining a clear research program covering five years, a plan for training Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP), the candidate’s experience with a program of industry sponsored research, a track record for securing funding through industry partnership programs, and a track record of securing tri-council funding (e.g.; NSERC Discovery Grant Competition).

3. A statement of the candidate’s industry background including past experience with engineering design, collaborative R&D projects, entrepreneurship, licensing and commercialization of technology, tech transfer, and the generation of intellectual property.

Salary is commensurate with credentials and experience. Full-time, permanent faculty receive a comprehensive fringe benefits package including group life, accidental death and dismemberment, supplemental health, travel insurance, pension, and long term disability insurance. These appointments are subject to final budgetary approval.

Application packages including all of the elements listed above must be submitted electronically to:

Dr. Nicholas Krouglicof, FEC, P.Eng.
Professor & Dean
Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering
University of Prince Edward Island
550 University Avenue
Charlottetown, PE Canada C1A 4P3
Telephone: (902) 566-0764
E-mail: upeiengineer@upei.ca

In accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. UPEI is committed to the principle of equity in employment.

Review of applications will begin on January 31, 2019, however the competition will remain open until the positions are filled.