The University of Ottawa (uOttawa) is seeking top-tier scholars for the 2026 Canada Excellence Research Chairs initiative. 

uOttawa is amongst Canada's top research-intensive institutions of higher learning. In 2023, uOttawa ranked seventh in Canada for sponsored research income, securing nearly $495M and placed fourth in research intensity, with $376,000 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. This success is reflected in our 94 Canada Research Chairs, one Canada Excellence Research Chair, and a research income that has nearly doubled over the past decade.

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 advancing research locally, 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 Excellence 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 Excellence Research Chairs Program

The Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC) program is Canada’s most prestigious Research Chair initiative. The program is designed to attract the top tier of world-class researchers and their teams to launch ambitious research programs at Canadian universities, with the goal to advance the Government of Canada’s science, technology and innovation priorities.

The CERC 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 a CERC university position is contingent upon receiving a CERC award. CERC 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.
Candidates not successful in the CERC competition may be considered for a Canada Research Chair (Tier I) or other recruitment opportunities in the thematic areas.

Applicants should review the CERC full program details. More Information about the CERC program is provided below the thematic areas. 

The thematic areas of focus in which uOttawa is strategically seeking candidates for this competition are:

1.    ENABLING BETTER LIVES: TRANSFORMING HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

The recent pandemic as well as pressing global health challenges underscore the urgency of concerted efforts to advance health research that bridges basic biomedical discovery, mechanistic understanding, innovation, technology development, knowledge mobilization and system transformation. As a national and international leader, uOttawa and its six affiliated hospital-based research institutes are deeply committed to strengthening Canada’s health, well-being and healthcare system. Our stellar foundational biomedical research together with clinical and implementation science research excellence drives innovation, informs education, enhances community well-being, and fuels cross-sector collaboration to address current and future health challenges. We rank #3 in Canada for medical and science grants and #3 for faculty awards in 2025 for Medical Doctoral Universities (Maclean’s University Rankings).

Our largest-ever investment, the Advanced Medical Research Center (AMRC), is set to open by 2026. Located at our Faculty of Medicine and adjacent to affiliated hospitals, this 350,000-square-foot facility will house cutting-edge scientific platforms and research spaces, foster collaboration between leading scientists and clinicians, and host the Ottawa Health Innovation Hub, a key initiative in the National Capital Region’s biotechnology ecosystem that drives discovery toward company creation partnerships, and commercialization.

Additional investments in health research include flagship initiatives such as the Brain-Heart Interconnectome (BHI), which aims to improve the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of interconnected brain-heart-mind conditions through integrated cross-sectoral collaboration. In 2023, BHI was awarded $109 million from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF). Ottawa is also home to the Brain and Mind Research Institute, the LIFE Research Institute, Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology and the Centre for Infection, Immunity and Inflammation.

uOttawa is the host of BioCanRx, a pan-Canadian Network of Excellence, that has played a leading role in the discovery and development of innovative viral, vesicle, and cellular therapeutics, biomanufacturing, and clinical translation. This leadership in biological therapeutics and manufacturing, together with the Coronavirus Variants Rapid Response Network (CoVaRR-Net),  has positioned uOttawa to lead a $115 million federal investment in the Canadian Pandemic Preparedness Hub (CP2H), which brings together research expertise from across Canada to translate biotherapeutic discoveries into clinical testing and commercialization. As part of this investment, $78 million was dedicated to establishing the Canadian Biomanufacturing Cooperative, significantly expanding the Biotherapeutics Manufacturing Centre.

uOttawa is a leader in knowledge translation and implementation science, with research centers including the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI) Centre for Implementation Research, Ottawa Methods Centre, the Integrated Knowledge Translation Research Network, the uOttawa Centre for Health Law, Policy and Ethics, and the Data Science Centre at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.

We are seeking applications from world-class researchers to advance research into Enabling Better Lives: Transforming Health and Well-Being, including:

• Cardiovascular, Brain and Mental Health, including expertise to study the connections between the brain, heart, and mind at uOttawa:  This includes basic biomedical research to understand mechanistically, early intervention strategies, multi-omics and precision medicine approaches, and community-based models of care.
• Infectious disease, immune-pathologies and chronic inflammatory conditions: This includes mechanisms of infection, immune system dysregulation, pathways driving chronic inflammation, emerging pathogens, vaccine and antimicrobial therapeutics.
• Cancer, pediatric cancer, and rare diseases: Driving advancements in basic mechanisms of disease, diagnosis, treatment, and patient outcomes.
• Healthy Aging: Enhancing the well-being and mental health of aging populations through interdisciplinary and innovative research.
• Health System Transformation and Implementation Science: Offering evidence-based insights for healthcare transformation and promoting scalable research approaches, with a focus on social determinants of health and Indigenous representation.
• Global Health Technology Policy: Innovating at the intersection of public health, technology and policy.

