University of Waterloo in Canada, invites application for vacant Postdoc and Faculty Positions Positions, a public research university with a main campus in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

Faculty positions available

Anthropology

Assistant Professor in Biological Anthropology (PDF)

Economics

Assistant Professor in Economics (PDF)

English Language and Literature

Assistant Professor in Critical Digital Studies (PDF)

Fine Arts

Assistant Professor in Fine Arts (PDF)

Psychology

Assistant Professor in Cognitive Psychology (PDF)

Assistant Professor in Industrial/Organizational Psychology (PDF)

Sociology and Legal Studies

Assistant Professor in Sociology Theory (PDF)

Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business

Assistant Professor in Multimedia Storytelling (PDF)

Indigenous and Black excellence faculty

Mathematics Prestigious Postdoctoral Fellowship

Provost’s Program for Interdisciplinary Postdoctoral Scholars

Provost’s Program for Black and Indigenous Postdoctoral Scholars

AMTD Waterloo Global Talent Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

Tenure track faculty and lecturer positions

Associate or Full Professors, Indigenous Excellence—Tier 1 Canada Research Chair – Open to All Disciplines (TenureTrack/Tenured)

Architectural Engineering Lecturer Opening (Closes December 31, 2022)

Chemical Engineering faculty opening in Process Systems (Closes October 17, 2022)

Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business Associate or Full Professor of Organizational Behaviour, Entrepreneurship and Business (Closes January 12, 2023)

Electrical and Computer Engineering faculty opening in Artificial Intelligence (Two openings, closes January 1, 2023)

Electrical and Computer Engineering, faculty opening in Computer Hardware and Software (Four openings, closes December 31, 2022)

Electrical and Computer Engineering faculty opening in Millimetre-wave and THz-Frequency Components and System (Closes September 1, 2022)

Electrical and Computer Engineering faculty opening in Quantum Computing (IQC) (Closes December 1, 2022) *NOTE: This posting is run by IQC.

Management Sciences Applied Operations Research and Operations Management (Closes November 30, 2022)

Management Science Faculty opening in Information Systems (Closes January 15, 2023)

Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering faculty opening in Fire Research, Thermo/Fluids Engineering (Closes September 30, 2022)

Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering Two Faculty openings in Solid Mechanics (Closes November 30, 2022)

School of Architecture- Architecture and Urbanism (two openings, closes February 15, 2022)

Systems Design Engineering – George Soulis Chair in Systems Design (Closes October 15, 2022)

Assistant Professor, with a specialization in Aerospace Medicine

The School of Optometry & Vision Science at the University of Waterloo is seeking outstanding scholars and researchers for a full-time, regular tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor, in the area of aerospace medicine. In the case of an exceptional candidate, an appointment at the rank of Associate Professor will be considered. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2023.

The successful applicant will be expected to demonstrate a strong commitment to scholarship and teaching, and develop a robust, externally funded research program that supports graduate students and post-doctoral fellows.  Evidence of an actively developing research program is required. Potential applicants are urged to review the research interests (https://uwaterloo.ca/optometry-vision-science/research) of our faculty and the strategic plan (https://uwaterloo.ca/optometry-vision-science/files/uploads/files/strategic_planning_final.pdf) of the school, as preference will be given to investigators whose expertise is complementary.    

Duties include research, teaching and service. Teaching in the undergraduate aviation program and/or graduate collaborative aeronautics program and supervision of graduate students are expected. Ability to teach in the optometry professional program and/or vision science graduate program would be beneficial. Evidence of teaching excellence, innovation and flexibility in teaching modality will be highly valued. Successful candidates are expected to have a PhD or equivalent terminal degree. In recognition that Aerospace Medicine is a broad field of endeavour, flight surgeons, flight physiologists, human factors specialists, psychologists, health care providers (e.g., physicians, optometrists, nurses, physiologists) are encouraged to apply.  Applicants who are health care providers should be eligible for a general or academic certificate of registration with the province of Ontario.   

The salary range for this position at the rank of Assistant Professor is $130,000 to $200,000. Negotiations beyond this salary range will be considered for exceptionally qualified candidates.

