Job title: Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Law and Neuroscience
Company: York University
Job description: Osgoode Hall Law School at York University invites applications from highly qualified applicants for a Tier 1
Canada Research Chair (CRC) at the rank of an Associate or Full Professor in Law and Neuroscience. This
appointment is contingent upon successful nomination to the Canada Research Chairs program
the Tier 1 level. This is a tenure-track appointment to the Professorial
Stream to commence July 1, 2024, or as soon as possible thereafter.
Neuroscience studies the brain–structurally and functionally–and its impact on cognition, affect, and
behaviour. We seek to hire a renowned expert in the field of Law and Neuroscience. We understand this
subject area broadly as the study of the interplay of neuroscience with law and legal order, including in
terms of: its connections with the study of mind, epistemology, language, and morality with a view to
increasing our understanding and/or providing a critique of legal ordering; its impact on the explanation
and justification of basic legal concepts, assumptions, institutions, rules and standards, procedures,
evidentiary frameworks, rights and/or remedies across legal fields; the role of law in responding to
emerging neurotechnologies and brain interventions; and the roles that brain imaging, neuroprosthetics,
other neurotechnologies, as well as related artificial intelligence (including neural network-based AI), may
play in law.
The Canada Research Chairs (CRC) program seeks to attract outstanding researchers for careers at
Canadian universities. Tier 1 Chairs are intended for outstanding researchers acknowledged by their peers
as world leaders in their fields. Appointment to a Tier 1 Chair is for seven years, is renewable once, and
comes with enhanced research support from the program. Nominees for Tier 1 Chair positions must be full
professors or associate professors who are expected to be promoted to the full professor level within one
or two years of the nomination. Alternatively, if they come from outside the academic sector, nominees
must possess the necessary qualifications to be appointed at these levels. Please see the for
further eligibility details.
In recognition of the underrepresentation of women and gender minorities among CRCs, this position is
open only to qualified researchers who indicate on the Affirmative Action self-identification form (see
below) that they identify as women or gender non-conforming (e.g., genderfluid, nonbinary, Two-Spirit,
trans man, trans woman). The appointment is part of the University’s Affirmative Action program, which is
based on the special program provisions of the Ontario Human Rights Code.
York acknowledges the potential impact of various life circumstances (e.g., illness, disability, caregiving,
family commitments) on a candidate’s record of research and other achievements. Candidates are
encouraged to describe such circumstances and their impact in their application. This information will be
taken into careful consideration during the assessment process.
This is a research-enhanced faculty position with funding support part by the Canada First Research Excellence Fund. The successful candidate will be eligible for enhanced
startup funds. In addition, the successful candidate will engage with, and benefit from, the Connected
Minds program, which focuses on scholarship in three main themes: I. Co-creating Research for Societal
Needs and Predicted Impact; II. Fundamentals of Social Interaction: Neural, Algorithmic, and Social
Networks; and III. Designing and Developing Socially Responsible Technologies. The Connected Minds
program is supported by a total of $318 million in funding over seven years.
This position is open to both internal York University and external candidates. External candidates must
satisfy the requirements for a tenured appointment at Osgoode Hall Law School in addition to the
requirements for appointment to the Chair. At the conclusion of the term of the Chair, where the
Chairholder was an external candidate, they will continue to hold a full-time tenured appointment at
Osgoode Hall Law School.
Osgoode has been shaping the future of legal education in Canada since 1889. The rich, innovative, and
accessible legal education that Osgoode provides empowers our graduates to pursue flexible and
challenging futures, to be leaders in the legal profession, and to serve the cause of justice and the public
good. Our faculty excels in producing foundational, socially engaged, and world-leading academic
scholarship.
In making this appointment, Osgoode will seek to advance the objectives underlying plan identifies six areas of focus:
1. Anticipating Society-Level Crisis
2. Law in Local and Global Contexts
3. Rigorous Academic Scholarship
4. Advancing Reconciliation and Justice
5. Student Access and Success
6. Innovative and Engaged Legal Education
Candidate Qualifications1:
- Degree: All candidates must hold a JD degree and a graduate degree in law or equivalent credentials.
Candidates holding a doctoral degree (SJD /PhD) will normally be preferred.
