Call for applications – Impact+ Canada Research Chairs – Arctic shipbuilding

The Université du Québec à Rimouski (UQAR) is seeking applications from outstanding researchers to be nominated for the Impact+ Canada Research Chairs Program – Canada.ca.

The successful candidate will be expected to develop and lead an advanced research program in Arctic shipbuilding, aligned with the Government of Canada’s strategic priority areas in Environment, Climate Resilience and the Arctic, Advanced Manufacturing and Materials, Defense and Dual‑Use Technologies, and Clean Technologies and Resource Value Chains. The Chair will also align with UQAR’s research excellence axes in Nordicity and Marine and Coastal Sciences, and the priority domain Foundations and Design of Technologies and Materials. This Chair will strengthen these axes by producing new scientific knowledge at the interface of applied engineering, concrete industrial needs, and the challenges of northern territories. It will also contribute to the training of highly qualified personnel with skills directly transferable to professional practice, thereby reinforcing innovation capacity, technological autonomy, and regional and national development.

January 27, 2026

To be determined

Candidates must hold an engineering background demonstrating strong aptitude for ship design and construction, including mechanical design, structural analysis and sizing of naval structures, numerical modelling, materials and manufacturing processes, and the integration of constraints related to cold and northern environments.

• Degree Requirement: PhD in Engineering (a requirement of UQAR, not of the program).
• Specialization & Research Area: Naval engineering and ship design, including:
  • Mechanical design and naval architecture
  • Numerical modelling and computer‑aided design/manufacturing (CAD/CAM) applied to naval structures
  • Structural sizing and analysis of ships (hull, load‑bearing elements)
  • Materials and manufacturing processes in shipbuilding
  • Numerical methods, simulation, and optimization applied to naval systems
  • Integration of constraints related to cold and northern environments (temperature, ice, fatigue, durability)
• Program Eligibility: The selected candidate must be eligible for the Impact+ Canada Research Chairs Program and must be a tenured or tenure‑track professor at their current institution. Candidates recruited from outside academia must possess the qualifications required for similar academic appointments.
• Other Considerations: The selected candidate must design and submit an ambitious research program aligned with one of the Government of Canada’s strategic priority areas. They must demonstrate strong potential for leadership in partnership‑based research, as well as strong potential for knowledge mobilization and application of research results, including practical applications, public policy, and commercialization pathways. They must also demonstrate clear aptitude for interdisciplinary research and for recruiting and training highly qualified personnel. The candidate must be a member of a Canadian engineering professional order recognized by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB), or commit to obtaining full membership within a reasonable timeframe.

The position is open to Canadian and non‑Canadian citizens. The Impact+ Canada Research Chairs Program imposes no restrictions regarding nationality. However, only candidates based abroad (working and residing outside Canada) at the cohort deadline are eligible.

Interested individuals must submit their application package to candidature_chaire_Impact_Canada@uqar.ca before 5:00 p.m. on February 26, 2026.

The application must include:

1. A curriculum vitae summary (maximum 6 pages)
2. A preliminary research program proposal for the Chair (maximum 2 pages)
3. A statement of potential contribution to the excellence of Canadian and international research ecosystems (maximum 2 pages)
4. A statement on knowledge transfer and mobilization potential (maximum 2 pages)
5. A summary of recent achievements in the targeted priority research area (maximum 1 page)
6. Three (3) significant publications from your career
7. Proof of academic degrees
8. Three (3) to five (5) letters of recommendation
9. The voluntary self‑identification form (available by writing to louka_labonte@uqar.ca)
10. A statement explaining the impact of any career interruptions on the submitted dossier, if applicable (maximum 1 page)

Applications will be evaluated by a selection committee. The selection process will be based on the candidate’s ability to meet the objectives of the Impact+ Canada Research Chairs Program as described on the program website Application process – Canada.ca. The process will be carried out in collaboration with the institution’s equity officer. Each committee member will have been trained on unconscious bias in hiring, will commit to respecting EDI principles, and will declare any real or perceived conflict of interest.

UQAR will submit only Chairs valued at 8 million dollars over eight years (1 million dollars per year).

UQAR fully adheres to the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion in employment access, particularly for individuals from underrepresented, equity‑seeking, and rights‑seeking groups, including women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, members of 2ELGBTQIA+ communities, and racialized individuals. UQAR therefore strongly encourages individuals from these groups to apply to this competition. Selection tools may also be adapted to meet the needs of applicants with disabilities who request accommodation, in full confidentiality, by contacting Louka Labonté, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Officer, at louka_labonte@uqar.ca.

UQAR also recognizes the impact that career interruptions—such as illness, disability, family or community responsibilities—may have on research outcomes. These considerations will be taken into account throughout the evaluation process, in a perspective that goes beyond traditional notions of excellence. Candidates are invited to explain, at the time of application, how such interruptions may have affected their record. All information will be treated confidentially.

We invite you to consult UQAR’s EDI website at L’EDIA à l’UQAR – Université du Québec à Rimouski.