A letter of application, curriculum vitae, research profile and plan, statement about teaching interests and philosophy, and three confidential letters of reference should be sent to:  Dr. Stanley Woo, Director, School of Optometry & Vision Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1 or emailed to Dr. Stanley Woo c/o susan.blackmore@uwaterloo.ca. 

The closing date to apply for the position is December 31, 2022.

If you have any questions regarding the position, the application process, assessment process, eligibility, or a request for accommodation during the hiring process, please contact Susan Blackmore, susan.blackmore@uwaterloo.ca  

The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is centralized within our Indigenous Initiatives Office (https://uwaterloo.ca/human-rights-equity-inclusion/indigenousinitiatives).

The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism, and inclusion.  As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as Indigenous peoples (e.g., First Nations, Métis, Inuit/Inuk), Black, racialized, people with disabilities, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Susan Blackmore susan.blackmore@uwaterloo.ca

Three reasons to apply: https://uwaterloo.ca/faculty-association/why-waterloo.

Assistant Professor in Aviation

The Department of Geography and Environmental Management in the Faculty of Environment at the University of Waterloo invites applications for a tenure track position at the rank of Assistant Professor in aviation beginning 1 July 2023. In the case of an exceptional candidate, an appointment at the rank of Associate Professor will be considered.

Applications are invited from aviation scholars and educators, with preference towards those with research or professional expertise associated with aviation sustainability. The successful candidate must have a PhD in aviation, geography, sustainability, management, economics, engineering, or another discipline related to aviation.

Duties include research, teaching in the undergraduate Aviation Program as well as graduate level teaching and research supervision in the Department of Geography and Environmental Management. The ability to develop and teach an array of traditional and on-line courses is required. Evidence of an active research program is required within aviation planning and management (air traffic/fleet management, market analysis/demand forecasting, airport operations and planning, aviation policy), human factors (safety, education and training methods, flight physiology, and diversity and inclusion), or the applications of emerging air mobilities (remotely piloted aircraft systems, electric aircraft, advanced air mobility). A research focus aligned with aviation sustainability is desirable, including the low carbon transition, sustainability policy and monitoring.

The University of Waterloo is one of Canada’s leading universities with over 40,000 full and part-time students in undergraduate and graduate programs. The Department of Geography and Environmental Management is one of the top five academic units for Geography in Canada and is home to three Canada Research Chairs, three University Research Chairs and undergraduate programs in Geography and Aviation, Geography and Environmental Management, Climate and Environmental Change, and Geomatics. The department benefits from close relationships with many research groups on campus including the newly established Waterloo Institute for Sustainable

Aeronautics, the Climate Institute, the Waterloo Artificial Intelligence Institute, and the Water Institute. The University of Waterloo is home to Canada’s largest undergraduate aviation programs, with more than 300 pilots-in-training, as well as a vibrant student community supported by the University of Waterloo Aviation Society.

The salary range for this position at the rank of Assistant Professor is $90,000 to $110,000. Negotiations beyond this salary range will be considered for exceptionally qualified candidates.

The closing date for applications is 31 December 2022. Three letters of reference will be requested for applicants invited for an interview. Candidates are asked to submit the following for consideration: curriculum vitae, cover letter, teaching, and research statements, and up to five peer-reviewed journal articles illustrating the scope of research scholarship to: Dr. Susan Elliott, Chair, Department of Geography and Environmental Management, Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1 Canada. The package may be submitted electronically to gemchair@uwaterloo.ca.

The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is centralized within our Indigenous Initiatives Office (https://uwaterloo.ca/human-rights-equity-inclusion/indigenousinitiatives).

The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion. As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as Indigenous peoples (e.g., First Nations, Métis, Inuit/Inuk), Black, racialized, people with disabilities, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+).

The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any questions regarding the position, the application process, assessment process, or eligibility, please contact Dr. Susan Elliott.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Three reasons to apply: https://uwaterloo.ca/faculty-association/why-waterloo

University of Waterloo

Indigenous Excellence—Faculty of Health

(Tenure-Track/Tenured, Assistant Professors/Associate Professors/Professors)

The Faculty of Health, University of Waterloo, is seeking two tenure-track/tenured academic scholars who will contribute to Indigenous excellence in the Faculty of Health and to Waterloo’s goal of a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusivity for all through increasing the representation of self-identified Indigenous academics (i.e., status and non-status First Nations, Inuit/Inuk, Métis and those from tribal nations and Indigenous communities across Turtle Island).

