McMaster University invites applications for the position of Associate Scientific Director, the McMaster Institute for Research on Aging (MIRA)|Dixon Hall Centre. MIRA provides an overarching infrastructure that supports aging research, education, and community outreach at McMaster University. MIRA is home to two collaborative research centres including MIRA | Dixon Hall and the Labarge Centre for Mobility in Aging. MIRA also serves as an entry point to McMaster University’s other research initiatives in aging. MIRA’s approach is to conduct research in cross-Faculty teams and engage the older adult community, their families, healthcare providers and other key stakeholders through every stage of our activities, from research to evaluation and implementation of interventions and technologies.
Dixon Hall is an established, well-recognized entity in Downtown east Toronto which offers crucial programming and services to marginalized people in Toronto’s Downtown East. Dixon Hall is celebrated for a commitment to comprehensive client care. In part, the depth, continuity, and consistency of the services it provides are enabled through robust partnerships and long-established relationships: the seniors’ department is funded by the province of Ontario, the City of Toronto and through Community Service Partnerships. Dixon Hall’s efforts are also empowered by its history and ability to address the needs of seniors who live within this community. It also has a strong presence and engagement at relevant not-for-profit network tables and in dialogues taking place at all levels of government.
Through a generous donation from Suzanne Labarge, MIRA has established this exciting new partnership between our experts in aging and mobility research and Dixon Hall to establish the MIRA|Dixon Hall Centre.
This centre will build direct links to McMaster expertise and increase capacity for broad awareness of the importance of mobility for the well-being of older adults. It will enable researchers to quickly identify issues and questions of importance to all stakeholders. Opportunities will be augmented to pursue target areas for training, research, and knowledge translation around the topic of aging and mobility. With a physical presence in Toronto and access to superb online resources such as the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal and VOICE, opportunities to enhance public outreach initiatives will grow. This new centre will foster collaborations with researchers that will include community members and stakeholders such as those in the housing and transportation industries as well as government and policymakers.
This initiative will bridge the gap between the academic and the practical. The MIRA | Dixon Hall Centre promises access to unique insights and research opportunities that neither organization can provide alone. Finally, this partnership will also provide a rich learning environment in the science of aging and will enable our experts from MIRA to create novel educational initiatives.
The McMaster Institute for Research on Aging is seeking a McMaster faculty member with expertise in mobility and community engagement to serve as the Associate Scientific Director of the MIRA | Dixon Hall Centre. The successful applicant will be expected to demonstrate clear evidence of leadership and strategic vision, scientific excellence, and experience in bringing interdisciplinary teams together as well as working with community partners and end-users. The MIRA | Dixon Hall Centre will be supported by a staff complement of research and project managers, coordinators and community leads at both MIRA and Dixon Hall. The successful candidate will also be expected to have a physical presence at the Dixon Hall location in Toronto on a regular basis.
The Associate Scientific Director will report to MIRA’s Scientific Director and the CEO of Dixon Hall, and work in collaboration with the Managing Director of MIRA. The Associate Scientific Director is expected to be an active member of an academic Department at McMaster, a member of MIRA and a scholar with an established reputation in aging and mobility research. The appointment of the Associate Scientific Director will be for a three-year renewable term, with an anticipated start date of September 1, 2022.
Applications must consist of a cover letter and a curriculum vitae. Please include a statement about your research interests, evidence of leadership capabilities and your vision for the MIRA | Dixon Hall Centre.
Applications will be accepted until July 15, 2022. Complete applications must be submitted to mirainfo@mcmaster.ca to the attention of Dr. Ine Wauben, Managing Director MIRA. Please contact Dr. Wauben, (wauben@mcmaster.ca) with any questions regarding this opportunity.
Complete applications will receive full consideration. The effective date of appointment is negotiable. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for interviews.
McMaster University is located on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga Nations and within the lands protected by the “Dish With One Spoon” wampum agreement.
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, MeÌtis 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.