2. CONNECTED PEOPLE: NEXT GENERATION COMMUNICATION

Next Generation Communication Technologies are driving digital transformation, enabling faster data transmission, reduced data loss and enhanced scalability. These innovations are essential for global connectivity and advancing 6G networking and beyond. At uOttawa, this field is supported by a dynamic research community that leverages expertise in quantum technologies, photonics, advanced microelectronics and hybrid semiconductor systems, including multiple CRC-funded programs and a Canada Excellence Research Chair in Attosecond X-ray Photonics.

uOttawa's expertise in quantum research is exemplified by the establishment of the Nexus for Quantum Technologies (NEXQT) Institute, which builds on over two decades of leadership in materials science and photonics. The institute advances quantum sensing and imaging, materials and communication, nanofabrication and devices, and explores ethical and legal considerations in quantum technologies.

In microelectronics, uOttawa is driving global advancements, notably through the Center for Hybrid Interfaces and Intelligent Thin-Films. Research in this field supports smart sensors, electronic textiles, AI-driven industrial automation and quantum-enabling hardware, addressing critical challenges in healthcare, sustainability, food security, smart technology manufacturing and beyond.

The Kanata North Campus fosters collaboration between uOttawa and industry leaders in Canada’s largest technology park, supporting research, innovation and commercialization. The Smart Connected Vehicles Innovation Centre exemplifies our commitment to technological progress. With over 60 partnerships in cybersecurity, AI, 5G and autonomous systems, the campus is a hub for industry-academic collaboration.

We are actively seeking applications from world-class researchers to advance research in Connected People: Next Generation Communication, including:

• Mathematics of Quantum Technologies: Enabling secure communications and computational advancements.
• Silicon and Hybrid Electronics – Heterogenous Integration and Thin-Film Technologies: Transforming microelectronics and organic semiconductor technologies.
• Next Generation Communication Systems: Pioneering advanced optical and satellite communication technologies.

3.    FROM CODE TO COMMUNITY: ADVANCING AI FOR HUMANITY

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping science, medicine, industry, and society at large. Foundational AI research not only advances technological innovation but also ensures responsible applications and real-world impact.

uOttawa boasts a dynamic and interdisciplinary AI research ecosystem, spanning multiple faculties and disciplines. Through programs like INTER-MATH-AI (IMA), a collaboration with MILA and the Vector Institute, we focus on mathematical AI research while also exploring its ethical and societal implications.

Our distinguished Canada Research Chairs drive AI advancements in reliability, safety, security and regulatory compliance. Our experts in AI law focus on mitigating societal risks, advising policymakers and shaping regulations that prioritize public welfare. These efforts ensure AI innovations align with societal needs and ethical standards. For example, the AI + Society Initiative explores the ethical, legal and societal implications of AI technologies. This transdisciplinary initiative ensures that AI developments benefit all parts of society. Additionally, the AI for Healthy Humans and Environments project, supported by the Alex Trebek Forum for Dialogue, aims to shape policies in health, food and the environment by examining AI’s role in these areas.

In health sciences, interdisciplinary teams involved in the CFREF-funded Brain-Heart Interconnectome program utilize machine learning to investigate complex  biological systems. This initiative aims to uncover the connections between the brain and the heart, including mechanistic understanding, advancing medical diagnostics and treatment strategies.

Through these initiatives, uOttawa is advancing AI research with a strong commitment to ethical considerations and societal impact. uOttawa is actively seeking world-class researchers to further explore From Code to Community: Advancing AI for humanity, including:

• Mathematical Foundations of AI: Advancing AI research and applications, including the study of model collapse.
• AI in Society: Investigating and addressing AI’s role in education, environmental management, law, democracy, governance, disinformation and public policy.
• AI/Digital Law: Examining the ethical and legal implications of AI and other digital innovations.
• Health AI: Innovating precision medicine and digital health solutions.

4. SUSTAINABILITY IN ACTION: CLIMATE AND SOCIETAL SOLUTIONS

Building resilience and developing sustainable approaches in response to current environmental, geopolitical and other challenges are crucial for a prosperous and strong Canada and the world. At uOttawa, together with our “Gold" rating from the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS), which recognizes our integration of sustainability across campus life, we are leading interdisciplinary research to address urgent needs in sustainable development and challenges such as climate change, which have a direct impact on both Canadian and global citizens. uOttawa prioritizes sustainable solutions through effective legal frameworks and evidence-based policy making.

Building on our founding leadership on the ArcticNet Network of Centres of Excellence and Arctic Pulse, our Arctic Research Hub advances oceanography, biology and ecology research. Our effort in this area expands Arctic research beyond the natural sciences. At uOttawa, we lead in interdisciplinary inquiries into climate change, socio-economic development and governance while supporting Indigenous rights in research and data sovereignty.

uOttawa hosts Canada Research Chairs and many cutting-edge programs in environmental health and toxicology, genomics and the environment, including how toxic chemicals affect healthy functioning of humans, wild-life and ecosystems and funding effective tools and programs for the management and promotion of environmental health.

