- Location:
- Hamilton, ON
- Organization
- McMaster University
- Posted On
- 09/30/2026
The Department of Surgery at McMaster University, in partnership with the Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) Centre for Burn Research, invites applications for an outstanding scientist for a full-time appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor in the Contractually-Limited Appointment Category for a three-year period to build an independent research program, advance the science of burn injury, wound healing, and recovery, and translate discovery into impact for patients.
- Salary
- The starting salary will not be less than $94,167.
- About McMaster University
- The combination of McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences provides an exceptional environment for investigators interested in translating biomedical discovery into improvements in human health. The successful candidate will work within a major academic health sciences ecosystem that encourages collaboration across disciplines and provides opportunities to connect discovery science, clinical investigation, health-system innovation, and patient care. The HHS Centre for Burn Research provides a particularly compelling environment because of its close relationship with a designated adult definitive Burn Program. This creates the opportunity to pursue a continuum of research extending from mechanistic discovery through translational investigation and ultimately toward clinical impact.
- Benefits
- This is an exceptional career opportunity for an emerging scientist to establish and lead an independent research program within a growing academic burn research centre, while working at the interface of fundamental discovery, translational science, and clinical care. The HHS Centre for Burn Research is closely integrated with the HHS Burn Program, one of Ontario's designated adult definitive burn centres. This environment creates a unique opportunity to connect laboratory discovery with clinically important questions arising directly from the care of patients with major burn injury and their recovery. We are seeking a creative, ambitious, and collaborative investigator who wants not simply to join an existing research program, but to build a distinctive scientific program and help shape the future direction of burn research at HHS and McMaster University. The Scientific Opportunity Approximately 60% of the successful candidate's time will be protected for research, providing the foundation to establish an independent, externally funded program of investigation. The successful candidate will be encouraged to develop a distinctive scientific program that advances our understanding of burn injury and recovery while contributing to the broader fields of injury biology, inflammation, wound healing, regeneration, and critical illness. Relevant areas of investigation may include, but are not limited to: • burn injury and the systemic response to major injury; • inflammation, immunology, and immune dysregulation; • wound healing and tissue repair; • regenerative medicine; • tissue engineering and biomaterials; • stem cell and cell-based therapies; • metabolism and hypermetabolism; • infection, sepsis, and host response; • scar formation, fibrosis, and abnormal wound healing; • organ dysfunction following major injury; • innovative therapeutics and technologies; • precision and personalized approaches to injury and recovery; and • translational science connecting biological discovery with patient outcomes. We particularly welcome candidates bringing new scientific approaches, technologies, or perspectives to the study of burn injury. Previous burn-specific research experience is therefore an asset but is not essential. Outstanding investigators from related areas of biomedical science who see burn injury as a compelling platform for discovery and translation are strongly encouraged to apply. Full posting is available at https://hr.mcmaster.ca/careers/work-at-mcmaster/
- Responsibilities
- The successful candidate will be expected to develop a high-impact research program, establish multidisciplinary collaborations, compete successfully for peer-reviewed funding, attract and supervise talented trainees, publish influential research, and develop a national and international reputation in their field. Importantly, the successful candidate will become part of a research environment that brings together scientists, clinician-scientists, surgeons, critical care specialists, trainees, allied health professionals, research staff, and health-system leaders around the common goal of improving outcomes after burn injury. The integration of the Centre for Burn Research with the HHS Burn Program creates significant opportunities for translational investigation. Scientific questions can be informed by real clinical challenges, while discoveries made in the laboratory can ultimately be evaluated for their potential to improve patient care. For the right candidate, this position provides an opportunity to build a laboratory, develop a research team, establish collaborations across McMaster and HHS, and help define the next generation of burn research.
- Requirements
- 'The successful candidate will possess a doctoral degree in Biochemistry, Biomolecular Sciences, Medical Sciences, or another relevant biomedical or health sciences discipline. The ideal candidate will demonstrate: • a strong record of research productivity appropriate to career stage; • evidence of scientific creativity and independence; • potential to establish a competitive externally funded research program; • expertise relevant to burn injury, wound healing, inflammation, regeneration, critical illness, or related biomedical sciences; • a commitment to rigorous and impactful science; • enthusiasm for interdisciplinary and translational collaboration; • a strong commitment to mentorship and education; and • the ambition and potential to develop into a national and international leader in their field. Above all, we are seeking an individual with the scientific vision and entrepreneurial drive to build a program, develop a team, pursue important questions, and help us create a leading centre for burn research.
How to Apply
Applications should include: • a cover letter outlining the candidate's interest in the position and future research vision; • curriculum vitae; • a teaching dossier including a statement of teaching philosophy and description of areas of teaching and scholarly expertise. Applicants are encouraged to describe any impact that career interruptions have had on research, academic, and/or scholarly productivity, if applicable; • a brief statement describing contributions made or planned in relation to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion or inclusive excellence in teaching, research, or service within higher education, community-based, or other professional settings (2-page maximum); and • the names and contact information of three references. No reference letters are required at the time of application. References will be solicited at later stages of the search process. Unsolicited letters will not be reviewed until later stages of the search. Applications will be accepted until October 31, 2026. Applications are to be made through https://hr.mcmaster.ca/careers/work-at-mcmaster/ via JO# 75807 and addressed to: Dr. Mohit Bhandari Professor and Chair Department of Surgery Faculty of Health Sciences McMaster University
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