"Canada Impact+ Research Chairs, Emerging Leaders, and Canada Research Chairs"

With funding from Government of Canada’s $1.7 billion Global Impact+ Research Talent Initiative (Impact+), Dalhousie University has launched one of the most significant researcher recruitment efforts in its history. This national initiative is designed to recruit world-leading scholars whose solutions-driven work addresses critical global and national challenges and who are poised to build transformational research programs in Canada. Additionally, Dalhousie is aligning recruitment for up to nine Canada Research Chairs (CRCs).

Positions include:

• Canada Impact+ Research Chairs, receiving $8 million or $4 million per year over eight years
• Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders, receiving $100,000 per year over six years
• Canada Research Chairs (Tier 1), receiving $200,000 per year over seven years
• Canada Research Chairs (Tier 2), receiving $100,000 per year for five years

Deadline to submit your application to Dalhousie for the Impact+ opportunities: January 19, 2026

Strategic Priorities Dalhousie will nominate Impact+ and CRC candidates in areas identified by the Government of Canada as critical to global and national challenges. These priorities closely parallel Dalhousie’s own research priorities and strengths and are reflected in the university’s Strategic Research Clusters. Applications must demonstrate how the proposed program will advance one or more of the following strategic priority areas:

• advanced digital technologies (including Artificial Intelligence, quantum and cybersecurity);
• clean technology and resource value chains;
• defence and dual-use technologies;
• democratic and community resilience;
• environment, climate resilience and the Arctic;
• food and water security;
• health and biotechnology; and
• manufacturing and advanced materials.

About the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs opportunity Canada Impact+ Research Chairs are designed for internationally renowned researchers who are ready to establish a major research program in Canada. Dalhousie can nominate up to 14 Chairs across the Government of Canada’s strategic priority areas. Globally pre-eminent researchers may be identified as Distinguished Chairs and receive up to $1.5 annually, in exceptional cases. Institutions may also request up to $6 million per Chair in research infrastructure funding through the Canada Foundation for Innovation.

Chairholders are expected to build meaningful partnerships across sectors and communities and ensure that research outcomes translate into practice, policy or commercialization pathways with measurable societal and economic benefit.

We welcome applications from researchers with complementary interests who wish to apply collaboratively. Candidates may identify a co-applicant such as an early-career researcher whose expertise aligns with your proposed research program. Each application will be assessed on its own merit regardless of any collaborative arrangements. Please indicate any collaborative intent and the name of your proposed partner in your application.

Qualifications and Eligibility:

• Be internationally based at the time of the first intake deadline (working and residing outside Canada).
• Have a strong recent record of research achievements and a demonstrated interest in contributing to Canada’s research and innovation landscape.
• Hold the rank of full professor or associate professor
• If from outside the academic sector candidate must have equivalent qualifications for appointment at that level.
• Be prepared to lead a large research program, supervise and build a research team, and work closely with the host institution on governance and administrative requirements.

Apply now

About the Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders opportunity The Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders program supports the recruitment of internationally recognized scholars in the early stages of their careers who are poised to accelerate research excellence, translation and partnership building in one of Canada’s strategic priority areas.

While not necessary to qualify for a Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders role, applicants are encouraged to identify senior collaborators or mentors applying for the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs program with whom they hope to work and identify them in the application process. To hire a Canada Impact+ Emerging Leader, Dalhousie must first secure a Canada Research Impact+ Chair in a complementary research area.

Qualifications and Eligibility:

• Be internationally based (working and residing outside Canada) at the time the linked Canada Impact+ Research Chair award is accepted.
• Be an early career researcher, within five years of their first independent research position.
• Work in one of Canada’s strategic priority areas and be positioned to build a high-impact program within that area.
• Demonstrate strong potential for transformational, translational research and the development of meaningful partnerships

Apply now

About the Canada Research Chairs opportunity The Canada Research Chairs program was created to position Canada as a global destination for scholarship and innovation. The program provides long-term, stable support that allows leading researchers to pursue ambitious agendas, build high-performing teams, and deepen Canada’s research capacity in areas of national and global importance.

Applicants are encouraged to identify collaborators applying for the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs program with whom they hope to work and identify them in the application process.

Qualifications and Eligibility:

• Researchers based in Canada and internationally are encouraged to apply.
• Tier 1 Chairs are reserved for researchers who are outstanding leaders in their fields and recognized internationally for their contributions in Canada’s strategic priority areas.
• Tier 2 Chairs support exceptional emerging scholars who demonstrate the potential to become future leaders in Canada’s strategic priority areas, within 10 years of their highest degree.

Apply now