- Scholarship:
o A coherent and well-articulated program of research and specialization in Law and Neuroscience as
described above in the position description.
o A record of generating innovative, substantive, rigorous, and as appropriate, externally funded
research.
o A record of making influential contributions and demonstrating excellence of recognized international
calibre in the field, as evident in: the research plan; a record of high quality publications (or
forthcoming publications), including with significant journals in the field; presentations at major
conferences; awards and achievements; and strong recommendations from referees of high
standing.
o Candidates must also be able to take a leadership role in the discussion and debate on significant
questions in the field. The latter capacity may be expressed, for example, through comments in the
public press or participation in public conferences and colloquia.
- Teaching:
Determined by the hiring unit and York University, not the CRC program.
o A record of excellence in teaching and dedication to students, demonstrated in: the teaching dossier;
teaching accomplishments and pedagogical innovations including in high priority areas such as
experiential education and technology enhanced learning; teaching evaluations; and strong letters of
reference.
o Candidates must be capable of being effective teachers at the undergraduate, graduate and
professional levels in the field of Law and Neuroscience and other legal fields that may be informed
by this perspective. In addition to teaching relevant courses at Osgoode, they are also expected to
take an active role in the JD, LLM, and PhD programs such as organizing events and supporting
student recruitment.
o Candidates must have a demonstrated interest in current and emerging issues in the field of Law and
Neuroscience and related topics, and must be able to contribute to the wider curriculum and be
capable of providing leadership in the study of these issues.
o Suitability for prompt appointment to the Faculty of Graduate Studies, given that the position will
involve graduate teaching and supervision. Candidates should have the capacity to direct the
research activities of graduate students and to initiate and raise funds for significant research
projects.
Hiring Policies:
- Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
- All York University positions are subject to budgetary approval.
- Osgoode Hall Law School is committed to the principles of equality and diversity, and inclusion, broadly
understood. We are particularly interested in candidates with diverse backgrounds and especially
encourage candidates in equity, diversity and inclusion categories. As a part of this commitment, the
Law School’s Employment Equity Plan aims to increase the representation on faculty of members from
five groups: women, racialized persons, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQ2S+
persons. Women and gender non-conforming persons (to which this position is limited) who also
identify as members of other equity-seeking groups are particularly encouraged to apply. York
welcomes and employs scholars from all over the world. All qualified candidates are encouraged to
apply; however, Canadian citizens, permanent residents and Indigenous peoples of Canada will be
given priority.
- York has a policy on and is committed to
working towards a barrier-free workplace and expanding the accessibility of the workplace to persons
with disabilities. Applicants who require accommodation are invited to contact François Tanguay-
Renaud, Chair of the Faculty Recruitment Committee, at
Application Process:
- Due date for completed applications: February 12, 2024
- Required materials: 1) current CV; 2) cover letter; 3) copies of law and graduate transcripts; 4) a
detailed research plan; 5) a teaching dossier (see details below); 6) copies of three (3) academic
articles or book chapters authored by the applicant (where published materials are not available, one
or more dissertation/thesis chapter(s) may be submitted in lieu); 7) contact information for three (3)
referees. Candidates may, during the recruitment process, be asked to have their referees provide their
letters of reference directly to Osgoode. All applications will be kept confidential to the Osgoode
Faculty Recruitment Committee and faculty colleagues who provide reviews of files.
- The teaching dossier should be no more than 15-20 pages and should include: teaching evaluations; a
statement of teaching philosophy; an account of teaching experiences and related responsibilities (e.g.,
list of courses taught/course outlines, examples of print and digital teaching materials and how they
are used); a summary of commitment to professional development (e.g., participation in teaching
workshops, supervision of masters and doctoral students, mentoring new faculty); and other evidence
of teaching effectiveness (e.g., student letters of support, teaching awards).
- Provide required information regarding your Canadian work status and optional self-identification for
Affirmative Action purposes as part of the online application.
- Direct questions about the position to François Tanguay-Renaud, Chair of the Faculty Recruitment
Committee, at
- Submit materials:
Learn More About York:
- York University generates and shares knowledge through our research, teaching and engagement with
communities around the world. howcases the depth, breadth
and ambition of research at York.
- York’s commitments to social justice are laid out in
and th
- Follow the activities and accomplishments of York’s faculty, students and staff on
York University acknowledges its presence on the traditional territory of many Indigenous Nations. The area known as Tkaronto has been care taken
by the Anishinabek Nation, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and the Huron-Wendat. It is now home to many First Nation, Inuit and Métis
communities. We acknowledge the current treaty holders, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. This territory is subject of the Dish with One
Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, an agreement to peaceably share and care for the Great Lakes region.
Expected salary:
Location: Canada
Job date: Tue, 05 Dec 2023 23:26:32 GMT
