"Canada Excellence Research Chair in Quantum Information"

Located in the heart of Waterloo Region, the University of Waterloo is at the forefront of innovation and home to world-class research and inspired teaching. The Institute for Quantum Computing, in collaboration with the Faculties of Mathematics and Science, is seeking exceptional scholars and researchers to take up a position as a Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in the strategic priority area of Quantum Information. The CERC program was established to offer Chairs valued at $500,000 or $1,000,000 per year, for a total of $4,000,000 or $8,000,000 over eight years. The University of Waterloo is proceeding with nominations at the $500,000 level, with funds allocated towards the Chair’s salary and research expenses.

Candidates will have a PhD or equivalent with a relevant professional designation or licensure, a requirement of the University of Waterloo. A global research leader with evidence of an exceptional research program that has made a major societal impact, the candidate will propose an innovative program of high-quality research that includes collaboration with researchers in closely related fields and supervision of graduate students. They will also teach at the undergraduate and graduate levels (a reduced teaching assignment will be in place during the term of the Chair) and provide service to the unit. Applicants whose research aligns with the University’s Strategic Plan and Research Strategic Plan and the Government of Canada priorities are preferred. The search is open to all areas of quantum information related to the goals and ongoing research at IQC. We are especially interested in candidates working in:

• Quantum Error Correction,
• Quantum Networking,
• Interface Theory/Experiment,
• Applied Quantum Algorithms, and
• Quantum Materials/Devices.

The role includes appointment to a full-time tenured or tenure-track position at the rank of Associate or Full Professor within the Faculty of Science or Mathematics, along with membership in IQC. Specifically, this position can be held in any of the following departments and schools connected to IQC: Applied Mathematics, Pure Mathematics, Combinatorics and Optimization, Computer Science, Chemistry, and Physics & Astronomy. IQC membership is renewable and comes with research space and a stipend. Information about research at IQC can be found at https://uwaterloo.ca/institute-for-quantum-computing/research. All CERC appointments are subject to review and contingent upon approval by the CERC Secretariat (results expected January 2027). The salary range for the position will depend upon the rank (i.e., Associate Professor, Professor).

EligibilityCandidates should be at the rank of Full Professor or be an Associate Professor who is expected to be promoted to the rank of Full Professor within one to two years of the nomination. Alternatively, if from outside the academic sector, nominees must possess the necessary qualifications to be appointed at these levels. The CERC program imposes no restrictions on nominees regarding nationality or country of residence. Researchers who hold a full-time academic appointment at another Canadian institution are eligible, but should they be nominated, the University will be required to demonstrate the net benefit to Canada in moving the researcher from one Canadian institution to another.

At Waterloo, it’s recognized that career interruptions can have an impact on research achievements. Applicants are encouraged to explain further how this may affect them in their application; this information will be taken into careful consideration during the assessment process. Contact the Office of Research for full CERC information, including further details on eligibility criteria.

How to applyApplications received by September 30, 2025, will be given full consideration. However, applications will continue to be reviewed until the position is filled. Apply in confidence with a curriculum vitae, cover letter, research statement, teaching dossier, and up to five sample research outputs. Three letters of reference will be requested for applicants invited for an interview. If applicable, applicants are also invited to submit an optional letter or oral statement of support from the individual’s community that describes the individual’s involvement/role within the community, or a statement of lived experience.

All applicants to this CERC opportunity are required to self-identify using the self-identification applicant survey at https://uwaterloo.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_08RcdJzz6YAh4TX. The CERC program requires institutions to collect self-identification data from all applicants to assess the diversity of its candidate pool. Information disclosed by applicants will be kept strictly confidential.

The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Karen Parkinson (Occupational Health, occupationalhealth@uwaterloo.ca), who will work with the selection committee to secure accommodation while ensuring that the information is safe-guarded and confidentiality is maintained. If you have any questions regarding the position, the application process, assessment process, or eligibility, please contact: IQC Executive Director at iqc-dtr@uwaterloo.ca.