Waterloo seeks candidates whose scholarship advances learning and knowledge through teaching, research, and scholarship in any of the following disciplinary areas:

Areas of priority include Kinesiology and Health Sciences, Recreation and Leisure Studies, and Public Health Sciences. Within Kinesiology and Health Sciences our focus includes health and (wearable) technology, work and health, exercise and nutritional sciences, and rehabilitation sciences. Within Recreation and Leisure Studies our focus includes recreation and leisure, sport management, therapeutic recreation, and event management. Within Public Health Sciences, we seek applicants from the diverse disciplines that constitute public health including, but not limited to critical race theory, global health, environmental health, health informatics, bioethics, biostatistics, and applied public health practice. More information can be found on the Faculty of Health website.

Successful candidates must have either earned a doctoral degree or be ‘all but dissertation’ (ABD) or have earned an equivalent terminal degree in the field of study or be nearing completion; the relevant degree must be awarded within six months of employment. Candidates must demonstrate evidence of an actively developing research trajectory. Duties include conducting research and/or research creation, teaching at the undergraduate and graduate level, supervising graduate students, and contributing to the service needs of the University. The ability to develop and teach in a variety of contexts, including in person, online and remote delivery is required. The salary range for the position will depend upon the rank (i.e., Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor) and the discipline. Negotiations will be considered at the discretion of each hiring department.

Review of applications will begin on December 1, 2022, with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2023. Applications will continue to be accepted until the positions are filled. Applicants are also invited to submit an optional letter or oral statement of support from the individual’s community that describes the individual’s involvement/role within the community, or a statement of lived experience. Send curriculum vitae, cover letter, teaching dossier, research statement and up to three examples of research outputs (including but not limited to journal articles/book chapters/conference proceedings/or other demonstrative outputs) electronically in confidence to James W.E. Rush, Vice-President Academic and Provost, University of Waterloo., Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1.

All applicants must self-identify as Indigenous in their cover letter. Because this is a special opportunity restricted to self-identified Indigenous candidates, applicant self-identification information will be used for the purposes of screening and consideration. Please note that this information will be securely accessed only by members of a central selection committee and, for nominees selected, for the fulfillment of cluster hiring purpose(s). All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Three letters of reference will be requested for applicants invited for an interview.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Improving the representation, participation, and engagement of equity-deserving groups and Indigenous peoples within our community is a key objective of Waterloo’s Strategic Plan 2020-2025.

The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism, and inclusion. As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit/Inuk, Black, racialized, persons with disabilities, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

This particular selection process follows the provisions for a special program as described by the Ontario Human Rights Commission in order to address the underrepresentation of Indigenous academics among our faculty complement, which has been identified through research (Canadian Association of University Teachers, 2018; Council of Canadian Academies, 2012; Henry et al., 2017; and Witteman, Hendricks, Straus, & Tannenbaum, 2019) to be systemic in nature. As such, this opportunity is open only to individuals who self-identify as Indigenous (i.e., status and non-status First Nations, Inuit/Inuk, Métis and those from tribal nations and Indigenous Communities across Turtle Island).

The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview, or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Occupational Health who will work with the selection committee to secure accommodation while ensuring that the information is safe-guarded, and confidentiality is maintained. Email contact: Occupational Health

The University is committed to implementing the Calls to Action framed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We acknowledge that we live and work on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. The University of Waterloo is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land promised to the Six Nations that includes ten kilometers on each side of the Grand River.

If you have any questions regarding the position, the application process, assessment process, or eligibility, please contact Lili Liu at deanahs@uwaterloo.ca.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Three reasons to apply.

School of Public Health Sciences

Date posted: Nov. 10, 2022

Digital Health, Data Systems, and Data Science

The School of Public Health Sciences in the Faculty Health at the University of Waterloo invites applications for an exceptional scholar and researcher for a tenure-track faculty position in Digital Health, Data Systems, and Data Science (public health and healthcare applications of data). The initial appointment will be at the rank of Assistant Professor with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2023. In the case of an exceptional candidate, appointments at the rank of Associate Professor may be considered.

