"Canada Impact+ Research Chair"

Laurentian University welcomes applications from exceptional scholars in targeted areas of research excellence for consideration as Canada Impact+ Research Chairs. Applicants must be eligible for appointment at the Associate or Full Professor level.

Date posted: January 16, 2026

Description The Canada Impact+ Research Chairs (Impact+) program is a one-time initiative designed to support institutions in attracting world-leading researchers whose work addresses critical national and global challenges. The program emphasizes both research excellence and tangible impact. Impact+ Chairs will receive long-term funding and institutional support to advance ambitious and transformative projects in Canada’s strategic priority areas, build and maintain exceptional research teams, and collaborate with partners across sectors and borders. Impact+ chairholders are expected to drive the translation of discoveries into applications, commercialization and social and economic benefits for Canada and the world, while also developing the next generation of highly qualified personnel.

The key objectives of the Impact+ program are to support institutions to:

• attract world-leading researchers to strengthen Canada’s global competitiveness and innovation leadership;
• transform bold discoveries into innovative products, ideas, policies and solutions that benefit Canadians and the world;
• help Canada grow and sustain a critical mass of expertise in priority areas identified by the Government of Canada through the development of high-impact research teams; and
• incentivize strategic partnerships across sectors, such as industry, health systems, government and not-for-profit organizations, to accelerate translation of research into practice and enhance long-term adoption and impact.

The Impact+ Research Chairs program includes two award values as follows:

Option 1: $1million per year for 8 years

Option 2: $500,000 per year for 8 years

The program also offers the possibility of an additional four years of funding at 50% of the original award value. Funding for research infrastructure will also be made available to Impact+ awardees through the Canada Impact+ Research Infrastructure Fund.

The Chair is required to lead an ambitious research program in at least one of the following strategic priority areas identified 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.

Eligibility The Impact+ program offers eligible institutions the opportunity to nominate internationally renowned scholars and scientists as chairholders in areas of strategic importance to Canada (see strategic priority areas).

Impact+ nominees must:

• be internationally based (both working and residing outside of Canada) as of the Impact+ application deadline. Expatriate Canadian citizens willing to relocate to Canada are also encouraged to apply;
• have a recent track record of research accomplishments and significant interest in making new contributions to Canada; and
• be full or associate professors or, if recruited from outside the academic sector, possess the necessary qualifications to be appointed at these levels.

The successful nominee will have earned a PhD (or equivalent) and possess the necessary qualifications to be appointed as a tenured associate or full professor in accordance with the Collective Agreement with the Laurentian University Faculty Association. Successful nominees who are appointed at the level of associate professor will be expected to meet qualifications to be promoted to full professor within two years of starting their appointment. Chairholders will be required to begin their appointment in person at Laurentian University, on a full-time basis, within 12 months of accepting the award.

Impact+ Research Chair nominees will be required to comply with the Government of Canada Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC Policy) and the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships (NSGRP). Candidates selected for nomination to the Impact+ Research Chairs program will be required to attest to their compliance with the STRAC Policy.

How to Apply A complete application package should be sent as a single PDF file to the Office of the Provost and Vice-President Academic at academic-careers@laurentian.ca with the following subject line: Application for Canada Impact+ Research Chair. There are two intake opportunities for this program, with applications due as follows:

Intake 1: The deadline for receipt of applications is 9 a.m. (EST) on February 16th, 2026

Intake 2: The deadline for receipt of applications is 4 p.m. (EST) on May 1, 2026

A complete application package includes the following:

• A cover letter that indicates how your research relates to one or more of Canada’s strategic priority areas
• curriculum vitae (including a list of publications, awards and grants received)
• Teaching statement (1-2 pages) indicating previous teaching experience, expertise and teaching philosophy
• Research statement (3-5 pages) covering the following areas:
• Research/academic merit and leadership skills
• Scope and quality of the research program
• Potential contribution to the excellence of the Canadian and international research ecosystem
• Evidence of, or potential for, knowledge translation, mobilization and application of research results (include, where appropriate, existing or planned partnerships)
• The names and contact information of three referees who are considered experts in the field and not in a conflict of interest (referees will only be contacted if invited for an interview).
• Statement regarding career interruptions due to illness, disability, maternity leave, parental leave, leave due to family member care, COVID-19 impacts, other which impacted scholarly work (if relevant). Information shared will be treated confidentially and will only be used to support an equitable evaluation of the application.

Closing Date: Applications received after February 16, 2026 and before May 1, 2026, will be considered for the second program intake, depending on the remaining program allocation.