Assistant/Associate Professor & Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Digital & Precision Agriculture

Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Agriculture and Faculty of Computer Science invite applications for a probationary tenure-track, tenure-track or tenured position as Assistant or Associate Professor and Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Digital and Precision Agriculture. This CRC position is designated for those individuals that identify in one or more of the following groups: women, gender minorities, persons with disabilities, racialized persons, and Indigenous persons.

The CRC program was established by the Canadian Federal Government with the purpose of attracting outstanding researchers to the Canadian university system. Tier 2 Chairs are intended for exceptional emerging scholars (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 contact the Office of Research Services and see the CRC website (www.chairs.gc.ca) for more information on eligibility.

Position Requirements

We seek emerging scholars who have a strong track record of innovative research at the intersections of Computer Science and Agriculture. We are looking for researchers in one or more of the following areas: precision agriculture, sensing, automation, machine vision, mechanized systems and digital agriculture, climate smart precision agronomy, soil science, and precision animal systems. An ideal candidate will have a history of research publications spanning agricultural and computer science venues, a record of funding from both disciplines, and a research program that looks to mix graduate students from both disciplines. Evidence of effective participation and leadership roles in interdisciplinary research teams, teaching, and trainee supervision will be an asset. Candidates must have the potential to develop a collaborative research program that is complementary to ongoing research activities within Dalhousie University, and to engage with local, national, and international research networks as elaborated below.

Applicants with an Agriculture background must, at the time of appointment, hold a relevant doctorate degree in Agriculture or a related field. Applicants with a Computer Science background must hold, at the time of appointment, a doctorate in Computer Science or a related field. The successful candidate will provide evidence of high-quality scholarly output that demonstrates a record of independent research. The ideal candidate will have a history of collaborative research across disciplines related to agriculture and agri-food. A record of teaching excellence is a strong asset.

The applicant will be expected to establish a strong externally funded research program, and foster existing and new collaborations with government, industry, and with other members of Dalhousie’s research community. Entrepreneurship, industrial experience, and the ability to collaborate on both research and industry-focused projects will be considered assets. The incumbent will develop a nationally and internationally recognized research program and carry out research in the Computer Science and Digital Agriculture disciplines with the intent to publish in scholarly journals. Attracting and maintaining research funding from national, regional, and provincial funding agencies is expected. Building strong connections with Canadian agri-food industries through research and outreach activities will be critical.

About the Opportunity

About the Faculty of Agriculture

The Faculty of Agriculture is located on the Dalhousie University Agricultural Campus, located in Truro, Nova Scotia. The Faculty offers technical, undergraduate, and graduate programs (MSc, PhD) in agriculture, aquaculture, environment, and related life and social science disciplines, and is home to1000+ students and 50+ professors and instructors, including current and past Tier 1 and Tier 2 Canada Research Chairs. With a unique complement of expertise and interests interspersed across four departments, the Faculty of Agriculture recognizes that digitization of agriculture, innovation of precision systems, and big data analytics are needed to transform the agricultural sector and boost economic growth in Atlantic Canada. With its strong reputation in digital and precision agriculture, the Faculty of Agriculture is committed to building and leading research, training, innovation, and industry partnerships in these areas.

About the Faculty of Computer Science

The Faculty of Computer Science is a research focused faculty with over 55 faculty members, including Tier I and Tier II Canadian Research Chairs. Our research strengths intersect across disciplines from oceans and agriculture to healthcare and the arts in core areas, including: Big Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Human-Computer Interaction, Visualization & Graphics, Systems, Algorithms & Bioinformatics, and Computer Science Education. The Faculty is also home of the Institute for Big Data Analytics, an international hub for excellence in big data research. Around one quarter of our 2400 students are enrolled in master’s or doctoral programs. The Faculty also partners with other Faculties and departments to offer various multi-disciplinary study streams under the Master of Digital Innovation and is an active participant in the Interdisciplinary PhD program.

Dalhousie’s Faculties of Computer Science and Agriculture offer supportive, inclusive, multicultural, research-oriented environments with a firm commitment to justice, equality, diversity and inclusion. They offer reasonable teaching loads (with excellent TA support), and competitive pay and benefits (including health insurance, dental insurance and an exceptional pension plan). The Faculties support new hires with moving assistance and start-up funding. Researchers will enjoy the collaborative lab environment; mentoring; peer support for teaching, research, and grant writing; and extensive ties to local industry.

Dalhousie is the leading graduate and research university of Atlantic Canada, with more than 18,500 students, including 3500 in graduate programs, from 115 countries. Dalhousie University is located in the friendly, energetic, ocean-side city of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The city and surrounding area host a wide range of cultural activities and opportunities. Excellent schools, sports facilities, and outdoor activities are also available locally.

Application review will begin on November 15, 2023 and continue until the position is filled.A complete application must include a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, a research statement, a teaching statement, a list of referees, and sample publications. All applications are to be made through the following link: https://dal.peopleadmin.ca/postings/13215.

Dalhousie recognizes that career paths can be diverse and that career interruptions may occur. Applicants are encouraged to include in the cover letter an explanation of the impact that any career interruptions may have had on their record of research achievement.

Dalhousie University commits to achieving inclusive excellence through continually championing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. In keeping with the principles of employment equity and the CRC program’s equity targets, this position is designated to candidates who self-identify in one or more of the following groups: women, gender minorities, persons with disabilities, racialized persons, and Indigenous persons. All such qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. Dalhousie recognizes that candidates may self-identify in more than one equity-deserving group, and in this spirit, encourages applications from candidates who, in addition to belonging to the groups mentioned above, also identity as Mi’kmaq, persons of Black/African descent (especially African Nova Scotians) and members of other racialized groups, persons identifying as members of 2SLGBTQ+ communities, and all candidates who would contribute to the diversity of our community. (See www.dal.ca/becounted/selfid for definitions of the equity-deserving groups.)

Dalhousie University recognizes its obligation to accommodate candidates to ensure full, fair, and equitable participation in the hiring process. Our complete Accommodation Policy can be viewed online at: www.dal.ca/policies. To request accommodation at any stage in the hiring process, please contact Emily.Wishart@Dal.ca (HR Advisor, Faculty of Computer Science).

Posting Detail Information.