"CIHR Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Cognitive Resilience for Dementia Prevention and Mental Wellness in Aging"

The Department of Psychiatry, in partnership with the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health (DMCBH), at the University of British Columbia (UBC), invites applications for a CIHR Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Cognitive Resilience for Dementia Prevention and Mental Wellness in Aging.

Tier 2 Chairs are five-year positions, renewable once, intended for exceptional emerging researchers who have the potential to lead in their field. Applicants must be eligible to hold a full-time, tenure-stream appointment at the rank of either Assistant Professor (tenure track) or Associate Professor (tenure) at UBC. Normally, applicants for Tier 2 Chairs should be no more than 10 years from having earned their highest degree at the time of Chair nomination. Applicants who are more than 10 years from having earned their highest degree (and where career breaks exist, such as maternity, parental or extended sick leave, clinical training, etc.) may have their eligibility for a Tier 2 Chair assessed through the program’s Tier 2 justification process. Effective March 1, 2020, research interruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic are recognized and may be counted as an eligible delay.

The successful candidate will also hold the Jack Brown and Family Professorship in Alzheimer’s Research, subject to university approvals.

The Canada Research Chair Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Action Plan guides the University’s efforts to sustain the participation of people with disabilities, Indigenous people, racialized people, women, and people from minoritized gender identity groups, and thus pursuant to Section 42 of the BC Human Rights code, UBC is currently restricted in the recruitment, selection, and nomination of CRCs to members of these groups.

Reporting to the Head of the UBC Department of Psychiatry, the successful candidate will be expected to develop and lead a research program in Cognitive Resilience for Dementia Prevention and Mental Wellness in Aging within the Faculty of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry, including mechanistic (molecular, cellular, and/or circuit level) research to advance the understanding of causative factors underlying mental health and cognitive decline, as well as factors underlying resilience in aging. The successful candidate will be expected to participate in the teaching activities of the UBC Department of Psychiatry, as well as provide mentorship and training to undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate learners. The incumbent will also be expected to provide service to the University and the broader academic and professional community. They will work collaboratively in diverse groups to bring forward strategic initiatives for the UBC Department of Psychiatry and the Faculty. The successful candidate will contribute to fostering an environment that promotes inclusivity and embodies values of respect, integrity, compassion, collaboration, and equity. Equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice are essential to academic excellence, as well as to fostering an inclusive community for voices that have been historically underrepresented or discouraged.

The successful candidate will hold an MD and/or PhD, as part of the UBC requirements.

• At the rank of the Assistant Professor (tenure track), the successful candidate will have demonstrated evidence of ability in teaching and scholarly activity. With a strong interest in dementia and/or mental health in aging or related fields, the successful candidate will have demonstrated the ability to develop a high-quality, innovative and independent research program, and the potential to attract, develop and retain excellent trainees, students and future researchers.
• At the rank of Associate Professor (tenure), the successful candidate will have demonstrated evidence of successful teaching and ability to direct graduate students, evidence of sustained and productive scholarly activity, and must be willing to participate in the affairs of the Department of Psychiatry and the University. The successful candidate will have a solid background in mechanistic translational research focused on dementia and/or mental health in aging or related fields, have a robust publication record, evidence of collaborative work, and be well-positioned to establish an independent research program with a national and international profile.

In addition, the successful candidate will demonstrate a willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own, and a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

The expected starting salary for this position will range from $145,000 to $165,000 per annum at the Assistant Professor rank and $170,000 to $190,000 per annum at the Associate Professor rank, commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the candidate. The Faculty of Medicine is committed to offering equitable and competitive salaries. At UBC in addition to a generous benefit package and highly valued pension plan, faculty members also have access to a comprehensive range of leaves, services, resources and career development opportunities. For more information, please visit: https://hr.ubc.ca/working-ubc.

An application package should include:

1. A cover letter (1 page)
2. The main application, containing the following sections:
   1. Most significant contributions statement (1 page)
   2. Research program proposal (5 pages, excluding references)
   3. Teaching and mentorship statement (1 page)
   4. Equity, diversity, and inclusion statement of the applicant’s current or planned contributions to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in academic, professional, or community contexts (1 page)
3. A full curriculum vitae (no page limit)
4. and names of three references for the rank of Assistant Professor, or four arm’s length references for the rank of Associate Professor.

Applications should be submitted to:

Ms. Margaret Koshi
Director, Administration
UBC Department of Psychiatry
Subject: CRC Tier 2 in Cognitive Resilience for Dementia Prevention and Mental Wellness in Aging
Email: margaret.koshi@ubc.ca

Application Deadline: January 15, 2026 at 11:59 pm PST

Review of applications will begin on January 16, 2026 and continue until the position is filled. The successful applicant will be required to prepare a CRC package by the August 21, 2026 UBC internal deadline for the October 20, 2026 CRC deadline. The earliest anticipated start date for this position is April 1, 2027 or upon a date to be mutually agreed and will ultimately depend on the CRC award date. This offer of employment is contingent upon successful application and receipt of the applicable CRC award.