The successful candidate must demonstrate evidence of an actively developing research program with emphasis on any of the following: public health or healthcare data systems; data science; use of large-scale survey/clinical/administrative data to support and evaluate policy, public health interventions, healthcare services; applications of artificial intelligence in public health/healthcare analytics (e.g., disease surveillance, outbreak detection algorithms, and infectious disease modelling, social network analysis). Duties include research, teaching at the undergraduate and graduate level, and supervising graduate students. The ability to develop and teach an array of in-person and on-line courses is required. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to teaching courses in the School’s Master of Health Informatics program. Applicants whose research aligns with the strategic plan of the School, which aspires to improve and enhance the health and well-being of individuals and populations, would be especially appealing.

The successful candidate will have a PhD in a discipline relevant to these areas of research (e.g., biostatistics, public/population health, applied mathematics, health economics, systems or software engineering, health services research, epidemiology, or computer science). Experience working with public health or healthcare data is considered an asset. The successful candidate will be expected to propose an innovative program of high-quality research that will attract external funding and excellent graduate students. Evidence of a successful record of Tri-Agency funding is a strength.

The starting salary will be commensurate with rank of appointment, and based on qualifications, experience, and research record. The salary range for an Assistant Professor is $90,000 to $130,000. The salary range for an Associate Professor is $125,000 to $150,000. Negotiations beyond these salary ranges will be considered for exceptionally qualified candidates.

Health informatics is a key strategic area for the School of Public Health Sciences, with eight of our thirty-eight faculty members focused on or highly engaged in this area. As well, a key priority for the University of Waterloo is to lead nationally and globally at the interface of society, health, and technology. Health data science researchers can play a key role in this area, as well as within the university’s the University of Waterloo’s AI Institute and the new Health Innovation Arena, which is under way to amplify Canada’s health tech sector.

The School of Public Health Sciences is an active and vibrant multi-disciplinary community. We have forty-one faculty members and offer research-focused MSc and PhD degrees in Public Health Sciences; a BSc in Health Sciences; a Bachelor of Public Health; professional master’s degrees in Public Health, Health Evaluation, and Health Informatics; and a Collaborative PhD specialization in Aging, Health, and Well-Being. Visit our website at the School of Public Health Sciences for more detail on programs and faculty profiles.

The closing date for applications is January 31, 2023. Three letters of reference will be requested for applicants invited for an interview. Send a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, and separate statements describing your program of research, teaching and supervision experience, and list with name and email address of at least three references to: Dr. Ellen MacEachen, Director, School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue, Waterloo, Canada, N2L 3G1. Alternatively, application materials and references may be sent electronically to Dr. MacEachen via Carol West-Seebeck cwestsee@uwaterloo.ca.

The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism, and inclusion. As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as Indigenous peoples (e.g., First Nations, Métis, Inuit/Inuk), Black, racialized, people with disabilities, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Carol West-Seebeck.

If you have any questions regarding the position, the application process, assessment process, or eligibility, please contact Carol West-Seebeck.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Three reasons to apply

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW POSITIONS

Posted Nov. 21, 2022

Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences

Postdoctoral Fellowship: Healthy Living in Dementia

Focus: Identifying effective interventions to promote healthy living and wellbeing of persons living with dementia

School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, University of Waterloo

Opportunity:

Professors Laura Middleton (Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, University of Waterloo) invite applications for a funded postdoctoral position. The successful candidate will engage in participatory action research that aims to identify effective strategies to promote healthy living (including physical activity, healthy eating, and complementary strategies) among persons living with dementia, with an end goal to promote well-being identify. They will engage with and coordinate participatory research teams with diverse stakeholders including persons living with dementia family care partners, community service providers, and health care professionals. Experience in leading similar teams is highly valued.

The position will be based in the Faculty of Health at the University of Waterloo

(Waterloo, Ontario, Canada), but will be mentored by both Professors Middleton and Biglieri.

