The Bruce H. Mitchell Endowed Chair
Ingenuity Labs Research Institute
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
Queen's University at Kingston, Canada
January 2023
Queen's University is situated on traditional Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee Territory.
The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Ingenuity Labs Research Institute in
the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science at Queen's University invites applications for the
inaugural Bruce H. Mitchell Endowed Chair; a tenured faculty position at the rank of Associate
or Full Professor with a specialization that falls within the broad areas of robotics, intelligent
systems and/or applied artificial intelligence. Exceptional candidates at the rank of Assistant
Professor may be considered for a tenure-track position. The preferred start date is January 1,
2024.
Criteria:
The successful candidate must have completed a PhD in electrical engineering, computer
engineering, or a related discipline. The Bruce H. Mitchell Endowed Chair will enhance the
Institute's dynamic and collaborative research culture by fostering research linkages internally
across disciplines and externally among partners. To advance the Chair's success, the successful
candidate will be provided with $1M of research start-up funding with opportunities to leverage
and multiply this funding, as well as access to roughly 12,000 sq. ft of open, collaborative research
space in the new Mitchell Hall.
The main criteria for selection are:
• Status as an internationally recognized researcher with a record of recognized leadership
in their field and evidence of high-quality scholarly output;
• Strong potential to establish external partnerships and attract significant research
funding;
• Potential for outstanding teaching contributions at both the undergraduate and graduate
levels, and an ongoing commitment to academic and pedagogical excellence in support
of the department's programs;
• Evidence of an ability to work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary and student-centered
environment;
• Professional engineering licensure in Canada, or the eligibility to obtain licensure, is a
requirement. Note that all forms of engineering licensure in Canada are considered
acceptable (e.g. P.Eng., temporary engineering license, provisional engineering license,
etc.).
The successful candidate will be required to make contributions through service to the
Department, the Faculty, the University, and/or the broader community. Salary will be
commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Prior to May 1, 2022, the University required all students, faculty, staff, and visitors (including
contractors) to declare their COVID-19 vaccination status and provide proof that they were fully
vaccinated or had an approved accommodation to engage in in-person University activities.
These requirements were suspended effective May 1, 2022, but the University may reinstate
them at any point.
Ingenuity Labs Research Institute, is a collaborative multidisciplinary research institute
established in 2018, focused on the design and use of robots and intelligent systems to enhance
human productivity, creativity, safety, and quality of life. Ingenuity Labs was established based
on a significant philanthropic gift and brings together researchers from across the engineering
disciplines and the University. The Institute's expertise spans a continuum—from artificial
intelligence, machine learning, and cyber-human systems, to robot control, smart sensors, and
mechatronic devices. Through creativity, collaboration, and invention, Ingenuity Labs
researchers strive to facilitate the complex interactions between humans, machines, and
infrastructure, as well as their natural and social environments. The Ingenuity Labs Research
Institute currently comprises 36 faculty members and nearly 100 graduate and postdoctoral
researchers who are leaders in the fields of robotics and AI. Ingenuity Labs is open lab space has
the capacity to simultaneously house multiple collaborative research projects, making efficient
use of extensive research equipment and resources. The open working space also facilitates
knowledge sharing and cross-functional thinking between diverse research groups.
Your Career with Queen's Engineering
Queen's University is one of Canada's leading research-intensive universities with a global
reputation and is a recognized leader in Canadian higher education. The Department of Electrical
& Computer Engineering comprises 35 full-time and 7 cross-appointed faculty, 966
undergraduate students, and 180 master's and doctoral students. The Department is home to
the Centre for Energy and Power Electronics Research (ePOWER).
In addition to Ingenuity Labs, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to collaborate
with the many other units, research centres, and institutes at Queen's, including the Department
of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, the School of Computing, the Scotiabank Centre for
Customer Analytics, the Centre for Neuroscience Studies, and the Centre for Health Innovation,
to name a few. Queen's Engineering is also host to a new undergraduate degree program in
Mechatronics & Robotics Engineering that brings together three engineering disciplines: computer,
electrical, and mechanical engineering. Through new custom courses, a hands-on experience,
and progressive design projects, students will think objectively and acquire the skills to succeed
in a versatile engineering career.
