Canada Impact Plus Research Chair

Vancouver Island University is seeking outstanding, internationally-based researchers for nomination to the Canada Impact+ Research Chair Program. This one-time national initiative is designed to attract world-leading scholars whose work addresses critical national and global challenges. Impact+ Chairs receive long-term funding and are expected to advance ambitious and transformative programs of research, build and maintain exceptional research teams and collaborate with partners across sectors and borders.

Nominees must have an active track record of exceptional research accomplishments and funding and be excited to make new contributions in Canada. A core expectation of the role is the translation and mobilization of research outcomes into practice, policy and commercialization pathways that deliver measurable social and economic benefits for Canada and the world.

The Canada Impact+ Research Chair appointment includes a 75% research and 25% teaching workload (equivalent to 2 courses annually). The teaching responsibilities will align with the disciplinary and teaching background of the candidate. The successful candidate will join the Faculty of Science and Technology. VIU intends to nominate one Canada Impact+ Research Chair for a $1,000,000 per annum award in the fields of environmental or marine science.

Chair holders are eligible to apply for up to $6M in infrastructure funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation.

While Canada Impact+ Research Chairs are primarily research-focused appointments, the role includes teaching and academic service responsibilities. At VIU, academic roles encompass course delivery, research supervision, scholarly activity and institutional service. Chair holders are expected to build meaningful partnerships across sectors and Indigenous communities, and to ensure that research outcomes translate into practice, policy or commercialization pathways with measurable societal and economic benefit.

Successful nominees will hold a PhD (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline, as required by VIU. Only applicants who are internationally based—working and residing outside of Canada—at the time of the Impact+ Final date to receive applications (June 29, 2026) are eligible. Expatriate Canadians wishing to relocate to Canada are welcome to apply.

• Hold a current appointment as a full or Associate Professor, or be eligible to be appointed at such levels
• Demonstrate a recent record of outstanding research accomplishments along with a strong commitment to contributing to Canada’s research ecosystem
• Show evidence of effective knowledge translation, making environmental and marine science research accessible and actionable for diverse audiences—including students, community partners, and stakeholders—and enhancing understanding of ecological, socio‑environmental, and behavioural dimensions of marine and coastal systems
• Demonstrate leadership in collaborative and interdisciplinary research, including building research networks, engaging in community‑based or participatory approaches, and contributing to initiatives in environmental science, marine ecology, conservation, climate resilience, or sustainability
• Provide evidence of sustained research excellence, including peer‑reviewed publications, external funding success, and demonstrated disciplinary impact
• Show success in initiation and leadership of interdisciplinary and collaborative research projects
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to mentoring research trainees at all levels including engaging and supporting undergraduate researchers in hands‑on inquiry and field‑based learning.

Applicants must explain how the Chair will advance one or more of the following strategic priority areas of the program:

Vancouver Island University is the ideal location to study the impacts of climate change on shellfish health, seafood safety and marine environments. VIU has invested heavily in this area of research, having established two purpose-built facilities for applied research in aquaculture, marine restoration and…