Professor Middleton leads the Brain and Body Lab at the University of Waterloo, which aims to identify strategies to reduce the risk of dementia and improve the well-being of people living with dementia, with a focus on modifiable lifestyle factors including physical activity. Recent projects aim to identify and implement actions needed for accessible and inclusive programming and supports in local communities. She leads several community-based research teams promoting dementia-inclusive training and practices to support the well-being of people living with dementia.

The successful candidates will carry out research related to identifying effective interventions to promote healthy living and wellbeing of persons living with dementia.

Roles will include:

Coordination of and engagement with diverse participatory action research teams
Design and collection of qualitative and quantitative research to develop and evaluate interventions to promote healthy living and wellbeing among persons with dementia and care partners
Analyzing qualitative and quantitative data and mapping results to inform next research steps and knowledge mobilization strategies
Engagement with and mentorship of graduate and undergraduate trainees

Experience and skill:

The interdisciplinary, participatory-action, community-based nature of our research requires an individual with incredible communication, relationship-building, coordination and research skills. The ideal candidate could be based in Waterloo Region or nearby and have:

A PhD in kinesiology, health studies, gerontology, public health, recreation and leisure, dementia studies or a related field
Experience in planning and implementing qualitative and quantitative research and analysis among diverse groups, including those with cognitive or sensory impairment
Strong research communication demonstrated through publications, presentations, and knowledge translation for academic and non-academic audiences

Experiences in various areas would be considered desirable:

Experience in participatory action research or related research approaches
Experience engaging with people living with dementia in research or other settings, including lived experience
Experience coordinating and managing teams of diverse stakeholders and team members (including academics, community groups, front-line service workers, advocates, activists, bureaucrats at the local municipal, regional, provincial and federal levels)

Funding:

The fellowship is supported by a Government of Ontario Early Researcher Award related to Dementia-Inclusive Exercise. The selected candidate will receive CAD $50,000 per year plus benefits.

Application process:

Interested applicants should email Professor Middleton with a recent CV, a cover letter detailing your relevant experience and interest in the project, and your earliest starting date, and contact information for three referees by December 15^th, 2022.

Posted: March 16, 2022

Postdoctoral Fellowship in Active Assisted Living (AAL)

School of Public Health Sciences

Technologies and Smart Communities with a focus on the development of new standards, smart communities, and technologies for aging in place
School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo.

Opportunity – The Ubiquitous Health Technology Lab (UbiLab,) invites applications for a funded two-year Postdoctoral Fellowship position. We are looking for highly motivated, self-driven, and engaged candidates with experience and interest in user-centred design, development of standards, the internet of things (IoT), wearables, technology for ageing in place (AAL technologies), and smart communities. This project is a partnership between the University of Waterloo and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA Group).

Project Summary – The Canadian healthcare system is not yet prepared to access and leverage IoT (Internet of Things) data to support clinical decision-making outside of hospital settings. With advancements in low-cost IoT technology, it is now possible to meaningfully incorporate a variety of sensors into our homes and communities, leading to the implementation of Smart Homes and Smart Communities to support healthy living. Through this project, our research team will propose and develop new guidelines and checklists and identify the need for new standards to support current and future smart communities seeking to implement AAL technologies, at the individual household and the community level. This partnership between the UbiLab and CSA Group will provide a framework to guide: (1) new AAL technology manufacturers, (2) developers of new smart communities seeking to ensure that the new developments are compatible and prepared to receive AAL and IoT sensors, (3) communities seeking to leverage data generated by AAL and IoT sensors into fully integrated community health services (e.g., pharmacies, allied health professionals, community clinics, etc.).

This project has a long-term vision of developing guidelines and assessment frameworks, to support current and future smart communities worldwide, in the integration of data generated by AAL technologies into community health delivery.

To achieve this long-term vision, the successful candidates will:

explore the continuum of care by identifying agents and services;
understand and describe data governance in the use of AAL technologies;
develop a framework to guide the implementation of AAL technologies in a smart-home setting; and
develop a smart-community assessment framework for AAL technologies.