Among our top priorities in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science is providing
opportunities for early career academics to develop exceptional research and teaching
contributions while fostering an inclusive environment where all faculty can thrive. Support for
faculty to develop strong research programs includes Special Research Grant opportunities, grant
writing workshops and review services, and one-to-one mentorship from experienced
colleagues. To promote on-going teaching success, there is support for course development and
delivery provided by the Queen's Centre for Teaching and Learning, the Engineering Teaching
and Learning Team, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Faculty of
Engineering and Applied Science.
Queen's Engineering is also committed to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusivity in
Engineering, supported by the recent establishment of a Chair for Women in Engineering,
the new Engineering Strategic Plan, and Engineering for Everyone.
Queen's University is situated on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and
Anishinaabe, and Queen's historic campus is located in the heart of the vibrant Kingston
community in the Thousand Islands region of Southeastern Ontario. Queen's is positioned
centrally with respect to three major metropolitan areas: Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa, and
Kingston's residents enjoy an outstanding quality of life with a wide range of cultural,
recreational, and creative opportunities. Faculty and their dependents are eligible for an
extensive benefits package including prescription drug coverage, vision care, dental care, long
term disability insurance, life insurance and access to the Employee and Family Assistance
Program.
You will also participate in a pension plan. Tuition assistance is available for qualifying
employees, their spouses and dependent children. Queen's values families and is pleased to
provide a 'top up' to government parental leave benefits for eligible employees on
maternity/parental leave. In addition, Queen's provides partial reimbursement for eligible
daycare expenses for employees with dependent children in daycare. Details are set out in the
Queen's-QUFA Collective Agreement. For more information on employee benefits, see Queen's
Human Resources.
Additional information about Queen's University can be found on the Faculty Recruitment and
Support website. Visit Inclusive Queen's for information on equity, diversity and inclusion
resources and initiatives. The University invites applications from all qualified
individuals. Queen's is strongly committed to employment equity, diversity, and inclusion in the
workplace and encourages applications from Black, racialized/visible minority and
Indigenous/Aboriginal people, women, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQ+ persons. All
qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. In accordance with Canadian
immigration requirements, Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada will be given
priority.
To comply with federal laws, the University is obliged to gather statistical information as to how
many applicants for each job vacancy are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada.
Applicants need not identify their country of origin or citizenship; however, all applications must
include one of the following statements: "I am a Canadian citizen/permanent resident of
Canada", or "I am not a Canadian citizen/permanent resident of Canada". Applications that do
not include this information will be deemed incomplete.
In addition, the impact of certain circumstances that may legitimately affect a nominee's record
of research achievement will be given careful consideration when assessing the nominee's
research productivity. Candidates are encouraged to provide relevant information about their
experience and/or career interruptions.
A complete application consists of:
• a cover letter (including one of the two statements regarding Canadian
citizenship/permanent resident status specified in the preceding paragraph);
• a statement of research vision and interests;
• a statement of teaching interests, experience, and philosophy (including teaching outlines
and evaluations if available);
• a current Curriculum Vitae (including a list of publications);
• a statement of commitment to as well as ideas and any experience about how to ensure
equity, diversity, and inclusivity in scholarly activities; and
• the names and contact information of three referees.
The Appointments Committee will begin consideration of candidates on May 1, 2023, and will
continue until the position is successfully filled.
Applicants are encouraged to send all documents in their application packages electronically as
one single PDF file to the Mitchell Chair Appointments Committee c/o Ms. Shelly Stilson,
Administrative Assistant, via e-mail to ece-search@queensu.ca, although hardcopy applications
may be submitted to:
Ms. Shelly Stilson
Administrative Assistant
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
Room 416, Walter Light Hall, 19 Union Street
Queen's University
Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6 Canada
The University will provide support in its recruitment processes to applicants with disabilities,
including accommodation that considers an applicant's accessibility needs. If you require
accommodation during the interview process, please contact Ms. Shelly Stilson in the
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering via e-mail at ece-search@queensu.ca.
In your application, please refer to Polytechnicpositions.com