Canada Impact+ Research Chair - Senior Scientist

Canada Impact+ Research Chair – Full‑time Senior Scientist (BRI)

The Canada Impact+ Research Chairs program is a one‑time initiative designed to support institutions in attracting world‑leading researchers to address critical national and global challenges. The program emphasizes both research excellence and tangible impact. Impact+ Chairs will receive long‑term funding and institutional supports that advance ambitious and transformative projects in Canada’s strategic priority areas, build and maintain exceptional research teams, and collaborate with partners across sectors and borders.

Impact+ chairholders will drive the translation of discoveries into applications, commercialization and social and economic benefits for Canada and the world and develop the next generation of highly qualified personnel.

The Bloorview Research Institute (BRI), located within the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, and recognized in Canada and around the world for its unique client population and leadership in the field of childhood disability. Dedicated to improving the lives of children with disabilities through client and family centred rehabilitation research, BRI is home to leading scientists whose expertise includes clinical trials, advanced computational methods, neuroimaging, brain stimulation, body‑machine interfacing, gamification of therapy, assistive technology design, development and evaluation, outcome measure development and validation, health systems research, implementation science, and qualitative research.

The BRI at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital invites applications for a Canada Impact+ Research Chair: a full‑time Senior Scientist position to advance transformational research programs that support the growth of the Canadian economy in the following priority areas:

• Advanced digital technologies (AI, quantum, cybersecurity)
• Health, including biotechnology.
• Defence and dual‑use technologies

Applicants are restricted to individuals who are internationally based. Only those applicants who are both working and residing outside of Canada at the time of the nomination deadline are eligible to apply: there are two Impact+ Research chair nomination deadlines:
March 24, 2026 (intake one) & June 29, 2026 (intake two). Expatriate Canadians wishing to relocate to Canada are welcome to apply.

The nominee’s research area must demonstrably align with the priority category listed above and the BRI Strategic Priorities.
The maximum award value is $4 million over eight years ($500k per year) – with a possibility for a four‑year funded extension, at 50% of the original award value. Successful nominees are expected to start their position within 12 months of accepting the award and will be required to take up their appointment on a full‑time basis.

Appointments will be at the rank of Senior Scientist at BRI (and Associate Professor or Full Professor at the University of Toronto) with an anticipated start date between September 2026 and July 2027. While the primary appointment will be held at BRI, candidates must be eligible for a cross‑appointment in a cognate academic department/institute at the University of Toronto, with associate professor appointments requiring qualification for promotion to full professor within two years of starting their appointment.

The successful candidate will have an established, excellent, innovative and internationally recognized research trajectory and an outstanding, independent, externally funded research program. The candidate’s record of excellence in research should be demonstrated by a record of significant, sustained contributions and publications in top‑ranked and field‑relevant academic journals and internationally ranked presses, participation in professional associations through conference presentations and service work, obtaining competitive funding sources, and strong endorsements by referees of high standing.

In keeping with the program’s objectives of research excellence and impact, the successful candidate will have a strong record of research impact, including research translation,…