Building capacity for global impact: College of Dentistry’s strategic faculty recruitment initiative

As the College of Dentistry’s $24-million clinic renovation reaches completion next month, 2026 is shaping up to be another year of forward-thinking growth and strategic investment. With new, state-of-the-art clinical and pre-clinical infrastructure coming online, the college is placing renewed focus on its most important asset: people. 

The College of Dentistry has announced plans to recruit up to 15 faculty members in 2026, a significant investment that reflects its long-term strategic plan. The expansion aligns with the college’s academic growth, enhanced clinical capacity and strengthened research enterprise, ensuring infrastructure, expertise and opportunity advance together. 

“This is about building capacity for the future,” said Dr. Walter Siqueira, Dean of the College of Dentistry. “By investing in faculty across disciplines, clinical care and research, we are strengthening our research ecosystem, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and positioning the College of Dentistry to lead in innovation, training and discovery.” 

The new hires will support a modernized learning environment shaped by digital dentistry, advanced clinical technologies and evolving models of oral health-care delivery. An expanded faculty complement will also enhance student learning, support increased clinical care and strengthen mentorship across programs. 

This strategic investment builds on the College of Dentistry’s continued success and growing reputation nationally and internationally. In the most recent Shanghai Global Rankings, the college is ranked 4th in Canada and 115th globally. Separately, the college has established recognized strengths in salivary research, biofilms, biomaterials, infection prevention and control, and interprofessional education. New faculty expertise will reinforce these areas while opening doors to emerging fields such as artificial intelligence in dentistry and precision oral-systemic health. 

The college’s growth also strengthens the University of Saskatchewan’s broader research ecosystem. USask is home to major research facilities and institutes, including the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, the Canadian Light Source and the Global Institute for Water Security. Expanding faculty and research capacity within the College of Dentistry enhances opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and global impact. 

The positions span tenure-track faculty, lecturers and instructors, reflecting a comprehensive approach to academic excellence, clinical leadership and educational innovation. Together, these roles will help ensure the college remains agile, future-ready and responsive to the needs of students, patients and communities. 

Positions being recruited in 2026 

1. Tenure-track assistant professor or Tenured associate professor – periodontology 
2. Tenure-track assistant professor – digital dentistry/prosthodontics 
3. Tenure-track assistant professor – artificial intelligence in dentistry
4. Tenure-track assistant professor – endodontics
5. Tenure-track assistant professor – oral biology or oral pathology 
6. Tenure-track assistant professor – pediatric dentistry/oral microbiology
7. Tenure-track assistant professor – oral radiology
8. Tenure-track assistant professor – comprehensive care
9. Tenure-track assistant professor – Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in precision oral and systemic microbiome-host interactions 
10. Lecturer – basic sciences 
11. Lecturer – operative dentistry 
12. Lecturer – group practice leader 
13. Lecturer – group practice leader 
14. Instructor – dental hygiene 
15. Instructor – dental hygiene 

Qualified candidates can learn more about these opportunities by visiting USask Jobs