51³Ô¹Ï

Professor

Date posted: July 7, 2025

Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Mental Health

The 51³Ô¹Ï (UVic) seeks to recruit a world class researcher for a Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Mental Health. 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 environment. UVic is positioned as #1 in Canada for medical/science grants per faculty, #4 in Canada in citation impact per faculty member and #1 in North America for international research collaborations. UVic has gained international recognition as a leading research-intensive institution known for its impactful research outcomes. In 2024, the Times Higher Education Impact rankings placed UVic in the top 1% in global universities for contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. UVic is deeply committed to advancing Indigenous wellness in education, practice and research. UVic hosts the Chief Mungo Martin Research Chair in Indigenous Mental Health, the only research chair to develop mental-wellness research and learning that is informed by engagement with Indigenous partners and communities.

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 is in an exciting period of rapid expansion of health-related programming and research. At the heart of this expansion is the newly launched Faculty of Health (May 2025), which brings together leading scholars and interdisciplinary programs focused on advancing health and wellness. Core units anchoring this expertise include the School of Medical Sciences, School of Nursing, School of Public Health and Social Policy, Exercise Science and Clinical Psychology. In addition, the provides an organizational foundation for UVic’s interdisciplinary leadership in mental health research. Within this framework, mental health research is primarily conceptualized as multiple interacting research nodes with a primary focus on 1) Aging and Mental Health; 2) Brain Health; 3) Immigration and Mental Health; 4) Indigenous Peoples and Mental Health; 5) Narratives of Mental Health; 6) Substance Use and Mental Health; and 7) Youth and Mental Health.

UVic’s health research strengths also span the Faculty of Social Sciences, participation in the Island Medical Program, and research centres such as the Institute for Aging and Lifelong Health (IALH) and the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR). UVic’s hubs for health research support and infrastructure include the Centre for Advanced Materials & Related Technology (CAMTEC), , the Health Core, and a modern animal vivarium for researchers working with pre-clinical models.

UVic’s health research expertise is rooted in an ecosystem that fosters diverse, interdisciplinary approaches to mental health. Faculty members bring together multiple but complementary perspectives—ranging from neurobiological and clinical to historical, philosophical, and epidemiological. While the scope of UVic’s research is wide, the CERC in mental health will focus on our institutional strength concentrated around three primary disciplinary approaches: Neuroscience, Clinical Psychology and Public Health. The CERC is expected to work across these domains with an intersectional lens that spans the lifespan and breaks through disciplinary silos – producing research with real-world impact to advance equity and innovation in mental health care and policy.

We invite applications from researchers working across all areas of mental health research, including neuroscience, clinical psychology, public health, and intersecting disciplines, with particular emphasis on the thematic nodes outlined below. Research may directly relate to aging, brain health, youth, public health, or other areas that intersect with mental health challenges and care. As such, we welcome applicants pursuing both fundamental questions (e.g., biological mechanisms, theory, or discovery science) or applied problems (e.g., interventions, diagnostics, policy, or service delivery) that advance understanding and impact in mental health across diverse populations and life stages.

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 $189,000 - $220,000. UVic is committed to offering an equitable and competitive salary, inclusive of a generous benefits package, eligible leave and pension plan.

NEUROSCIENCE

The School of Medical Sciences has significant research strengths in neuroscience and brain health. Researchers here explore neuroinflammation, the development of biomarkers for mood, psychotic, and cognitive disorders, mental health alterations associated with neurologic disorders such as traumatic brain injury and stroke, neurodevelopmental studies, and drug discovery for psychiatric disorders. UVic has secured more than $21 million since 2016 for neuroscientific research, with expertise housed across the Faculties of Health and Social Sciences, as well as the IALH.

UVic is seeking applications from world-class neuroscientists committed to advancing our understanding of the basic mechanisms of mental health disorders, especially with respect to research that has emphasis on translational potential and real-world impact.

CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY

UVic’s Department of Psychology includes a CPA-accredited clinical psychology graduate program with specializations in clinical lifespan and neuropsychology and a psychology clinic that functions both as an outpatient service and teaching site. Clinical researchers investigate the assessment and treatment of neurocognitive disorders—including traumatic and anoxic brain injury—as well as mood and anxiety disorders across diverse populations such as Indigenous communities, immigrants, older adults, survivors of intimate partner violence, and at-risk youth. They collaborate with local hospitals, schools, government agencies, and research centres such as IALH and CISUR.

UVic is seeking applications from leading scholars in clinical psychology who are advancing innovative research aligned with the CERC’s intersectional and lifespan-oriented mission.

PUBLIC HEALTH

UVic’s public health researchers adopt interdisciplinary, inter-professional, and community-engaged approaches to address the social determinants of mental health, health behaviours and mental health, and mental health within chronic health conditions. Topics of strength include health promotion, social policy, digital health, disability, Indigenous health, sexual health, LGBTQ2S+ mental health, HIV prevention and care; aging and public health palliative care, and substance use and addictions. These efforts are supported by robust partnerships with CISUR and IALH, around expertise in public health interventions for mental wellness. Public Health faculty also pursue mental health strategies embedded in systems design, collaborative care models and policy advocacy.

UVic is seeking applications from exceptional public health scholars who are developing innovative mental health strategies, including mental illness prevention, e-health initiatives, cross-sectoral frameworks (e.g., mental health in all policies) and targeted interventions for equity-deserving populations.

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 applicants 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, supporting diverse teams and establishing an equitable and inclusive research environment.

The Chairholder will be expected to bring an independent, multidisciplinary 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.

The Chairholder must embrace productive relationships across cultural differences and develop an equitable, diverse and inclusive teaching and research approach that promotes a respectful environment for all students, staff and faculty. UVic is a highly collegial and collaborative academic environment. Collaboration with a variety of researchers on and off campus will be essential.

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 applicants 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 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, for example with government, clinical, 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.

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).

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.

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.

Perrett Laver is a Data Controller and a Data Processor, as defined under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Their legal basis for much of their data processing activity is ‘Legitimate Interests’. You have the right to object to them processing your data in this way. For more information about this, your rights, and their approach to Data Protection and Privacy, please see Perrett Laver’s

Faculty and Librarians at the 51³Ô¹Ï are governed by the provisions of the Collective Agreement. Members are represented by the 51³Ô¹Ï .

Contact information

How to apply

To be considered, applications need to be submitted through our search partner Perrett Laver’s quoting reference 7903. 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 51³Ô¹Ï 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 12:00 pm 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.

To help UVic grow our equity programs, we ask that applicants complete a .