"Tenure positions across priority areas (Canada Impact+ Research Chairs)"

Tenure positions across priority areas

Dalhousie University invites applications from exceptional, internationally based researchers for the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs program. This national initiative is designed to recruit world-leading scholars whose work addresses critical global and national challenges and who are poised to build transformational research programs in Canada. Dalhousie can nominate Impact+ Research Chairs across the Government of Canada’s strategic priority areas, as part of one of the most significant research recruitment opportunities in the university’s history.

Impact+ Research Chairs receive long-term funding of either $8 million or $4 million over eight years, with the possibility of a four-year extension at 50 percent of the original value based on demonstrated research impact and sustained partnerships. 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.

The Impact+ Research Chairs submission process requires application to Dalhousie University (see details below) by April 19, 2026.

Impact+ Strategic Priorities

Canada Impact+ Research Chairs are awarded 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.

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

Qualifications and Eligibility

The Canada Impact+ Research Chairs opportunity is designed for internationally renowned researchers who are ready to establish a major research program in Canada. To be eligible, candidates must:

• Have a strong recent record of research achievements and a demonstrated interest in contributing to Canada’s research and innovation landscape.
• Be internationally based at the time of the first intake deadline (working and residing outside Canada).
• 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.

Successful applicants will be appointed to an appropriate academic department/school/faculty at Dalhousie University.

How to Apply

To apply, applicants are asked to provide the following three documents:

1. A cover letter that identifies:
   • Alignment with one or more of the strategic priority areas (listed above)
   • The applicant’s start-up funding, infrastructure and space, and research team requirements
   • The applicant’s interest in coming to Dalhousie, including any relevant connections to the university or the region
2. A full curriculum vitae (please include details of research and teaching, scholarly record, funding, collaborations/partnerships with industry government, not-for-profit, and/or community, and leadership experience.
3. A Research Statement, submitted as a single PDF, including the following:
   • A five page (maximum) research statement that includes:
     • An overview of the applicant’s research proposal, including knowledge mobilization and innovation activities
     • How the proposed research embeds equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA) considerations at each stage of the research process
     • Potential to collaborate with other researchers at Dalhousie, Nova Scotia and/or Atlantic Canada, and Canada
     • Social and economic benefits for Canada that will result from the research program, including potential industry, government, not-for-profit, and/or community partnerships
     • Contribution and fit to the research ecosystem in Canada and internationally
   • A one-page (maximum) statement that describes the applicant’s past experience with attracting and mentoring a diverse group of students, trainees and research personnel, and establishing an equitable and inclusive research environment.
   • One page (maximum), if applicable: demonstrate how the proposed research program will value Indigenous ways of knowing, how it will extend research knowledge in the field that is significant for Indigenous Peoples and communities and contribute to decolonization.

Application materials must be submitted via PeopleAdmin by April 19, 2026: https://dal.peopleadmin.ca/postings/20553/

Any general inquiries regarding this posting may be directed to reschairs@dal.ca.