Faculty Appointments

For Status-Only, Adjunct & Cross-Appointment

IBBME Appointment Application Form

Determining your IBBME Appointment Type

Faculty Appointment Requirements

Instructions for New Applicants

Instructions for Renewing Applicants

Faculty Appointee Responsibilities & Privileges

Overview

The Institute of Biomaterials & Biomedical Engineering (IBBME) is a multidisciplinary research hub with a diverse range of outstanding faculty including core members, professional engineers, subject matter experts from other university departments, and clinical scientists at affiliate hospitals. Regardless of locale or appointment type, all faculty appointees are expected to conduct scholarship activities within the university’s ethical and professional standards.

IBBME offers status-only or non-budgetary cross-appointments to individuals qualified to make significant contributions to the educational and research activities of the institute by leading innovative research programs and delivering high-quality education experiences for students. Specifically, these activities include (but are not limited to) teaching, supervision, committee/advisory service, and mentorship. In return, the Institute makes a commitment to further the academic activities and progress of all faculty appointees.

While IBBME aims to foster cross-functional collaboration and research, collaboration itself does not provide a sufficient rationale for faculty appointment, nor does it warrant appointment consideration. All IBBME applicants must demonstrate supervisory competence by providing evidence of a quality training environment for students (e.g. possessing appropriate laboratory space, research equipment, and adequate funding, being available to provide mentorship/training, etc.) Furthermore, the type of training provided must be meaningful within the scope of the biomedical engineering discipline (i.e. training should advance the biomedical engineering skills of the trainee).

Appointment decisions are determined by the Cross-Appointment Committee, which comprises core faculty members at IBBME, and appointments are granted at the discretion of the Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering. Appointments are reviewed by the Cross-Appointments Committee approximately twice per year (April & December).

Determining your IBBME Appointment Type

Faculty Appointment Requirements

Applicants for IBBME appointment are required to have the following:

Hold a tenured (or tenure-track) position within an academic unit at the University of Toronto or hold a Scientist, Senior Scientist, or Clinician-Scientist position within a clinical unit at a University of Toronto affiliate hospital.
Have access to independent or shared lab space that is up and running for appropriate graduate training.
Have funding support from at least one Tri-Agency (NSERC/CIHR/SSHRC) for a researcher that has been at the University for at least five years or start-up/operational funding from a hospital division/home department for a new researcher with a Scientist position.
Demonstrated experience supervising students in the engineering discipline.
Meet the requirements of an independent investigator as defined by CIHR.

Instructions for New Applicants

All members who meet the minimum requirements may apply for appointment consideration, however only successful applicants will be contacted for follow-up, and provided with information on next-steps of the application procedure. Please be aware that detailed application feedback cannot be provided as deliberations of the Cross-Appointments Committee are confidential.

Introduce yourself to the IBBME faculty and students by arranging to give a one-hour talk at the Graduate Speaker Seminars. You may wish to invite core faculty members to your talk to present your work and discuss opportunities for collaboration or involvement. Contact the Graduate Program Administrator (grad.ibbme@utoronto.ca) for seminar scheduling.
Prepare your application package consisting of the following documents, which should be assembled in order:
1. Completed appointment application form (indicating “New appointment” option).
2. Letter of intent; a one-page written proposal describing your research, emphasizing the reason(s) why appointment to IBBME is strategic and mutually beneficial. In other words, what specific role/research need would you be fulfilling at IBBME?
3. Signed letter of support from the head of your primary appointment (or institution) dated within the past six months.
4. If you have additional cross- (or adjunct) appointments at the time of your application, a signed letter of support from the head of each affiliate institution dated within the past six months.
5. Curriculum vitae, which should include a complete and up-to-date list (in chronological order) of your academic activities emphasizing research and supervisory experience, publications, and past and present grant funding sources (indicating PI/Co-PI status, agency/industry names, grant numbers, and funding levels). CIHR common CV format preferred.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all documents are complete and accounted for. Email your completed and correctly ordered application as a single pdf file to director.ibbme@utoronto.ca.

Shortlisted applicants will be notified and provided with next-steps, including:

Interview with the Institute’s Director.
Signing and returning the appointment offer letter.

