Associate or Full Professor & Director, Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research - Faculty of Health, York University

The Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research (DIGHR) and the Faculty of Health at York University invites highly qualified applicants for an Associate or Full Professor to commence July 1, 2026. The successful candidate will be appointed as Director, DIGHR with an initial 5-year term, with the possibility of renewal upon successful review. This is a tenure-track appointment to the Professorial Stream. The candidate will identify a home department/school to be appointed (Department of Psychology; School of Global Health; School of Health Policy and Management; School of Kinesiology and Health Science; School of Medicine; or School of Nursing) or a joint appointment across two units.

Over the past decade, York University has experienced significant growth in its global health ecosystem, leveraging its unique values, strengths, and vision. Building on York’s leadership in education and research in Global Health, DIGHR is a pan-university institute that plays a pivotal role in addressing global health challenges through research, social innovation, international collaboration, and expert leadership. The institute provides a robust environment for researchers in the global health field, both within the university and through global partnerships. DIGHR's interdisciplinary approach offers unparalleled opportunities for collaborative research and knowledge mobilization, addressing pressing health and social issues. A key and foundational aspect of DIGHR’s mission is to make a transformative impact in global health with a transdisciplinary focus on three key research themes: i) Planetary Health; ii) Global Health and Humanitarianism; and iii) Global Health Foresighting.

The Director will be a recognized leader in the field of global health, evidenced by senior leadership experience, education, and research, with broad knowledge of the new and emerging frontiers of global health. The ideal candidate will appreciate the breadth of disciplines contributing to global health research and education, possess extensive international experience, and maintain a strong network of contacts in the global health field. Working with Deans and academic units, the Director will have a mandate to develop and implement a long-term vision for the Dahdaleh Institute of Global Health that will shape the development of global health research across the University. As an Organized Research Unit, DIGHR will be undergoing a rechartering process in 2027-28, and the Director will be responsible for leading the revisioning and rechartering of DIGHR. In addition to leading the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health research, the Director will play an important role in engaging undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in the activities of the Institute and whose role as a research leader at York will bring international recognition to DIGHR.

Candidate Qualifications:

• Degree:
  • PhD or PhD equivalent in a relevant discipline (e.g. DrPH, ScD, DPhil, EdD, MD, etc.) is required.
• Scholarship:
  • A coherent and well-articulated program of research / research creation and/or professional practice and specialization in relevant discipline.
  • As a leader in their field, the Director will be a driving force for new and sustained research partnerships, collaboration and growth with national and international non-government, government and multilateral stakeholders. A record of generating innovative, substantive, rigorous, and as appropriate, externally funded research and/or research creation. Candidates engaged with practitioners and policy makers and their organizations on contemporary research challenges are
    strongly preferred.
  • A record of making influential contributions and demonstrating excellence in the field (e.g., their research statement; a record of publications of global significance in the field; presentations at major international conferences, and in international leadership of professional organizations).
  • A record of success in fundraising and expectation to continue to seek grants to support their program of research from relevant external funding agencies, and the expectation this should also be addressed in their research agenda.
• Teaching:
  • A record of excellence in teaching, dedication to students and mentorship aligned with their research (e.g., teaching accomplishments, pedagogical innovations, student and peer evaluations).
  • Suitability for prompt appointment to the Faculty of Graduate Studies, given that the position will involve graduate teaching and supervision.

Application Process:

• Due date for completed applications: has been extended to January 11, 2026
• Required materials:
  • 1) Cover letter / statement of leadership experience, vision, and major initiatives to be undertaken in support of DIGHR mission and three research themes, including their approach to engaging highly qualified personnel (graduate students, post-doctoral researchers and other research personnel). (up to 5 pages) Applicants should identify which school(s) or department(s) within the Faculty of Health that they would like to be considered for appointment into;
  • 2) Curriculum vitae (CV);
  • 3) Research Agenda (see details below);
  • 4) Copies or links to up to 5 relevant publications or pre-prints;
  • 5) Name and full contact details for three referees at the time of application. Only referees of shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• Incomplete application packages will not be considered.
• The research agenda should include a detailed research statement that sets out their plans and ideas for the first five years of their tenure as Director of the Institute. In addition to describing plans for the Institute and its three research themes, candidates are asked to make the case for why and how their own research agenda would contribute to their plan for the Institute. Particular attention should be paid to how the candidate anticipates fostering academic and community-based collaborative initiatives within the School, Faculty, and beyond. This would include explaining how the Director will support collaboration of future programming in relation to the School of Medicine and the area of public and population health. The statement should be up to 2,500 words.
• Provide required information regarding your Canadian work status and optional self-identification for Affirmative Action purposes at this link: YUWorkAA.
• An executive search exercise is being undertaken by York’s search partner Perrett Laver. Perrett Laver will support the University in helping to identify the widest possible field of qualified candidates. Applications should be submitted to Perret Laver's Vacancies quoting reference 8143.
• Direct questions about the position to Cora Hui at cora.hui@perrettlaver.com.

Find the full posting here: https://www.yorku.ca/vpepc/faculty-affairs/wp-content/uploads/sites/698/2025/10/HH_Dir.DIGHR_Ex.pdf

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