The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary research team led by Dr. Plinio Morita, including members with expertise in health data analytics, data science, wearables, remote patient monitoring, population-level surveillance, computer science, human factors, and health informatics. In addition to the University of Waterloo, Dr. Plinio Morita is also affiliated with the Research Institute for Aging, the University Health
Network, and the University of Toronto.

Funding – This fellowship is supported by MITACS and the CSA Group as part of a three-year project. The selected candidate will receive CAD $45,000.00/year, plus benefits on a two-year contract.

Requirements – The ideal applicants for this position will have:

a Ph.D. degree in computer science, health sciences, public health, or other related fields;
experience with active assisted living (AAL technologies), technology governance, and qualitative methods;
strong interest in standards development, smart communities, health technology, and health systems;
excellent writing and communication skills.

Application process: Interested applicants should contact Dr. Plinio Morita with a recent CV, a one-page research statement, earliest starting date, and contact information of three references.

Postdoctoral fellowship opportunity

The Ubiquitous Health Technology Lab invites applications for a funded two-year Postdoctoral Fellowship position. We are looking for highly motivated, self-driven, and engaged candidates with experience and interest in user-centered design, development of standards, the internet of things (IoT), wearables, technology for aging in place (AAL technologies), and smart communities. This project is a partnership between the University of Waterloo and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA Group).

Project summary

The Canadian healthcare system is not yet prepared to access and leverage IoT (Internet of Things) data to support clinical decision-making outside of hospital settings. With advancements in low-cost IoT technology, it is now possible to meaningfully incorporate a variety of sensors into our homes and communities, leading to the implementation of Smart Homes and Smart Communities to support healthy living. Through this project, our research team will propose and develop new guidelines and checklists and identify the need for new standards to support current and future smart communities seeking to implement AAL technologies, at the individual household and the community level. This partnership between the UbiLab and CSA Group will provide a framework to guide: (1) new AAL technology manufacturers, (2) developers of new smart communities seeking to ensure that the new developments are compatible and prepared to receive AAL and IoT sensors, (3) communities seeking to leverage data generated by AAL and IoT sensors into fully integrated community health services (e.g., pharmacies, allied health professionals, community clinics, etc.).

To achieve this long-term vision, the successful candidates will:

explore the continuum of care by identifying agents and services;
understand and describe data governance in the use of AAL technologies;
develop a framework to guide the implementation of AAL technologies in a smart-home setting; and
develop a smart-community assessment framework for AAL technologies.

The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary research team led by Professor Plinio Morita, including members with expertise in health data analytics, data science, wearables, remote patient monitoring, population-level surveillance, computer science, human factors, and health informatics. In addition to the University of Waterloo, Professor Plinio Morita is also affiliated with the Research Institute for Aging, the University Health Network, and the University of Toronto.

Funding

This fellowship is supported by MITACS and the CSA Group as part of a three-year project. The selected candidate will receive CAD $45,000.00/year, plus benefits on a two-year contract.

Requirements – the ideal applicants for this position will have:

a PhD degree in computer science, health sciences, public health, or other related fields;
experince with active assisted living (AAL technologies), technology governance, and qualitative methods;
strong interest in standards development, smart communities, health technology, and health systems;
excellent writing and communication skills.

Application process

Interested applicants should email Professor Morita with a recent CV, a one-page research statement, the earliest starting date, and contact information of three references.

The institutions

The Ubiquitous Health Technology Lab (UbiLab) focuses on the use of big data and Al to improve current public health surveillance mechanisms, and support countries in the monitoring of health indicators (e.g., physical activity, sleep, sedentary behaviour), as well as environmental factors (e.g., heat waves, extreme air pollution). Professor Morita’s research team has developed large-scale data collection ecosystems for supporting local initiatives in Canada, and low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), in their efforts to better understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health behaviours, the impact of extreme air pollution on child and maternal health in LMICs (in partnership with UNICEF Mongolia), as well as the impact of heatwaves on seniors around the globe. Through the development of data ecosystems and Al solutions, the UbiLab has been pushing the envelope in the development of predictive models that can help public health officials around the world to better understand their data, as well as create real-time indicators to support risk mitigation initiatives aimed at minimizing the impact of uncontrolled urbanization and climate change on health.

