Canada Excellence Research Chair – Population Health & Implementation Science, Faculty of Health

Université York

Canada Excellence Research Chair in Population Health and Implementation Science (Associate/Full Professor)
Faculty of Health, York University

Date Posted: September 25, 2025
Application Deadline: October 31st, 2025

The Faculty of Health at York University invites applications from highly qualified applicants for a Canada Excellence Research Chair https://www.cerc.gc.ca/home-accueil-eng.aspx (CERC) at the rank of Associate or Full Professor in Population Health and Implementation Science. This appointment is contingent upon successful nomination to a Canada Excellence Research Chair. If eligible, applicants who are not successful with a CERC will be considered for a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair https://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/home-accueil-eng.aspx in Implementation Science. The CERC program is designed to recruit the world’s top researchers to Canada and is the country’s most prestigious federally funded research chair program. This is a tenure-track appointment to the Professorial Stream to commence on July 1, 2027, or as soon as possible thereafter. The candidate will identify a home department/school to be appointed (Department of Psychology; School of Global Health; School of Health Policy and Management; School of Kinesiology and Health Science; School of Medicine, or; School of Nursing) or a joint appointment across two units.

We seek to hire a renowned expert in implementation science. The successful candidate will be a leading scholar in advancing equity-oriented and transdisciplinary implementation science across a range of population health issues, such as infectious diseases, housing, non-communicable diseases, mental health, or other comparable areas. The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience and expertise in development and use of implementation theory, and development and application of rigorous implementation research designs to equitably advance the health and wellbeing of people locally and around the world, with a particular focus on historically marginalized populations. Proven experience in knowledge translation – i.e., translating research into practice to influence real-world policy and programming – is also critical. They will further be able to foster meaningful and mutually beneficial partnerships locally and internationally with service providers, advocacy organizations, community partners, and other academic institutions. Moreover, the successful candidate will have a strong track record of impactful community partnerships, external funding, and publications that demonstrate this experience and expertise. Finally, the successful candidate will have demonstrated academic experience in leading degree and non-degree programs focused on implementation research for a range of learners.

In addition to scholarly contributions to health policy, and research, the successful applicant will have experience in research-informed provision of health services in low- and middle-income countries with relevance to Canada, particularly focusing on implementation science and health of historically marginalized populations. The successful candidate will also serve as an educational leader, playing a pivotal role in enhancing York’s strengths in implementation science. They will be expected to foster alignment and synergy across both related academic and research activities at the University, including initiatives focused on optimizing the health and wellbeing impacts of real-world programs, equity in health and wellbeing, policy design, implementation, and evaluation, and contribute meaningfully to York’s emergence as a globally recognized, world-class research institution in these areas.

Nominees for a Canada Excellence Research Chair should have a demonstrated record of excellence in research and training, be recognized leaders in their field with significant international impact, and demonstrate a superior track record of external research funding. They should propose an innovative, high-quality program of research that includes supervision of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and demonstrate evidence of engagement and leadership in Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity initiatives. They will also teach at the undergraduate and graduate levels and will be involved in graduate supervision. They should be at a career stage consistent with the rank of Full Professor at the time of appointment or within two years of their appointment. Alternatively, if from outside the academic sector, nominees must possess the necessary qualifications to be appointed at these levels. The successful candidate will be suitable for prompt appointment to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and provide service to the University.

Following a highly competitive and rigorous selection process involving peer review, appointments to a Canada Excellence Research Chair are for 8 years, non renewable, with an award of $1 million or $500,000 per year over the term of the chair. The two award values recognize the varying costs of research within different research disciplines and aims to be inclusive of all areas of research. Note that for this specific opportunity, York University is targeting a CERC award of $500,000 per year over the term of the Chair. All CERC appointments are subject to review and approval by the CERC Secretariat, expected in Winter 2027. The successful candidate will then have up to 12 months to take up the award and the duties of the position. Further information about the Canada Excellence Research Chair program is available at www.cerc.gc.ca.

York acknowledges the potential impact of various life circumstances (e.g., illness, disability, caregiving, family commitments) on a candidate’s record of research and other achievements. Candidates are encouraged to describe such circumstances and their impact in their application. This information will be taken into careful consideration during the assessment process.

A primary objective of the CERC program is to enhance existing research capacity at Canadian universities. Therefore, this position is intended to recruit only external candidates to add to the University’s research strength in the areas identified in this ad.

