Engineering - Assistant Professor (Mineral Processing and Metallurgy)

Queen's University is situated on traditional Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee Territory.

The Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining (Queen’s Mining) in the Stephen J.R. Smith Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science (Smith Engineering) at Queen’s University invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor with specialization in mineral processing and metallurgy. The preferred start date for the appointment is January 1, 2026.

Qualifications
The successful candidate must have a Ph.D. in Mining Engineering, or a related discipline, by the start date of the appointment. Professional engineering licensure in Canada, or the eligibility to obtain licensure, is also a requirement. Note that all forms of engineering licensure in Canada from any province are considered acceptable (e.g., P.Eng., Limited engineering license, provisional engineering license, etc.).

The main criteria for selection are academic and teaching excellence, including:

• evidence of high-quality scholarly output that demonstrates potential for independent research leading to peer assessed publications and the securing of external research funding;
• strong potential for outstanding teaching contributions at both the undergraduate and graduate levels;
• demonstrate 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 studentcentred environment.
• Relevant industrial experience will be considered as a significant asset.

The successful candidate will also be expected 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.

Vaccination Requirements
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.

The Faculty and Department
As one of Canada’s leading research-intensive universities, Queen’s University is focused on being the quality leader in Canadian higher education and is dedicated to promoting research and scholarship of national and international distinction.

Celebrating its 130th anniversary, Queen’s Mining has outstanding laboratory facilities and an unparalleled reputation for the quality of our graduates. In alignment with emerging societal and industry priorities, Queen’s Mining embraces an integrated systems approach to the mining project life cycle, enabling safer, more efficient, and sustainable extraction processes. To this end, established faculty members have active research programs addressing all aspects of the mining value chain, including Geostatistics, Blasting, Geomechanics, Mine Design, Mineral Processing, Extractive Metallurgy, Sustainability, and Intelligent Mining Systems.

Queen’s Mining currently has a team of 9 faculty members, 4 professional staff, and 4 technical staff who oversee world class laboratories for teaching and research in blasting, rock mechanics, mineral processing, and extractive metallurgy. The department offers an undergraduate B.A.Sc. program in Mining Engineering, with an option to specialize in mine design, mineral processing, or mine-mechanical systems. At the graduate level, the department offers a course-based M.Eng. program, and research-based M.A.Sc. and Ph.D. programs. The department also delivers a fully-online undergraduate Certificate in Mining Technologies, a graduate diploma in Social Performance Management for the Extractive Industries, and several stand-alone Professional Development courses.

Our rapidly changing world presents unprecedented opportunities and significant challenges. Smith Engineering is changing the face of engineering education, so future engineers can be leaders in the face of complex and multidisciplinary global issues. This new model of engineering education will be technically rigorous, experientially focused, socially conscious and creatively inspired. It will ensure graduates have the knowledge and tools to not only create our technology and processes but to guide their evolution, and how they integrate with society and the world. To promote on-going teaching success, there is support for course development and delivery provided by the Engineering Teaching and Learning Team, the Queen’s Centre for Teaching and Learning, the Queen’s Mining and Smith Engineering.

Smith Engineering delivers 10 undergraduate programs to over 3000 undergraduate students, and 5 graduate programs to over 500 graduate students. The Faculty is well known for its record of leadership in interdisciplinary engineering education, including being one of the first engineering schools in Canada to establish an Integrated Learning Centre, significant community service learning modules in First-Year instruction, an interdisciplinary “design spine” coordinated across all undergraduate programs in the Faculty, and a course in Technology Engineering and Management that draws students from engineering, business, arts and science, and law.

Among our top priorities in Smith Engineering 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.

Smith Engineering understands that we need to focus on making Engineering for Everyone and is working toward a more diverse and inclusive community in an effort to make our learning and working environment better, and to advance the practice of engineering. The Faculty strives to make a difference through commitments such as the establishment of a Chair for Women in Engineeringto improve the proportional representation of women in engineering, the new Engineering Strategic Plan, the dynamic outreach programs including Indigenous Futures in Engineeringand Black Youth in STEM. Visit Inclusive Queen’sfor more information on equity, diversity and inclusion resources and initiatives.