Instructions for Renewing Applicants

The onus of appointment renewal is on the appointee to ensure that your renewal application is received by the Institute’s Director no later than March 31 of terminal year, as your appointment would automatically terminate at the specified end-date, unless before that time the Dean advises in writing that your appointment will be renewed.

Renewal applicants must provide evidence of involvement (through research/ educational/ scholarship activities) with IBBME since their initial appointment. Additionally, appointees must have directly supervised at least two IBBME students (in undergraduate, graduate, or professional-level programs) to be eligible for appointment renewal and failure to do so can result in termination of your appointment.

Prepare your renewal package, consisting of the following documents, which should be assembled in order:
- Completed appointment application form (indicating “Renewal” option).
- Summary of past contributions (2-page limit).
- Signed letter of support from the head of your primary appointment (or institution) dated within the past six months.
- Curriculum vitae (highlighting involvement with IBBME). CIHR common CV format preferred.
- List of IBBME students supervised (including their present career status/position).
It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all documents are complete and accounted for. Email your completed and correctly ordered application as a single pdf file to director.ibbme@utoronto.ca.

Application Deadlines

Applicants who seek status-only or non-budgetary cross-appointment to IBBME may apply at any time throughout the year; however, applications are reviewed approximately twice per year (April & December). Applications must be received by the following deadlines to be considered within the respective timeframe.

Applications aiming for consideration in December must be received by October 31.
Applications aiming for consideration in April must be received by March 31.

Faculty Appointee Responsibilities & Privileges

IBBME appointed faculty member are responsible for the following:

Supervising undergraduate student thesis and research projects.
Being the primary supervisor for graduate student thesis and research projects, and contribute to graduate student stipend support.
Being the SGS-appointed chair of a PhD defense once every two years, if you are cross-appointee from an affiliate hospital
Participating in academic collaboration with IBBME faculty and students in at least one of the Institute’s main research areas.
Promoting the Institute and the field of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering at the local, national, and international levels.
Contributing to the goals and curricula of educational programs at the Institute by participating as a guest lecturer in graduate courses and/or making graduate courses in your home departments available to IBBME students.
Contributing to IBBME curricula by teaching at least 25% of a graduate/undergraduate-level course, supervising MEng students, or participation as a speaker in the Graduate Student Seminars.
Serving as a member of IBBME graduate supervisory and defense committees.
Where relevant, attending faculty, staff, graduate committee, and/or strategy meetings in your research area on behalf of IBBME.
Contributing to the profession of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering through ‘community service’.
Participating in IBBME seminars, summer student programs, and social events.
Acknowledging IBBME in all communications including posters, seminars, and publications that involve IBBME-affiliated trainees and resources.
Being included as cross-appointed faculty in the IBBME directory and email listserv, and providing updates of personal and research profile information upon request.
Providing a summary report detailing current and planned research activities at the time of initial appointment and at each subsequent appointment renewal date.

IBBME appointed faculty members gain the following privileges:

Access to the University of Toronto library resources.
Access to academic development programs at IBBME.
Invitation to IBBME events, faculty meetings, faculty retreats, etc.
Access to internal communication and institutional services (newsletters, workshops, etc.)
Ability to apply for grants (if eligible as status-only faculty) that require the applicant to hold a University appointment.
Close collaboration opportunities with other IBBME faculty members.
Graduate Faculty Membership (GFM) from the School of Graduate Studies with the type of membership granted decided by the IBBME Cross-Appointment Committee.

Terms and Definitions

Academic Appointment

Academic Appointments are those where an individual is engaged in research, teaching (including provision of clinical care that may involve supervision of students, residents or other trainees), and/or creative professional activitiy at the University. Not included in this definition are faculty administrative appointments (eg. Department Chair), hospital appointments, university staff appointments, student appointments, medical residencies, or librarian appointments.

Hospital/Research Institute Appointment

A Hospital/Research Institute appointment is used to indicate a position at an affiliated hospital and can be clinical or non-clinical in nature.

Primary Academic Appointment

Each faculty member at the University is appointed to an academic department/institute. An appointee may belong to only one department or belong to multiple. If the appointee only holds an appointment in one department/institute at the University, then this is their primary appointment. If the appointee holds an appointment in multiple department/institutes then the primary appointment refers to the "home" department/institute. If no prior appointment is held, then the individual may be considered applying for a primary academic appointment. Primary academic appointments are typically either budgetary appointments, status-only appointments or adjunct appointments.

