Posting Reason:
New PositionJob Family:
Academic Leadership and FacultyUnion affiliation:
APUOFaculty/Department:
Research Management ServicesCampus:
Main CampusDate Posted (YYYY/MM/DD):
2025/12/17Applications must be received BEFORE (YYYY/MM/DD):
The University of Ottawa (uOttawa) is seeking top-tier scholars for the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs initiative.
uOttawa is amongst Canada's top research-intensive institutions of higher learning. In 2024, uOttawa ranked seventh in Canada for sponsored research income, securing nearly $513M and placed fifth in research intensity, with $386,900 per faculty member (Research Infosource). Renowned for pioneering discoveries across multiple disciplines, several of our research centers and institutes rank among the top 100 globally, including the top six in Canada.
Located in Canada’s vibrant capital, uOttawa, proud to be the world’s largest bilingual (English and French) university, is minutes away from federal and other government institutions, several national agencies, embassies, international organizations, and connected to the thriving high-tech sector. We are committed to building partnerships across Canada and internationally, and fostering innovation and knowledge mobilization in areas of significant social and economic impact.
Cutting-edge research is a core aspiration of Transformation 2030, uOttawa's strategic plan. To fulfill these commitments, uOttawa is seeking the top-tier of world class scholars for the 2026 Canada Impact+ Research Chairs competition. These positions will fit with uOttawa’s four Strategic Areas of Research: 1) Enabling lifelong health and wellness; 2) Shaping the digital world; 3) Advancing just societies; and 4) Creating a sustainable environment.
About the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs Program
The Canada Impact+ Research Chairs (Impact+) program is a very prestigious, one-time initiative designed to support universities in attracting world-leading researchers whose work addresses critical national and global challenges. The program is aimed at advancing ambitious and transformative projects in areas of strategic importance to Canada, build and maintain exceptional research teams, and collaborate with partners across sectors and borders. The expectation for Impact+ chairholders is to drive the translation of discoveries into applications, commercialization and social and economic benefits for Canada and the world, while training the next generation of highly qualified personnel. The program emphasizes both research excellence and tangible impact.
Impact+ Chairs are awarded to address global and domestic challenges, strengthen Canada’s contribution to international research and innovation, and generate lasting social and economic benefits. Impact+ Chairs are expected to build significant new partnerships and collaborations with both Canadian and international entities, as well as by and with Indigenous peoples and communities, where appropriate. A core expectation is that the Chairs will actively translate and mobilize research outcomes into practice, policy and commercialization pathways that deliver measurable social and economic benefits for Canada and the world.
uOttawa is seeking world-leading researchers in the following strategic priority areas established by the Government of Canada:
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; and/or
defence and dual-use technologies.
The Impact+ recruitment process consists of two stages. Initially, candidates apply to an open job posting at uOttawa. The successful candidate will then work with the uOttawa to co-develop an application for the federal funding program. Appointment to an Impact+ university position is contingent upon receiving an Impact+ Chair award. Impact+ Chair awardees must begin their appointment within 12 months of accepting the award. The term is for eight years, with funding of either $8 million or $4 million over the duration, with the possibility of a four-year extension at 50% of the initial award value per year.
Candidates not successful in the Impact+ competition may be considered for a Canada Research Chair (Tier I) or other recruitment opportunities.
Program Eligibility
Candidates must be full professors, or associate professors expected to be promoted to full professor within two years of the appointment at the university. Alternatively, if they come from outside the academic sector, nominees must possess the qualifications necessary to be appointed at these levels.
Candidates must be internationally based (both working and residing outside of Canada) at the time of the application deadline.
All Impact+ awards are subject to review and approval by the Impact+ program. There will be two rounds of submissions:
Intake 1
Registration: March 10, 2026.
Application deadline: March 24, 2026.
Results: June 2026.
Intake 2
Registration is June 15, 2026.
Application deadline: June 29, 2026.
Results: September 2026.
The successful candidate will have up to 12 months to take up the Chair award after the release of the results. The nominee must hold a full-time academic appointment at uOttawa as of the start date of the Impact+ award.
Awardees are eligible for the Canada Impact+ Research Infrastructure Fund (CIRIF) (up to $6M) to help acquire state-of-the-art equipment essential to their work.
Please visit the Impact+ website for complete details on the initiative and the program’s selection criteria.
