Career Center

The Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education (KPE) at the University of Toronto invites applications for a full-time tenure stream appointment in sport science and data modelling. The appointment will be at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor and will begin on July 1, 2023.

The individual appointed to the position will also be the inaugural endowed Tanenbaum Chair in Sport Science and Data Modelling, and will receive a significant allocation of research support funding from the Tanenbaum Institute for Science in Sport (TISS). In addition, the successful applicant will be eligible to apply to the TISS Accelerator fund for additional grant proposal funding. We seek a leader who will build a research team, amplify and sustain these research resources, and contribute to the vision and mission of the Tanenbaum Institute for Science in Sport.

Applicants must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a relevant field such as the following: sport science; sport medicine; epidemiology; engineering; statistics; mathematics; statistics; sport analytics; computational or information sciences; operational research, with a clearly demonstrated exceptional record of excellence in research and teaching. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to undergraduate and graduate program teaching on topics related to the application of data analytics and modelling to sport and athletes, and to increase opportunities for graduate students to conduct research in associated areas of scholarship. Preference will be given to those with an established record of interdisciplinary expertise demonstrating that their expertise facilitates research and teaching in sports analytics and/or sports data modeling and one or more of the following fields: epidemiology, kinesiology, sport medicine, operational research or a closely related field.

Applicants must have an established and sustained record of research excellence over several years involving the collection, integration and analysis of sport science and/or sport medicine data using contemporary statistical modelling approaches to generate new insights into maintaining better athlete and/or team health and well-being, performance, and decision-making. Applicants will be expected to maintain and lead an outstanding, innovative, competitive, independent, and externally-funded research program at that level. Excellence in research will be demonstrated by a record of sustained and impactful contributions and publications in top ranked relevant journals, the submitted research statement, invitations to and presentations at significant conferences, distinguished awards and accolades, and engagement in collaborative research networks. We seek an applicant who can provide evidence of data-driven decision-making in sport based on their research as well as other noteworthy activities that contribute to the visibility and prominence of the discipline, as well as strong endorsements by referees of top international stature.

Excellence in teaching and student mentorship in the undergraduate and graduate programs is expected, as evidenced by teaching accomplishments, strong letters of reference, an excellent training record demonstrated by supervision of students’ directed studies, engagement in community-based internships, and the teaching dossier submitted as part of the application (i.e., including a teaching statement, course syllabi, and teaching evaluations). A commitment to excellent student mentorship in the undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as contributions to service through engagement on Department or Faculty committees will also be expected.

KPE current research strengths can be thematically grouped into the following four themes: optimizing performance; healthy sport and active living; global citizenry in sport and exercise; and physical activity interactions with healthcare. We seek exceptional candidates who would complement our existing strengths (for KPE Faculty Members/Research Areas, please see https://kpe.utoronto.ca/faculty ) while building new strengths in data analytics. With this new appointment we are seeking to leverage and contribute to the broader U of T/Toronto ecosystem involving data analytics and modelling linkages outside of KPE (e.g. the U of T Data Sciences Institute, the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology & Society ). There are exciting opportunities for collaborations and potential cross-appointments in one or more U of T divisions such as the Faculty of Information, Faculty of Applied Sciences and Engineering, Department of Statistics, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Temerty Faculty of Medicine. 

The selection process will be based on scholarship, interviews, research seminar, and meetings with faculty and students.

Salary and rank will be commensurate with international impact, qualifications and experience.

Established in 1827, the University of Toronto is Canada’s largest and most research-intensive university, and the only Canadian university to be repeatedly among the top 25 of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Located in and around Toronto, one of the world’s most diverse cities with a vibrant Indigenous community, the University of Toronto’s vibrant academic life is defined by the intellectual and cultural diversity in its community.

The appointment is at the University of Toronto, St. George campus, which is a research-intensive institution with an interdisciplinary commitment, a multicultural student body, and a modern campus. The University offers the opportunity to conduct research, teach, and live in one of the most diverse cities of the world. And, the Greater Toronto Area is an excellent research and experiential education platform because of U of T’s own very large sports and recreation program (e.g. 900 varsity athletes, 15 thousand students engaged in intramural sports) and Toronto’s extensive high performance sports communities, including professional teams in all major sports, national/provincial sports organizations, the Canadian Sport Institute – Ontario. Moreover both Toronto and U of T are vibrant technology hubs with a broad range of infrastructure and programs to support start-ups and commercialization. U of T is ranked as Canada’s top university for research-based start-ups, and among the top 10 for university-managed incubators globally, with more than 600 companies created at U of T.

The Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education (KPE) at the University of Toronto has made major contributions to its mission of developing, advancing and disseminating knowledge about physical activity and health and its interactions through, education, research, leadership and the provision of opportunity. With a culturally diverse student body of more than 1000 undergraduate students and 100 graduate students, as well as 40 faculty members from diverse disciplinary backgrounds, ours is an intellectually rich and supportive community, guided by the highest standards of scholarship with a commitment to equity and social justice. The successful candidate will join an internationally recognized faculty whose commitments to equity and access are reflected in our research, education, policy and practice.

All qualified candidates are invited to apply online by clicking on the link: https://jobs.utoronto.ca/job/Toronto-Associate-ProfessorProfessor-Sports-Analytics-ON/565635417/. 

Application materials illustrating the points listed above should be submitted online and include: i) a detailed curriculum vitae, ii) a cover letter, ii) sample publications, iii) a 3-5 page statement detailing research objectives and plans as well as teaching interests and philosophy, iv) a teaching dossier to include sample course syllabi, and teaching evaluations.

Applicants must provide 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 after an application is submitted (this happens overnight). Applicants remain responsible for ensuring that references submit letters (on letterhead, dated and signed) by the closing date. 

If you have questions about this position, please email dean.kpe@utoronto.ca . All applications, including reference letters, must be submitted online by January 31, 2023

Submission guidelines can be found at: http://uoft.me/how-to-apply. Your CV and cover letter should be uploaded into the dedicated fields. Please combine additional application materials into one or two files in PDF/MS Word format.

Information about the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education and its faculty members can be found at our home page: www.kpe.utoronto.ca 

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 uoft.careers@utoronto.ca.

About Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education, University of Toronto

Established in 1827, the University of Toronto is Canada’s largest and most research-intensive university, and the only Canadian university to be repeatedly among the top 25 of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Located in and around Toronto, one of the world’s most diverse cities with a vibrant Indigenous community, the University of Toronto’s vibrant academic life is defined by the intellectual and cultural diversity in its community.

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