Canada Impact+ Research Chairs, University

Description

The University of Calgary (UCalgary), located in the heart of Southern Alberta, both acknowledges and pays tribute to the traditional territories of the peoples of Treaty 7, which include the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprised of the Siksika, the Piikani, and the Kainai First Nations), the Tsuut'ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (including Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations). The City of Calgary is also home to Métis Nation within Alberta (Nose Hill Métis District 5 and Elbow Métis District
6).

The Government of Canada has launched the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs (Impact+) Competition to recruit world‑leading researchers whose work addresses critical national and global challenges. The Impact+ Chair program is a one‑time initiative designed to support institutions in attracting such researchers.

The University of Calgary invites applications from world‑leading researchers for the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs (Impact+) program in the following priority areas:

• Advanced digital technologies (including artificial intelligence, quantum and cybersecurity)
• Health, including biotechnology
• Clean technology and resource value chains
• Environment, climate resilience and the Arctic
• Food and water security
• Democratic and community resilience
• Manufacturing and advanced materials
• Defence and dual‑use technologies

The program emphasizes both research excellence and tangible impact. Impact+ Chairs will receive long‑term funding and institutional support to advance ambitious and transformative projects in Canada's strategic priority areas, build and maintain exceptional research teams, and establish significant partnerships across sectors and borders. Chairs and their research teams are expected to actively translate and mobilize research outcomes into practice, policy, and commercialization pathways that deliver measurable social and economic benefits for Canada and the world.

The Canada Impact+ Research Chairs recruitment process uses a two‑staged process where interested applicants must first apply to the open job posting at the University. The successful applicant from that first stage will then enter a second stage, for which they co‑develop an application with the University to the federal government funding program. The University of Calgary will provide substantial institutional support in the preparation and development of the program application.

Appointment to one of these positions is contingent upon the applicant being awarded an Impact+ Chair and is subject to the availability of funding and to final approval by the University Board of Governors and the Tri‑agency Institutional Programs Secretariat (TIPS). Interested applicants are invited to review the full program details.

• Impact+ Chair awardees are appointed for a term of eight years, with awards valued at either $1 million or $500 000 annually. In addition, there is potential for a four‑year extension at 50 % of the initial award value per year.
• Successful nominees will have up to 12 months to take up the award after the notice of award and acceptance has been signed by all parties.
• Candidates who are unsuccessful in an Impact+ Chair application at the national competition may be considered as a nominee for a Canada Research Chair (Tier I) in the areas identified above.

This program provides an opportunity for international researchers, including Canadian expatriates wishing to relocate to Canada, to lead a prestigious research program at the University of Calgary and to contribute to Canada's excellence in research and innovation. Applicants must be full professors or associate professors expected to be promoted to full professor within one to two years of the nomination. As per University of Calgary requirements, successful applicants will have a doctoral degree (or equivalent) in the relevant discipline and will have a globally competitive track record of research contributions in their field.

The successful candidate will be appointed a tenured appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or Full Professor in the relevant academic department or faculty. The rank will be commensurate with the…