Call for applications – Impact+ Canada Research Chairs – Development and Management of Smart and Decarbonized Ports

The Université du Québec à Rimouski (UQAR) is seeking applications from exceptional 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 the field of Development and Management of Smart and Decarbonized Ports, aligned with the Government of Canada’s strategic priority areas in Clean Technologies and Resource Value Chains and Democratic and Community Resilience, and consistent with UQAR’s research excellence axes in Rurality and Maritime Studies. This Chair will strengthen these axes by producing new scientific knowledge tailored to the needs of public stakeholders and industrial partners.

January 27, 2026

To be determined

• Degree level: Doctorate (PhD), a requirement of UQAR and not of the program.
• Field of study: PhD in administration, economics, operations research, or other disciplines relevant to the position.
• Area of specialization: Maritime transport economics and logistics, port management, supply chains.
• Preferred research areas: Digitalization of ports and logistics sector, city–port relations, emerging technologies in maritime transport, smart logistics, intermodal transport and sustainability, optimization of supply chains.
• Program eligibility: The selected candidate must be eligible for the Impact+ Canada Chairs Program and must be a tenured or associate professor at their current institution, or—if recruited from outside academia—must possess the qualifications required for appointment to a comparable position.
• 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 leadership potential in partnership-based research and a high capacity for knowledge mobilization and application of research results, including practical applications, public policy, and commercialization pathways. The candidate must also demonstrate clear aptitude for interdisciplinary research as well as for recruiting and developing highly qualified personnel.

The position is open to Canadian and non‑Canadian citizens. The Impact+ Canada 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 six (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 (provided upon request at louka_labonte@uqar.ca)
10. A statement explaining the impact of any career interruptions on the submitted record, 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 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 persons. UQAR strongly encourages individuals from these groups to apply.

Selection tools may be adapted to meet the needs of applicants with disabilities, upon confidential request to Louka Labonté, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator, at louka_labonte@uqar.ca.

UQAR also recognizes the impact that career interruptions—such as illness, disability, and 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. Applicants are invited to explain, at the time of submission, how a career interruption or an evaluation based on traditional criteria may have affected their record. This 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.