Required Qualifications
Education: Ph.D. or equivalent in a relevant discipline (e.g., MD or MD-PhD). Note: this is a uOttawa requirement, not a requirement of the Impact+ program;
A recent track record of outstanding independent research achievements;
A research profile garnering high-level recognition, including collaborations at the international, national and/or regional/community level (dependent on the field of research);
Track record of moving research discoveries into social, economic and policy impacts, working in close collaboration with partners across various sectors;
Strong record of attracting and mentoring a diverse core research team, and establishing an equitable and inclusive research environment;
Strong record of external research funding;
Demonstrated record of service to the research community (e.g., service on peer review committees, faculty recruitment committees, advisory committees);
Excellent communication skills in either English or French. English-French bilingualism is an asset. Development of passive understanding of the second official language is expected.
Note: Candidates who are at uOttawa or are based in Canada are not eligible for this recruitment.
Duties: Impact+ Chairs are primarily research positions and may include duties such as teaching, graduate student supervision and other academic services.
Rank and salary: New tenure-track academic appointment in the relevant Faculty. Salaries are competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Benefits package: uOttawa provides a complete benefits package, which includes long-term disability insurance, basic group life insurance, health insurance, University of Ottawa pension plan and optional life insurance, as well as reimbursement of eligible relocation expenses.
Location of work: uOttawa campuses including affiliated research institutes, Ottawa, ON.
Application Package
A cover letter (1-2 pages) highlighting the candidate’s research theme and how it fits with the Impact+ program and the Government of Canada’s strategic priority areas, and how the research results will be mobilized/translated/commercialized into tangible economic and social benefits for Canada and the world;
An up-to-date curriculum vitae. Please include any personal circumstances such as illness, disability, family and community responsibilities (e.g., maternity leave, parental leave, leaves due to illness, leaves due to caring for family members, slowdowns due to chronic illness or disability, or COVID 19 impacts). We recognize that these life circumstances are an expected part of life and are likely to have an impact on a candidate’s record of research achievement; these impacts will be taken into careful consideration during the assessment process;
The names of three people whom may be contacted for letters of reference which will be requested at a later stage in the recruitment process; and
Self-identification: Complete the confidential Employment Equity questionnaire online during the application process. Further information about the collection of self-identification information can be found in the guidelines on “Creating an Equitable, Diverse and Inclusive Research Environment: A Best Practices Guide for Recruitment, Hiring and Retention”.
Commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Located on the ancestral land of the Algonquin people, uOttawa is committed to ensuring equity, diversity and inclusion in the scholarly and leadership environments of our students, staff and faculty. Accordingly, we strongly encourage applications from individuals from all underrepresented, equity-seeking, rights-seeking populations, including Indigenous peoples, racialized individuals, persons with disabilities, women and individuals from LGBTQ2+ communities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively implement equity measures that ensure and retain diverse teams and promote inclusive practices for research team members.
Deadline: January 17, 2026.
More information regarding Academic Careers can be found online. Apply online through the University of Ottawa Careers portal.
The selection process will begin immediately after the closing date and will continue until the position is filled. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
Please address your cover letter to the following person:
Dr. Julie-St-Pierre, Vice-President, Research and Innovation
University of Ottawa
550 Cumberland St., room 246
Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5 CANADA
For questions, please email: chaires_chairs@uottawa.ca
Ad posted on December 17, 2025.
The University of Ottawa is committed to ensuring equity, diversity, and inclusion in the scholarly and leadership environments of our students, staff, and faculty. Accordingly, we strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples in Canada, visible minorities members (racialized persons), persons with disabilities, women, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with equitable, diverse, and inclusive communities. Candidates who wish to be considered as a member of one or more designated groups are asked to complete the confidential Self-Identification Questionnaire, to be completed at the time of application.
When submitting your application, please indicate if you are legally entitled to work in Canada.
The University of Ottawa provides accommodations for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you are invited to proceed in the selection process, please notify us of any accommodations that you require by emailing S. Bergès Lalonde, Office of the Vice-Provost, Faculty Relations by email at vra.affairesprofessorales@uottawa.ca. Any information you send us will be handled respectfully and in complete confidence.
The University of Ottawa is proud of its 160-year tradition of bilingualism. Through its Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute, the University provides training to staff members and to their spouses in their second official language.
Prior to May 1, 2022, the University required all students, faculty, staff, and visitors (including contractors) to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as defined in Policy 129 – Covid-19 Vaccination. This policy was suspended effective May 1, 2022 but may be reinstated at any point in the future depending on public health guidelines and the recommendations of experts.