REPOST: Research Scientist - Burns

Job ID

75807

Job Title

REPOST: Research Scientist - Burns

Regular/Temporary

Temporary

Location

Hamilton General Hospital

Open Date

2026/05/15

Job Type

Contractually Ltd. Appointment

Close Date

2026/10/30

Employee Group

Academic

Favorite Job

Department

Surgery

Full/Part Time

Full-Time

Job Code

FACMEM

Existing Vacancy

Yes - Newly Created Position

Contract Duration

0 Months

Target Number of Openings

1

Hours per Week

35

Job Description

RESEARCH SCIENTIST / ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

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

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.

Build Your Research Career at McMaster and HHS

This position is designed to provide an emerging investigator with the opportunity to build an independent scientific identity and establish a successful academic career.

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.

Beyond Burn Research

While burn injury is at the centre of our mission, the scientific questions generated by severe burns extend well beyond a single clinical condition.

Major burn injury represents a powerful model through which to investigate fundamental mechanisms of inflammation, immune dysfunction, metabolism, infection, tissue injury, wound healing, fibrosis, regeneration, and recovery from critical illness.

We therefore envision the Centre for Burn Research as a platform not only for advancing burn care, but also for generating discoveries with relevance across trauma, critical illness, surgery, wound healing, and regenerative medicine.

The successful candidate will be encouraged to build collaborations across the Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton Health Sciences, and the broader research and innovation ecosystem, creating opportunities for interdisciplinary and translational research that extends beyond traditional boundaries.

Education, Mentorship, and Academic Development

Approximately 20% of the position will be dedicated to education and mentorship.

The successful candidate will contribute to the educational mission of the Department of Surgery and will have opportunities to teach and mentor undergraduate and graduate students, residents, fellows, research trainees, and other learners.

They will also provide scientific and methodological expertise to collaborative research initiatives and contribute to developing the next generation of scientists and clinician-scientists.

We are looking for an investigator who values mentorship and who will help create an environment in which trainees are encouraged to ask important questions, pursue innovative ideas, and develop successful academic careers of their own.

The remaining 20% of the position will support academic citizenship, administration, and committee responsibilities, including activities contributing to the development and strategic growth of the HHS Centre for Burn Research and the broader academic mission of the Department of Surgery.

The Candidate

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.

Why McMaster and Hamilton Health Sciences?

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.

Application Requirements

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 Mosaic via JO# 75807 and addressed to:

Dr. Mohit Bhandari

Professor and Chair

Department of Surgery

Faculty of Health Sciences

McMaster University

All applicants will receive online confirmation of receipt of their application; however, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for interviews.

Commitment to Inclusive Excellence: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community with a Shared Purpose, McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity, and has a strong commitment to employment equity.

The University seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, who will contribute to the diversification of ideas and perspectives, and especially welcomes applications from indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) peoples, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women, and persons who identify as 2SLGBTQ+.

As part of McMaster’s commitment, all applicants are invited to complete a confidential Applicant Diversity Survey through the online application submission process. The Survey questionnaire requests voluntary self-identification in relation to equity-seeking groups that have historically faced and continue to face barriers in employment. Please refer to the Applicant Diversity Survey - Statement of Collection for additional information.

Job applicants requiring accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact the Human Resources Service Centre at 905-525-9140 ext. 222-HR (22247) or the Faculty of Health Sciences Human Resources office at ext. 22207 to communicate accommodation needs.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements, Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority. To comply with the Government of Canada’s reporting requirements, the University is obliged to gather information about applicants’ status as either Permanent Residents of Canada or Canadian citizens. Applicants need not identify their country of origin or current citizenship; however, all applications must include one of the following statements:

Yes, I am a citizen or permanent resident of Canada

No, I am not a citizen or permanent resident of Canada

Pay Transparency Statement

The starting salary will not be less than $94,167 and will be determined based on rank, discipline, experience, and qualifications. Salaries for faculty members progress through a Career Progress/Merit Plan; average salaries by rank and Faculty for previous academic years can be found through McMaster University.

AI Statement

McMaster and its third-party partners may use AI tools to screen, assess, or select applicants during the hiring process. Please note that currently our recruitment platform does not use AI nor is it part of our current recommended recruitment process.

Vaccination Mandate - FHS

This position is located in a host hospital or other healthcare site that has an active vaccination mandate in place. Successful applicants will need to comply with these and any other health and safety measures necessary as part of their appointment.

Interview Experience

At McMaster University, we believe in a comprehensive and inclusive interview process. Our interview methods encompass a variety of approaches that allow our hiring teams to provide a flexible and accessible experience for engaging with our candidates. Throughout your recruitment process at McMaster, you may be requested to participate in a variety of formats, that may include in-person, virtual or recorded interviews. If you have any questions as you move through the hiring process, please reach out to [email protected] or the HR contact associated with your position of interest.