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The Department of Bioresource Engineering at McGill University invites applications for a tenure-track position as an Assistant Professor in Urban Food Production Engineering. The successful candidate can address several challenges in urban, local, and northern food production systems. The scope of the position may include, but is not limited to: urban agriculture (e.g., plant factories, roof top greenhouses, container farming, and novel food production systems), green structures (e.g., green walls, edible walls, green roofs, ornamental displays, medicinal plants, and rooftop greenhouses and gardens), smart housing for animals, regenerative building design (e.g., ecomimetic and biological processes for water collection, heat island mitigation, waste reduction, and nature based systems), climate control for biological and agricultural buildings, sustainable structural design, and life cycle assessment. The Department of Bioresource Engineering is part of the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences on the Macdonald Campus, located 35 km west of Montreal’s city center and the downtown Campus. The Macdonald Campus Farm, Horticulture Centre, and the main Macdonald Campus are incubation sites that may be used as applied laboratories to generate ideas, build and test experimental structures, and apply the research to biological and agricultural production systems. There is a capacity for outreach to surrounding urban and rural communities. Emphasizing this area will strengthen the ties with the food production sector in the Montreal and Quebec region and deliver cutting-edge teaching and research at McGill in urban food production engineering. 

The suitable individual will teach courses related to agricultural building design, energy management and design, and integration of biology into building design for bioresource engineering students as well as graduate students across multiple disciplines. Emphasis shall be given to urban food and plant production and animal housing but can include related areas such as regenerative building design, structural analysis (statics and dynamics), building foundation design, energy management (HVAC, thermal management, and novel energy systems), building control, renewable energy, data collection/monitoring, and other emerging technologies pertaining to building and controlled plant environments, human wellness, and food quality assessment.

The successful candidate must have a Ph.D. and a bachelor’s degree in engineering and preferably in a field associated with building and structural design. The ideal candidates will have expertise in building and structural engineering within plant, animal, or environmental systems, and related experience in regenerative building design, urban environmental design, sustainable system design, agricultural engineering, civil engineering, and/or related engineering fields. The ideal candidate must be a licensed P.Eng. or at least eligible to register as a professional engineer in Canada. The ability to communicate in French and prior experience with the Canadian agricultural and agri-food industry are highly desirable.

The successful candidate who satisfies the eligibility conditions of the Canada Research Chair (CRC) program may be supported by the University for nomination to a Tier 2 Chair in Urban Food Production Engineering, which provides focused time for research within a full-time academic appointment.

Nominees for Tier 2 Chair positions must be emerging scholars and hold the rank of assistant or associate professors or possess the necessary qualifications to be appointed to these levels. A nominee who is more than 10 years from having earned their highest degree and has experienced legitimate career interruptions (e.g., maternity, or parental leave, extended sick leave, clinical training, and family care) will be taken into consideration using the Tier 2 justification process:

http://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/program-programme/nomination-mise_en_candidature-eng.aspx#s3 

Eligibility conditions for CRCs are on the CRC Program website:

http://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/program-programme/nomination-mise_en_candidature-eng.aspx#s2

Candidates who do not satisfy the CRC eligibility criteria for a Tier 2 Chair are nonetheless invited to apply for the position.

About McGill University, Department of Bioresource Engineering

McGill is a public university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1821, McGill University is one of Canada's best-known institutions of higher learning and one of the leading universities in the world. International students from more than 150 countries make up nearly 30% of McGill's student body, the highest proportion of any Canadian research university. McGill is recognized around the world for the excellence of its teaching and research programs. In addition to a stellar faculty, McGill is known for attracting the brightest students from across Canada, the United States, and around the world. The Department of Bioresource Engineering is part of the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, on the Macdonald Campus of McGill University. The department offers B.Eng., M.Sc., M.Sc.A., and Ph.D. degree programs. Graduates of the B.Eng. Bioresource program qualify to apply to register as professional engineers (P.Eng.) in any province of Canada and some other jurisdictions. In addition, the available Professional Agrology Option qualifies graduates to apply for registration to the Ordre des Agronomes du Québec.

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