The School of Public Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo is training a new generation of leaders, researchers, and change agents, adept at thinking and responding to the complex adaptive systems that affect health and health care. Together, we are seeking innovative solutions to some of the major health challenges of our time: chronic disease prevention and management; health and aging; health care system integration, management and informatics; food and water safety, security and governance; health inequity including poverty and Aboriginal health issues; and health and the environment.

Postdoctoral Position in IoT Data Mining and Predictive Analytics

Focus: Data science, user-centred design, IoT and wearables

School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo

Opportunity

The Ubiquitous Health Technology Lab invites applications for a funded Postdoctoral Fellowship position. We are looking for highly motivated, self-driven, and engaged candidates with experience and interest in user-centered design, wearables, machine learning, predictive analytics, and data visualizations. This project is a partnership between the University of Waterloo and Thinktum. The goal of this project is to use a data ecosystem developed at the UbiLab to monitor the impact of quarantine rules on household-level and individual-level physical activity, sleep quality, mental health, and work-related stressors and ergonomics.

This project, in partnership with Thinktum, has a long-term vision of developing a data ecosystem that is able to:

collect information from wearables;
apply human-centered design for discovering and defining new predictive analytics;
conduct exploratory data analysis with datasets available from wearables;
understanding the impact of COVID-19 on our population, monitoring the ongoing impact and the changes in our behaviours caused by public policies implemented;
collaboratively develop, prototype, and test data visualization tools with representative users;
explore the use of this data to better inform work from home guidelines.

The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary research team led by Professor Plinio Morita from UbiLab that includes expertise in health data analytics, wearables, remote patient monitoring, population-level studies, computer science, human factors, and applied health sciences. In addition to the University of Waterloo.

Funding

This fellowship is supported by MITACS and Thinktum and the selected candidate will receive CAD $45,000.00/year plus benefits.

Requirements – the ideal applicants for this position will have:

a PhD degree in engineering, computer science, or related fields;
experience with user-centred design and UX, complex data visualizations, and/or in machine learning with a keen interest in becoming proficient in all three;
strong interest in health technology and health systems;
working knowledge of data analytics, databases, and web storage;
excellent writing and communication skills.

Application process

Interested applicants should email Professor Morita with a recent CV, a one-page research statement, a date of availability, and the names and contact information of three references.

The institutions

The Ubiquitous Health Technology Lab (UbiLab) vision is to leverage mHealth, wearables, and IoT sensors for population-level public health surveillance. At the UbiLab, a multidisciplinary team of researchers design, develop and evaluate health technology that leverages persuasive design to deliver maximum reliability, with minimal burden to the user, and outstanding user experience. The UbiLab brings experience and resources in data science, machine learning, and deep learning for the development of real-world learning algorithms.

Waterloo’s School of Public Health Sciences is training a new generation of leaders, researchers, and change agents, adept at thinking and responding to the complex adaptive systems that affect health and health care. Together, we are seeking innovative solutions to some of the major health challenges of our time: chronic disease prevention and management; health and aging; health care system integration, management and informatics; food and water safety, security and governance; health inequity-including poverty and Aboriginal health issues; and health and the environment.

Postdoctoral Fellowship in High Performance Computing and Data Exploration and Analysis

School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo

Focus

Configurate and sustain a High-Performance Computer, develop a highly scalable and efficient computing infrastructure to deploy large-scale training of deep neural networks, and support high-performance processing of large volumes of structure, unstructured and geospatial data.

School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo

Opportunity

The Aging and Innovation Research Program (AIRP), led by Lili Liu, focuses on acceptance and adoption of innovations by older adults, their care partners, and health care professionals. Innovations can include technologies, practices, and policies. A large portion of this research program focuses on technologies for the assessment and management of risks of going missing in persons living with dementia. This includes developing, applying, and evaluating individual and community-level strategies to foster dementia-friendly communities. This position will be co-supervised by Antonio Miguel-Cruz, Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Health.

Project summary

This project aims to analyze existing data from different sources and partners to understand missing person incidents and lost person behaviour specific to persons living with dementia in Canada. This individual will develop a high-performance computing infrastructure to support computer applications like real-time dashboards and monitoring strategies to achieve this project’s objectives.

