Faculty and Staff at Dal

Building intimate learning communities

A talented, dedicated team of more than 6,698 faculty and staff,* make up Dalhousie’s energetic academic community. Employment opportunities exist in a range of roles and environments, each one critical to the success of the University. From professors and academic advisors to technical support and campus security, Dalhousie’s faculty and staff make essential contributions that enrich students' learning experiences, support teaching and enable us to maintain our position as one of Canada’s leading research universities.

*Does not include grant-paid/associated employees

Our Faculty

With a stellar academic reputation, Dalhousie is a highly competitive employer, attracting more than 90% of first-choice candidates for academic positions. The calibre of Dalhousie's faculty is key to our reputation as an academic leader. Our faculty members are nationally and internationally recognized for their achievement, research and teaching. More than 90% of our faculty have a PhD or doctorate.

Dalhousie hosts 51 Canada Research Chairs – more than at any other university in the Atlantic Region. The Chairs advance the frontiers of knowledge in their fields, not only through their own work, but also by teaching and supervising students and coordinating the work of other researchers.

Award-winning professors

Many of our professors are national and international award winners.

• Shaun Boe (Physiotherapy, Psychiatry) was awarded the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada Research Scholarship for New Career Scientists in 2012. This prestigious scholarship recognizes his work in examining basic and clinical aspects of rehabilitation to optimize functional recovery post-stroke, with mentor Gail Eskes.

• Lori Turnbull (Political Science) and the late Peter Aucoin (along with Mark D. Jarvis, University of Victoria) have won the 14th annual Donner Prize for the best book on Canadian public policy in 2012.

• Krista Kesselring (History) received the award for the best article published by the Journal of the Canadian Historical Association in 2011. The articles published in the JCHA are selected from among the strongest of approximately 250 papers delivered at the annual conference.

• Donald Weaver (Neuroscience, Chemistry), Canada Research Chair in Neuroscience, was awarded a prestigious Killam Research Fellowship in 2009, and in 2008 received the Prix Gallen Research Award, commonly known as the Nobel Prize of pharmaceutical research.

• Ron O’Dor (Biology), scientific director of the Dalhousie-headquartered Ocean Tracking Network, was named Canadian Geographic’s Environmental Scientist of the Year in 2009.

• Russell Boyd (Chemistry) was the 2009 recipient of the Chemical Institute of Canada’s “Montreal Medal,” awarded for leadership in or outstanding contribution to the profession of chemistry or chemical engineering in Canada.

• Brian Bow (Political Science) was awarded the 2009/10 Donner Prize for the best book on Canadian public policy. His book, The Politics of Linkage, explores the evolving relationship between Canada and the United States.

• Mary Anne White, (Physics, Chemistry), director of Dalhousie's Institute of Research in Materials, was awarded the McNeil Medal for the Public Awareness of Science by the Royal Society of Canada. She joins prestigious company, including past winners David Suzuki and the Discovery Channel’s Jay Ingram.

President Tom Traves has made a commitment to increasing the proportion of first-year teaching provided by tenured or tenure-track faculty. Strong teaching at this level attracts students as departmental majors and creates solid foundations for a student's future academic success.