Concurrent Academic Appointment

Concurrent appointments refer to appointments in departments/institutes other than the primary department. If an individual already holds an academic appointment in a department/institute at the University, then any additional appointments would be considered a concurrent appointment.

Budgetary Appointment

Budgetary appointees are employed by the University and receive a salary from their respective primary department at the University.

Cross-Appointment (Non-budgetary)

Cross-appointees are those who hold a primary academic appointment elsewhere at the University. Cross-appointees may or may not be employed by the University as faculty members but those who are not employed by the university are distinguished by having a non-budgetary cross appointment with a status-only rank. Non-budgetary cross-appointees receive no salary or remuneration from IBBME. Cross-appointees engage in the teaching, supervision, and advising of both undergraduate and graduate students, as well as in committee service to programs, and in other duties specified in the offer letter.

Appointments are made for a fixed term, typically one to three years (up to five). Whereas it is customary that the initial term be no less than three years, the duration of subsequent appointments is decided by the Cross-Appointments Committee at the time of appointment renewal. Cross-appointee ranks at IBBME are the same as in their primary department/unit at the University. Appointments are renewed at the discretion of the Dean (Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering). Cross-appointments must have the consent of all divisions involved and do not confer primary or secondary appointment status, or any review or tenure committee rights and responsibilities at IBBME.

Clinicians who hold an academic appointment within a clinical department in the Faculty of Medicine are not classified as non-budgetary cross-appointments (see Status-Only appointment).

Status-Only Appointment

Status-only appointees are not employed by the University but (a) hold a full-time employment with an affiliate hospital, research institution, or agency that has a collaborative agreement with the University of Toronto and/or (b) hold a clinical academic appointment within a clinical department in the Faculty of Medicine. Status-only appointees receive no salary or remuneration from the University of Toronto or from IBBME. Status-only appointees are typically involved in academic activities such as research/teaching, and all members must qualify as an independent researcher for appointment consideration.

Status-only appointees receive Assistant/Associate/Full Professor ranks, which are analogous to academic ranks at the University. However, standards for appointee rank at entry are set by the Cross-Appointments Committee. The promotion of status-only appointees is possible but not expected. Status-only appointees may be promoted on the recommendation of a properly constituted promotions committee, according to divisional guidelines and the Policy and Procedures Governing Promotions, and subsequent review and approval by the Vice-President and Provost (see the section on “Promotion to Professor” | www.aapm.utoronto.ca/promotions). Academic promotion is solely awarded on the basis of excellence in research, creative professional activity, and/or teaching (see the section on “Promotion Criteria” | www.deptmedicine.utoronto.ca/promotion-criteria).

Adjunct Appointments

Adjunct appointees are employed elsewhere and include positions that may not be academic in nature. Adjunct appointees possess special skills or learning of value to the Institute. There are two types of Adjunct faculty appointments: Lecturer and Professor. Adjunct appointments are awarded for a limited and specified term. Adjunct faculty appointments are not ranked but may receive remuneration for services (see section on “Adjunct Appointments” | www.aapm.utoronto.ca/status-only-adjunct-visiting-professors/#adjunct).

Adjunct Professor: Distinguished individuals of exemplary achievement with whom the Institute expects to have an ongoing connection.

Adjunct Lecturer: Individuals involved with teaching programs or who contribute their skills or experience in supervising clinical placements.

Independent Researcher

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) defines an independent researcher as an individual who: (1) is autonomous regarding his or her research activities and can demonstrate that he or she will have sufficient time to devote to the proposed research, (2) has an academic or research appointment, which allows the individual to pursue the proposed research project, to engage in independent research activities, to supervise trainees, and publish the results, and (3) is obligated to conform to institutional regulations concerning the conduct of research, the supervision of trainees, and the employment conditions of staff.

Affiliate Hospital

Nine hospitals in the Greater Toronto Area are fully affiliated with the University of Toronto (see the section on “Fully-Affiliated Hospitals/Research Institutes” (www.medicine.utoronto.ca/about-faculty-medicine/fully-affiliated-hospitalsresearch-institutes).