Canada Excellence Research Chair Positions

Western University

CANADA EXCELLENCE RESEARCH CHAIR POSITIONS

Western University (London, Canada) invites world-leading researchers to apply for one of several prestigious Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) opportunities.

Launched in 2008, the CERC Program supports Canadian universities in their efforts to build upon Canada's reputation as a global leader in research and innovation and to attract world-renowned researchers to Canada. The awards are among the most prestigious and generous available globally. The program stands at the centre of our national strategy to foster research excellence in Canada and improve the depth of knowledge and quality of life, strengthen Canada's international competitiveness, and to help train the next generation of highly skilled people. The awards provide an opportunity for international researchers, including Canadian expatriates wishing to relocate to Canada, to lead a prestigious research program at Western and to contribute to Canada's excellence in research and innovation.

The CERC nomination is a two-stage process where applicants first apply to this job posting. Successful applicants then work with our institution to submit a nomination to the 2026 CERC competition. The university will support successful nominees throughout the development of their applications. Following a highly competitive selection process, the CERC program awards successful researchers and their teams either $8 million or $4 million over 8 years to establish ambitious research programs at the nominating university. There are two award values to recognize the varying costs of research within different research disciplines and to be inclusive of all areas of research.

Research Alignment
Western anticipates nominating up to three candidates for CERC positions, based on award value. Applications from outstanding established scholars are welcomed in the following seven areas, with at most one nomination to be selected from a given area:

(1) Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Public Health Interventions
(2) Neuroscience and Brain Health
(3) Multi-Hazard Resilient Infrastructure
(4) Smart Infrastructure Technologies
(5) Electrochemistry and Materials Degradation
(6) Earth and Space Exploration – Astromaterials
(7) Political Polarization.

Please see the full job description available at this website: https://www.uwo.ca/facultyrelations/careers/CERC-2026-Job-Ad-May-8.pdf


How to Apply
Applications will be reviewed by a multi-disciplinary committee and must include the following:
1. Completed Canada Excellence Research Chair Application.
2. Cover letter that also identifies which of the seven areas align with your research.
3. Detailed curriculum vitae.
4. A plan identifying the proposed research program, including how you embed equity, diversity, and inclusion principles in your research. (Maximum five pages)
5. Highlights of your most significant contributions to your field, including how they have led to societal benefits, and how they connect with your research plan. (Maximum two pages)
6. A statement of your teaching and mentoring philosophies. (Maximum two pages)
7. The names and email addresses of three references.

The application should be submitted as a single PDF file to:
cerc2026@groups.uwo.ca

This ad will be posted on Western’s Faculty Relations website on May 8, 2025 and will be posted for a minimum of 30 days. Review of applications will begin on June 9, 2025, and continue until the nominations are filled.

Positions are subject to budget approval. Applicants should have fluent written and oral communication skills in English.
The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Western is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from women, members of racialized groups, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation and persons of any gender identity or gender expression.
Western, like many postsecondary institutions in Canada, is moving beyond the sole reliance upon Indigenous self-identification in hiring designated Indigenous roles to safeguard against use of incorrect, incomplete, or misleading information regarding claims of Indigenous identity. Indigenous candidates who are invited for an interview will be asked to have their claim to Indigenous membership or citizenship (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit) affirmed through a relational accountability process, led by the Office of Indigenous Initiatives (OII), that is consistent with Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing. Please contact the OII directly for details on the affirmation processes: https://indigenous.uwo.ca/.
Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities throughout the application and recruitment process. If you require accommodations, please contact Sherri Castrilli at cerc2026@groups.uwo.ca.