Candidate Qualifications:
• Degree: PhD, MD, or equivalent doctoral degree, and have experience in the provision of research-informed health care, preferably in clinical and population health settings. Note that these requirements are determined by the hiring unit and York University, not the CERC program.
• Scholarship:
o A coherent and well-articulated program of research with a specialization in population health and implementation science as described above in the position description.
o A record of generating innovative, substantive, rigorous, externally funded research.
o A record of making influential contributions and demonstrating excellence at an internationally recognized calibre in the field (e.g., the research plan; a record of high-quality publications (including with significant journals in the field); presentations at major conferences, and awards and achievements).
o Candidates must also be able to take a leadership role in the discussion and debate on significant questions in the field. The latter capacity may be expressed, for example, through comments in the public press or participation in public conferences and colloquia.
• Teaching:
o A record of excellence in teaching and dedication to students (e.g., teaching accomplishments and pedagogical innovations, including in high priority areas such as experiential education and technology-enhanced learning).
o Candidates must have a demonstrated interest in current and emerging issues in the field of implementation research and related topics and must be able to contribute advice and leadership in the development and study of these issues.
o Suitability for prompt appointment to the Faculty of Graduate Studies, given that the position will involve graduate teaching and supervision. Candidates should have the capacity to direct the research activities of graduate students and to initiate and raise funds for significant research projects.
• Additional: Candidates must have an in-depth knowledge of the Canadian health care system and health care systems in low- and middle-income countries to ground implementation research and practice locally and globally

Hiring Policies:
• Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
• All York University positions are subject to budgetary approval.
• York is an Affirmative Action (AA) employer and strongly values diversity, including gender and sexual diversity, in its community. Details of the AA Program, which applies to women, members of racialized groups, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities and those who identify as 2SLGBTQ+, can be found here https://www.yorku.ca/vpepc/faculty-affairs/affirmative-action/ or by contacting Aqsa Ahmed, EDI Program Manager (aqsa517@yorku.ca).
• The CERC program imposes no restrictions on nominees with regard to nationality or country of residence. Researchers who hold a full-time academic appointment at a Canadian institution are eligible; should they be nominated the University’s nomination package will be required to demonstrate the net benefit to Canada of moving the researcher from one Canadian institution to another. Researchers cannot be nominated by the institution at which they currently hold their appointment.
• York welcomes and employs scholars from all over the world. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
• York has a policy on Accommodation in Employment for Persons with Disabilities http://secretariat-policies.info.yorku.ca/policies/accommodation-in-employment-for-persons-with-disabilities/ and is committed to working towards a barrier-free workplace and expanding the accessibility of the workplace to persons with disabilities. Applicants who require accommodation are invited to contact Rebecca Pillai Riddell, Chair of the Faculty Recruitment Committee, at rpr@yorku.ca.



Application Process:
• Due date for completed applications: October 31, 2025
• Required materials: 1) current CV; 2) cover letter (indicating the Faculty of Health https://www.yorku.ca/health/ unit to which they would like to seek appointment); 3) a research dossier (see details below), and; 4) a summary teaching dossier (see details below); 5) contact information for three (3) referees.
• The research dossier should include: a 3-page statement that describes the body of work the candidate has accomplished to date with clear description innovation and impact of the applicant’s work, a 3-page research program overview delineating the future direction of their research, including overarching goals, current and potential partners, and desired impacts, and three (3) academic articles or book chapters authored by the applicant
• The summary teaching dossier should include: a 2-to-3-page statement that includes a high-level summary of the applicant’s teaching philosophy, classroom teaching experiences (including curriculum or program development), graduate and postdoctoral research supervision, and any other credentials.
• Provide required information regarding your Canadian work status and optional self-identification for Affirmative Action purposes as part of the online application.
• Direct questions about the position to Rebecca Pillai Riddell, Chair of the Faculty Recruitment Committee, at rpr@yorku.ca.
• Submit materials: at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HH_CERC

Learn More About York:
• York University generates and shares knowledge through our research, teaching and engagement with communities around the world. The 2023-2028 Strategic Research Plan https://www.yorku.ca/research/strategic-research-plan-2023-2028/ showcases the depth, breadth and ambition of research at York.
• York’s commitments to social justice are laid out in our Decolonizing, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy https://www.yorku.ca/dedi-strategy/, the Framework & Action Plan on Black Inclusion https://www.yorku.ca/abr/ and the Indigenous Framework for York University https://indigenous.yorku.ca/framework/.
• Follow the activities and accomplishments of York’s faculty, students and staff on YFile https://yfile.news.yorku.ca/.

York University acknowledges its presence on the traditional territory of many Indigenous Nations. The area known as Tkaronto has been care taken by the Anishinabek Nation, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and the Huron-Wendat. It is now home to many First Nation, Inuit and Métis communities. We acknowledge the current treaty holders, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. This territory is subject of the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, an agreement to peaceably share and care for the Great Lakes region