Assistant Professor - Biological Engineering

Date Posted: 09/25/2026
Closing Date: 12/01/2026, 11:59PM ET
Req ID: 50200
Job Category: Faculty - Tenure Stream (continuing)
Faculty/Division: Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
Department: Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Existing Vacancy: Yes

POSITION DESCRIPTION
The Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering at the University of Toronto invites applications for a full-time tenure stream position in Biological Engineering. The appointment will be at the rank of Assistant Professor, with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2027.

This search aligns with the University’s commitment to strategically and proactively promote diversity among our community members (Statement on Equity, Diversity & Excellence). Recognizing that women, Black, Indigenous, and other Racialized communities have experienced inequities that have developed historically and are ongoing, we strongly welcome and encourage candidates from those communities to apply.

Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, biomolecular engineering; enzyme and protein engineering; metabolic engineering; microbial engineering; synthetic and systems biology; engineering of non-model microorganisms and microbial communities; bioprocess engineering and biomanufacturing, including biofoundries; chemical biology and microbial natural products chemistry; environmental biotechnology and microbiology; and the circular bioeconomy.

REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS
Candidates must have earned a PhD degree in Chemical Engineering, Biological Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Biochemistry, Applied Chemistry, or a related area by the time of appointment, or shortly thereafter, and hold a baccalaureate degree in Chemical Engineering, Biological Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or an equivalent discipline, with a demonstrated record of excellence in research and teaching. We seek candidates whose research and teaching interests complement and enhance our existing departmental strengths.

Candidates must provide evidence of research excellence which can be demonstrated through a record of publications in top-ranked and field-relevant journals or forthcoming publications that meet high international standards; the submitted research statement; presentations at significant conferences; awards and accolades; and strong endorsements from referees.

Evidence of excellence in teaching will be demonstrated through teaching accomplishments, the teaching dossier (including the required materials outlined below, as well as evidence of superior performance in other teaching-related activities), and strong letters of reference. Other teaching-related activities can include performance as a teaching assistant or course instructor, experience leading successful workshops or seminars, student mentorship, or excellent conference presentations or posters.

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. We seek candidates who value diversity and whose teaching and service bear out our commitment to equity. Candidates are therefore also asked to submit a 1-2 page statement of contributions to equity and diversity, which might cover topics such as (but not limited to): teaching that incorporates a focus on underrepresented communities, the development of inclusive pedagogies, or the mentoring of students from underrepresented groups.

RESPONSIBILITIES
The successful candidate will be expected to pursue innovative and independent research, and to establish an outstanding, competitive, and externally funded research program.

In addition, the successful candidate will be assigned a load contributing to the Department’s teaching and service activities.

HIRING SALARY RANGE
The expected salary range is $125,000-$160,000 CAD per annum, depending on experience.

ABOUT US
The Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry at the University of Toronto is committed to its vision statement: “Through leading edge research and innovation, we integrate chemistry, biology and engineering to drive solutions to global challenges in energy, the environment and health”. The Department is home to the BioZone Centre for Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, an extra-departmental research unit that brings together interdisciplinary expertise in microbial engineering, enzyme technology, synthetic biology, and related fields. The successful candidate will be a member of the Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry and affiliated with BioZone, joining a highly collaborative research community equipped with state-of-the-art research infrastructure to support innovative biological engineering research to enable new faculty to establish and grow independent research programs. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute actively to BioZone’s interdisciplinary research and innovation activities and to help build ambitious collaborative research programs that leverage the complementary expertise and infrastructure of the Centre and the broader University. For more information on the Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry and BioZone, please visit www.chem-eng.utoronto.ca and https://biozone.utoronto.ca/. For more information on working at the University of Toronto, please visit https://www.utoronto.ca/research-innovation/working-at-uoft.

APPLICATION PROCESS
All application materials, including recent reference letters, must be received by 11:59 pm EST on December 1, 2026.

All qualified candidates are invited to apply online by clicking the link below. Your CV and cover letter should be uploaded into the dedicated fields. Please combine additional application materials into one PDF file. Applicants must submit the following materials:
• a cover letter (up to 2 pages);
• a current curriculum vitae;
• a research statement outlining current and future research interests (up to 5 pages, excluding references);
• three (3) sample publications;
• a teaching dossier, including:
- a teaching statement, as detailed above (up to 2 pages),
- sample course materials, teaching evaluations, and evidence of superior performance in other teaching-related activities, as applicable (1-8 pages);
• an equity and diversity statement, as detailed above (up to 2 pages); and
• the name and contact information of three references.

The University of Toronto’s recruiting tool will automatically solicit and collect letters of reference from each referee within 48 hours of an application being submitted. Applicants remain responsible for ensuring that referees submit recent letters (on letterhead, dated and signed) by the closing date. Submission guidelines and details on the automatic reference letter collection, including timelines, are available in the candidate FAQ.

If you have any questions about this position, please contact Professor Ramin Farnood at [email protected].

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

Diversity Statement
The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see http://uoft.me/UP.

Accessibility Statement
The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.

The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.

If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact [email protected].