In addition to developing sustainable approaches, uOttawa’s research focuses on creating legal frameworks to support sustainable initiatives and applying evidence-based policies for the benefit of society. Researchers at uOttawa have received several prestigious awards, including the Governor General’s Innovation Award, in support of pioneering research in fields like Science and Society, Digital Humanities, Information Law and the Human and Policy Dimensions of Climate Change.

uOttawa is seeking applications from world-class researchers in this thematic area of Sustainability in Action: Climate and Societal Solutions, including:

• Arctic and Northern Studies: Advancing solutions-oriented research that benefits Arctic communities and strengthens Canada’s leadership in Arctic research.
• Environmental Health and Toxicology: Studying the impact of environmental toxins on human, animal and ecosystem health, including toxicology, environmental genomics, and the development of tools to inform policy and promote sustainable health outcomes.
• Disaster Communication: Conducting critical studies on disaster communication and strategies for countering disinformation.
• Law, Democracy and Climate Action: Strengthening governance and legal frameworks to address climate-related societal challenges in northern communities, environmental protection and climate change resilience.

CERC Program Eligibility

• Candidates must be full professors, or associate professors expected to be promoted to full professor within one or two years of the nomination. Alternatively, if they come from outside the academic sector, nominees must possess the qualifications necessary to be appointed at these levels.
• There are no restrictions regarding nationality or country of residence at the time of application. Members of the Chair’s team may also be eligible for an expedited work permit.
• Researchers who hold a full-time academic appointment at another Canadian institution are eligible; however, should they be nominated, uOttawa will be required to demonstrate the net benefit to Canada in moving the researcher from one Canadian institution to another. Expatriate Canadians wishing to relocate to Canada are welcome to apply.
• All CERC awards are subject to review and approval by the CERC program. Registration is January 21, 2026, and complete CERC nomination dossiers will be submitted by March 18, 2026. Results are expected to be announced by January 2027. 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 CERC award.  
• CERC awardees are eligible for infrastructure support from the Canada Foundation for Innovation to help acquire state-of-the-art equipment essential to their work. 

Please visit the CERC program website for complete details on the initiative, the program’s selection criteria and its single-phase peer review process.
Note: Internal candidates from uOttawa are not eligible for this recruitment.

Duties: CERCs 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. Salary scale at the rank of full professor starts at $131,803, and at the rank of associate professor starts at $109,776 (as of May 1, 2025).

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 stating the thematic area of focus for which the application is prepared;
• 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;
• A description of the proposed research program and how it advances the Government of Canada’s science, technology and innovation priorities and uOttawa’s Strategic Areas of Research (3-5 pages);
• A statement on leadership skills and academic merit (1-2 pages);
• A statement on equity, diversity, and inclusion philosophy and concrete practices (1 page). Specifically, a plan for establishing and maintaining a diverse core team (including students, trainees, early career researcher, staff/other research personnel), and an environment that is safe and inclusive and allows all team members to reach their full research potential;
• The names of three people whom may be contacted by the University for letters of reference. All referees are to be arm’s length, established authorities in the field; one must be international – not residing in the same country in which the candidate is currently working. Reference letters should indicate how the candidate meets the CERC program’s selection criteria 1, 3 and 4; 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 CERC 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 unceded ancestral land of the Anishinaabe-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: July 6, 2025

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, Interim Vice-President, Research and Innovation
University of Ottawa
550 Cumberland St., room 246
Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5 CANADA

For questions, please email: rccacrcp@uottawa.ca

The University of Ottawa is committed to ensuring equity, diversity and inclusion in the scholarly and leadership environments of our students, staff and faculty. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples in Canada, visible minority members (racialized persons), persons with disabilities, women and all qualified applicants with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with equitable, diverse and inclusive communities. Applicants who wish to be considered as a member of one or more designated groups should complete the confidential Self-Identi?cation Questionnaire when they apply.

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 the Office of the Vice-Provost, Faculty Relations, 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 more than 175-year tradition of bilingualism. Through its Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute, the University provides second-language training to staff members and their spouses.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Ph.D. or equivalent in a relevant discipline related to one of the thematic areas of focus listed above. (e.g., MD or MD-PhD). Note: this is a uOttawa requirement, not a requirement of the CERC program;
• Outstanding independent research achievements in one of the thematic areas of focus;
• A research profile garnering high-level recognition, including  collaborations at the international, national and/or regional/community level (dependent on the field of research);
• Demonstrated accomplishments that have made major societal impact (as relevant to career stage);
• 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;  
• Extensive experience in delivering presentations at national and international leading conferences;
• Nationally and internationally recognized accolades or awards;
• 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. Passive knowledge of the other official language of Canada is a requirement for tenure. English-French bilingualism is an asset.