51³Ô¹Ï

Professor

Date posted: July 7, 2025

Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Climate Change Solutions

The 51³Ô¹Ï (UVic) seeks to recruit a world class researcher for a Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Climate Change Solutions. CERCs are prestigious awards globally, providing chairholders eight years of support for their research programs and teams, and contributing to Canada’s national strategy to foster research excellence by attracting top-tier global researchers to lead world-class research programs at Canadian universities.

The Chairholder will benefit from and contribute to a dynamic and highly collaborative research environment, which has positioned UVic as #1 in Canada and #5 globally for Climate Action, 2^nd globally in Life Under Water, 2^nd globally in Sustainable Cities and Communities, and 9^th globally in Life on Land (THE Impact Rankings 2025). UVic has gained international recognition as a leading research-intensive institution known for its interdisciplinary strengths. In 2024, Leiden University rankings placed UVic as #1 in North America for international research collaborations, #2 in Canada for research in physical sciences and engineering, and #5 in Canada for research impact across all sciences.

UVic acknowledges and respects the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees and Xʷsepsəm/Esquimalt) Peoples on whose territory the university stands, and the Lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.

UVic’s long-term institutional commitment to applied and solution-oriented climate change research has cultivated a rich and engaged scholarly community within and beyond the campus. UVic is home to the , Accelerating Community Energy Transformation (ACET), Institute for Integrated Energy Systems (IESVic), , and the Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium (PCIC). UVic has a Special Advisor on climate to further coordinate, connect, and amplify the momentum and synergies amongst diverse climate change faculty, researchers, staff and students across the university. UVic is also deeply committed to the ongoing work of decolonizing and indigenizing the campus and our research collaborations with Indigenous people and communities who are often living on the frontlines of both climate impacts and solutions.

We invite applications from researchers working on any aspect of climate change solutions – including both mitigation and adaptation strategies – with a particular focus on the themes outlined below. This research may be directly related to applied solutions or provide fundamental information to inform solutions. The successful applicant will bring a transdisciplinary focus and highly collaborative approach in one or more of the following areas that represent institutional strengths at UVic: ocean science and marine ecosystem resilience; ocean-based carbon sequestration; climate modelling; and energy systems transformation.

The candidate's qualifications, experience and overall market demand will determine a candidate’s final salary offer. The salary for this position includes a competitive salary range of $196,000 - $228,000. UVic is committed to offering an equitable and competitive salary, inclusive of a generous benefits package, eligible leave and pension plan.

OCEAN SCIENCE AND MARINE ECOSYSTEM RESILIENCE

UVic’s coastal location – on Vancouver Island on the West Coast of Canada – attracts leading researchers studying the ocean and marine ecosystem resilience. This research spans issues linking the role of the ocean in the climate system to ocean conservation, marine protected areas, spatial planning, and coastal management and resilience, including research conducted at UVic’s world-leading ocean observing facility - ONC. Research is often deeply community engaged with coastal communities and Nations, specifically the inclusion of local and Indigenous knowledges. UVic is seeking applications from global leaders working on oceans and marine resilience and their intersection with climate change solutions facing both human and ecological communities.

OCEAN-BASED CARBON SEQUESTRATION

UVic is a global leader in ocean-based carbon management and hosts ONC, which operates infrastructure to advance research in a wide range of ocean disciplines including ocean-based carbon dioxide removal and coastal resilience. UVic is the recent recipient of a Transformation grant on ocean-based carbon dioxide removal, while is developing a nationwide assessment of blue carbon captured and stored by salt marsh, seagrass, and mangrove ecosystems. UVic is seeking applications from top tier researchers focused on ocean-based carbon dioxide removal and sequestration approaches with the potential for major global contributions to carbon reduction and management efforts.

CLIMATE MODELLING

UVic is a centre of world-leading climate modelling and prediction research focused on seasonal to decadal climate prediction, modelling of past and future climates, and development of high-resolution climate information to support adaptation planning.  UVic also hosts Environment and Climate Change Canada's (ECCC) and , which are recognized nationally and internationally for their climate analysis and modelling expertise. UVic is seeking applications from outstanding climate researchers who are investigating areas of focus such as climate system observation and data-driven climate modelling and prediction to inform risk assessment, adaptation planning and societal resilience to extreme weather events.   

ENERGY SYSTEMS TRANSFORMATION

ACET is Canada’s national initiative – supported by an $84 million Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) – to foster energy system transformation by partnering with First Nations, local communities, industry and researchers to co-create sustainable, resilient and place-based clean energy systems. UVic is seeking applications from world-leading researchers committed to research focused in one of the following areas of energy transformation: applied transitions management research using a multi-level perspective to actively guide innovation; emerging marine renewables with an emphasis on phased technology deployment from kW to MW; long duration storage technologies including flow batteries, regenerative hydrogen systems and e-fuels; the water-energy nexus focused on community fresh and waste water systems; and equitable electrified air mobility for rural and remote communities.

The CERC in Climate Change Solutions will simultaneously be able to leverage and elevate ongoing climate research, networks, and collaborative opportunities embedded within and beyond UVic. By building on UVic’s institutional strengths, this position will ideally support existing and new transdisciplinary partnerships and knowledge mobilization across various faculty, departments, research centres, and a broader community of collaborators. We welcome eligible applicants to apply.

Requirements

Eligibility

The CERC nomination process involves two stages. Interested applicants must first apply to this job posting. The successful applicants will be nominated by UVic for a CERC chair and, upon approval by the CERC Secretariat, will then be offered an appointment at the rank of Full Professor. Successful nominees would commence their appointments by fall 2027 at the earliest, and by fall 2028 at the latest. The University will actively support the candidates throughout the nomination process.