The postdoctoral fellow will work with a research team to design and develop different machine learning applications, including neural networks, to predict and mitigate risks. The postdoctoral fellow will also propose strategies for creating databases, data warehouse systems, and multidimensional networks and will set standards for database operations, programming, query processes, and security. The postdoctoral fellow will model, design, and construct large relational databases or data warehouses and create and optimize data models for warehouse infrastructure and workflow, integrating new systems with existing warehouse structures to refine system performance and functionality.

The postdoctoral fellow is expected to participate in systematic and scoping literature reviews and support ongoing research projects in aging, innovation, and technology development. The candidate will also participate in primary data collection, including conducting surveys and interviews and data analysis. Research activities will include collaboration with partner organizations, academics, and students within and beyond the research program.

Specific activities include:

Hardware configuration
- Verify stability, interoperability, portability, security, or scalability of system architecture.
- Develop system and software, system integration, or distributed system architectures.
- Confer with engineering staff and consult specifications to evaluate interface between hardware and software and operational and performance requirements of the overall system.
- Specify power supply requirements and configuration, drawing on system performance expectations and design specifications.
System and technical support
- Collaborate with engineers or software developers to select appropriate design solutions or ensure the compatibility of system components.
- Monitor functioning of equipment and make necessary modifications to ensure the system operates in conformance with specifications.
- Provide technical support to other team members throughout the hardware configuration and use process.
System preparation
- Identify system data, hardware, or software components required to meet user needs.
- Test and verify hardware and support peripherals to ensure that they meet specifications and requirements by recording and analyzing test data.
- Store, retrieve, and manipulate data for analysis of system capabilities and requirements.
Communication
- Communicate with staff and partners to understand specific system requirements.
- Write detailed functional specifications that document the hardware development process and support hardware introduction.
Research
- Identify complex problems and review related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Prepare grant applications, research protocols, manuscripts, technical reports, and presentations to academic and non-academic audiences.

The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary research team led by Professor Lili Liu and will be co-supervised by Professor Antonio Miguel-Cruz. The job involves independent and proactive work and supervision of students and research assistants (casual, staff and volunteer), and collaboration with other researcher and project team members. Thus, the successful candidate is expected to work in multidisciplinary and multi-stakeholder projects.

Funding

This fellowship is supported by funding from the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund (SARNIF), Public Safety Canada. The selected candidate will receive $40,000.00/year (plus benefits, on a one-year contract, with the possibility for renewal).

Requirements – the ideal applicants for this position will have:

A PhD degree, within four years of completion, in software engineering, computer science or related fields. And an in-depth understanding of computer architecture and parallel computing, and solid programming experience
Demonstrated interest or experience in hardware configuration, working with HPC or similar projects
Comprehensive knowledge of Win32/MacOS/Unix inter-operability, TCP/IP and HPC systems and object or component-oriented development software — C++ , jQuery, Objective C, Scala, Python.
Knowledge or experience of database management systems, such as: Apache Solr, MongoDB, NoSQL, Oracle PL/SQL and database user interface and query software experience, such as Microsoft SQL Server.
Excellent written and oral communication skills to facilitate the development and maintenance of successful relationships with partners, colleagues, and students.
Critical thinking and cognitive skills, including deductive and inductive reasoning and creative problem-solving.

Application process

Interested applicants should email Cathy Conway with a cover letter that describes career aspirations, a recent CV, a one-page research statement, the earliest starting date, and the contact information of three references which will be contacted only after permission from the candidate is granted.

The institution

The Faculty of Health is committed to improving the quality of life for individuals and communities through innovative education and research activities. The Faculty of Health (formerly Applied Health Sciences) is a leader in developing strategies that prevent disease and injury, protect and promote healthy living, optimize physical ability, and improve well-being across the life course.

The School of Public Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo is training a new generation of leaders, researchers, and change agents adept at thinking and responding to the complex adaptive systems that affect health and health care. Together, we are seeking innovative solutions to some of the significant health challenges of our time: chronic disease prevention and management; health and ageing; health care system integration, management and informatics; food and water safety, security and governance; health inequity, including poverty and Indigenous health issues; and health and the environment.