The University of Toronto Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education has announced the appointment of Joseph Baker to a tenure stream position at the rank of full professor, effective September 1, 2023. Baker was chosen for the position as a result of the tenure stream position search in the area of sport science and data modelling. Along with his appointment as full professor, Baker will be the inaugural holder of the endowed Tanenbaum chair in sport science, data modelling and sport analytics at U of T’s Tanenbaum Institute for Science in Sport (TISS).
Baker completed his PhD in motor learning and skill acquisition at Queen’s University in 2003. He completed a post-doctoral year between 2003-04 in physical activity epidemiology at Queen’s University, followed by an appointment as an assistant professor in the School of Kinesiology & Health Science at York University. He was promoted to full professor in 2016.
“Professor Baker is an international leader and world-class scholar in the areas of talent development and forecasting, and athlete development and tracking from a multi-disciplinary perspective,” said Gretchen Kerr, a professor and dean at KPE. “He brings to the Faculty a sustained record of research excellence, demonstrated record of successfully training and mentoring students, an ability to lead large research teams and develop strategic networks of collaborators in Canada and internationally, as well as a vision for future research in sport science and data analytics.
“Professor Baker’s sustained record of excellence in research, knowledge translation, partnership development, and teaching and mentoring, will be instrumental in contributing to the vision and mission of the Faculty and the Tanenbaum Institute for Science in Sport.”
Ira Jacobs, a professor at KPE and interim director of TISS, said the University, Faculty and TISS were all very fortunate to have attracted Baker to join their ranks.
“I have been aware of the esteem with which Professor Baker’s research has been held among Canadian and international sport scientists and high-performance sport communities for many years,” said Jacobs. “His appointment is very much aligned with the TISS vision of leadership in sport science and sport medicine research and knowledge translation.
“I have every confidence that he will very quickly be viewed as a key member of the cadre of world-class sport science and sport medicine researchers associated with the TISS.”
Baker said he was excited to be joining the Faculty, which is home to so many colleagues whose work he has admired for decades.
“The University of Toronto is well positioned to become even more of an international powerhouse in sport science, and I look forward to contributing as the Tanenbaum chair of data modelling and sport science,” he said.
“September can’t come soon enough.”