Applicants should be top-tier researchers whose accomplishments have made significant breakthroughs in their field with major societal impact and who are acknowledged as world leaders in their fields. The applicant will be proposing an original, innovative research program of the highest quality that will advance the frontiers of research in the field on a global scale and impact Canadians and others around the world. The applicant will offer evidence of high-quality teaching, supervision, and mentorship of diverse teams and establishing an equitable and inclusive research environment.

The Chairholder will be expected to bring an independent, transdisciplinary and internationally recognized research program and demonstrated ability to obtain substantive research funding. We welcome colleagues with experiences and competencies that can contribute to the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion and Indigenization throughout campus life.

Current UVic faculty members are not eligible to apply. Researchers currently based at a Canadian institution must demonstrate how the move to UVic would additionally benefit the country by advancing research excellence, capacity, or strategic priorities. For more information on the CERC program generally and on eligibility specifically, please consult .

Applicants who are not selected by UVic for a CERC nomination, or candidates that are unsuccessful in a CERC chair nomination at the national competition may be considered as a nominee for a Canada Research Chair (Tier I). 

Selection criteria

Applicants must be:

• Full professors or equivalent who can be hired at UVic at the full professor level.
• Recognized internationally as world leaders in their field, with a proven record of high-impact research, successful research funding, and leadership of interdisciplinary teams.

The successful applicant will demonstrate:

• Proven track record of outstanding, original, and innovative research that has made a significant societal impact and advanced the frontiers of knowledge in their area of expertise.
• Evidence of high-impact research outputs, such as publications in top-tier peer-reviewed research in their fields, as well as broader knowledge mobilization and translation activities.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and build multidisciplinary research teams and foster collaborative, cross-sectoral partnerships, including with government, community, Indigenous, and industry partners.
• Demonstrated ability to attract, retain, mentor and provide leadership opportunities to a diverse group of students, trainees and research personnel.
• Strong demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) and to Indigenization in teaching, research, and leadership practices.
• Track record of knowledge mobilization and engagement with non-academic audiences, including policy-makers, health practitioners, and the public.

As of February 2024, federal research funding programs in Canada, including the Canada Excellence Research Chair, must align with national research security policies. To ensure that UVic researchers are eligible for federal research funding, research security will be integrated into the adjudication process for this competition. UVic encourages all applicants to review , as well as . When awarded the CERC, the successful applicant must not have any active affiliation with any entity on of concern and must maintain this status throughout their tenure as Chairs.

This position is contingent upon the applicant receiving a Canada Excellence Research Chair. The position is subject to the availability of funding and to final approval by the Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat (TIPS).

Additional information

About the Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) Program

Launched in 2008, the Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC) program supports Canadian universities in their efforts to build on Canada's growing reputation as a global leader in research and innovation. The program awards world-renowned researchers and their teams either $8 million or $4 million over eight years to establish ambitious research programs at Canadian universities. These awards are among the most prestigious and generous available globally.

The CERC program is a tri-agency initiative of the  (SSHRC), the  and the . It is administered by the Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat (TIPS), which is housed within SSHRC.

For more information on the CERC Program please see:

Perrett Laver

UVic has partnered with executive search experts who will support the University in helping to identify the widest possible field of qualified applicants and assisting in the assessment of applicants against the requirements for the role.

Protecting applicants’ personal data is of the upmost importance to Perrett Laver and they take this responsibility very seriously. Any information obtained by their trading divisions is held and processed in accordance with the relevant data protection legislation. The data you provide is securely stored on their computerized database and transferred to clients for the purposes of presenting you as an applicant and/or considering your suitability for a role you have registered interest in.

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Contact information

How to apply

To be considered, applications need to be submitted through our search partner Perrett Laver’s quoting reference 7902. Please combine the following documents into a single pdf file:

• A cover letter (maximum 3 pages) describing briefly how the applicant meets the ‘selection criteria’ listed above, including a description of current and future research interests and accomplishments related to the themes and sub-themes described above, and how the UVic will provide an ideal research environment.
• A full CV, including details of research and teaching, scholarly output (for example, high impact publications, as well as any non-traditional research outputs such as policy or community reports, datasets, software, creative arts), grants, collaborations/partnerships, impact measures (such as influence on policy and practice, and community engagement), personal honours/awards, and leadership experience.
• A one-page (maximum) statement that describes the applicant’s experience with attracting and mentoring a diverse group of students, trainees and research personnel, and establishing an equitable and inclusive research environment, as well as a plan for establishing and maintaining a diverse core team and an inclusive research environment.
• If the applicant is currently at a Canadian institution, a one-page (maximum) justification outlining the net benefit for Canada in moving from one Canadian institution to another.

Shortlisted applicants will be asked to provide the names and contact information of three references.

In order to be considered, application packages must be received by 12:00pm PDT (noon) on Friday August 29, 2025.  Review committees will begin the shortlisting process 4 weeks into the advertisement period. Any general inquiries regarding this posting may be directed to Benjamin Crase.

Please note that reference and background checks, including credential and degree verification, may be undertaken as part of this recruitment process.

Application deadline

Equity statement

UVic is committed to upholding the values of equity, diversity, inclusion and in our living, learning and work environments. In pursuit of our values, we seek members who are eager to actively participate in that shared responsibility. We actively encourage applications from members of historically and systemically marginalized groups. 

Read our full equity statement.

The University acknowledges the potential impact that career interruptions can have on an applicant’s record of research achievement. We encourage applicants to explain in their application the impact that career interruptions have had on their record.

Persons with disabilities, who anticipate needing accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, may contact Heidi Morrison, Faculty Compensation and Recruitment Consultant, in the Office of the VP Academic and Provost at FRrecruit@uvic.ca. Any personal information provided will be maintained in confidence.