Queen’s University
Queen’s University has a long history of scholarship, discovery, and innovation that shapes our collective knowledge and helps address some of the world’s most pressing concerns. Home to more than 25,000 students, Queen’s offers a comprehensive research-intensive environment. Diverse perspectives and a wealth of experience enrich our students and faculty while a core part of our mission is to engage in international learning and research. In 2024, for the fourth year in a row, Queen’s University has ranked in top 10 globally Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, securing the position of eighth worldwide and second in North America, the only Canadian university to achieve this milestone since the rankings launched in 2019. The rankings measured over 2,100 institutions on their work to advance the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). From Nobel Prize-winning research exploring the building blocks of the universe to cancer care and treatment to sustainable technologies, our university is tackling humanity’s most pressing challenges.

A member of the U15 group of Canadian research universities, Queen’s is home to a vibrant research community that includes 33 Canada Research Chairs and over 20 research institutes who work in partnership with communities, governments, and industry to advance research and innovation, making a measured impact on Canada and the world.

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. Employees 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.

The City
The University is situated on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe, in historic Kingston on the shores of Lake Ontario. Queen’s is an integral part of the Kingston community, with the campus nestled in the core of the city, only a 10-minute walk to downtown. Kingston’s residents enjoy an outstanding quality of life with a wide range of cultural and creative opportunities, with access to many natural areas and proximity to vibrant First Nations Communities including Tyendinaga and Akwesasne. Kingston is a unique Canadian city of 125,000 with a distinct blend of history, recreation, industry, and learning. Kingston offers unique waterfront living with many recreational opportunities. It is within a two-and-a-half hour drive (two-hour train ride) to the commercial, industrial and political hubs of Toronto, Montreal, and the nation’s capital, Ottawa, and a thirty minute drive from the international bridge linking Ontario and upstate New York. The city is also the origin of the historic Rideau Canal system – a UNESCO International Heritage site, and is close to Frontenac Provincial Park, the Thousand Islands National Park, and the Frontenac Arch UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. The Queen’s University Biological Station, north of the city, encompasses 34 km2 of diverse lands, affording premier learning and research opportunities.

How to Apply
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 people, women, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQ+ persons.

In accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority, including any qualified individuals who have a valid legal work status in Canada. Please indicate in your application if you have a valid legal work status in Canada. Applications from all qualified candidates will be considered in the applicant pool.

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 any relevant information about their experience and/or career interruptions.

The University will provide support in its recruitment processes to applicants with disabilities, including accommodation that takes into account an applicant’s accessibility needs. If you require accommodation during the interview process, please contact Heather Drouillard in the Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining at [email protected] 

Those interested in this position should submit a complete application package, including the following documents:

• a cover letter, indicating whether or not you have a valid legal work status in Canada;
• a current Curriculum Vitae, including a list of publications;
• a statement of teaching interests and experience, including teaching outlines and evaluations (if available);
• a statement of research interests;
• a statement of commitment to – as well as ideas and experience on how to – ensure the facilitation and promotion of Indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion, antiracism, and accessibility for all under-represented groups in the field of engineering; and
• the names and contact information of three referees.

The deadline for applications is August 1, 2025. However, applications will continue to be received until the position has been filled. Applicants are encouraged to send their application package electronically as PDFs to Heather Drouillard, Department Manager, at [email protected] with the subject line “Application for Faculty Position in Mineral Processing and Metallurgy”, although hard copy applications may be submitted to:

Dr. Vladislav Kecojevic Professor and Head
Noranda-Falconbridge Chair in Mine-Mechanical Engineering The Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining
The Stephen J.R. Smith Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
Queen’s University
Goodwin Hall, Room 353
Kingston, ON, Canada K7L 3N6

Academic staff at Queen’s University are governed by a Collective Agreement between the University and the Queen’s University Faculty Association (QUFA), which is posted at Collective Agreements / LoU's / MoA's | Faculty Relations Office (queensu.ca) and at http://www.qufa.ca.