Call for applications – Impact+ Canada Research Chairs – Marine Sciences

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 the field of Marine Sciences that aligns with the Government of Canada’s strategic priority areas in Environment, Climate Resilience and the Arctic, as well as Food and Water Security. The program must also fit within UQAR’s research excellence axes in Marine Sciences and Coastal Zones, and in Nordicity. This Chair will contribute to strengthening these axes by generating new scientific knowledge to inform public authorities in the development and adaptation of regulatory frameworks, support the rapid transfer of knowledge, and promote the adoption of science‑based solutions by industry, while also enhancing considerations related to community safety, including that of Indigenous communities.

January 27, 2026

Institut des sciences de la mer de Rimouski

• Level of Education: Doctorate (Ph.D.), a requirement of UQAR and not of the program.
• Field of Study: Ph.D. in Oceanography, Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Physics, or a related discipline.
• Area of Specialization: Marine Sciences.
• Priority Research Area: The chairholder must develop a research program focused on Environment, Climate Change and Resilience, the Arctic, or Food Security (aquaculture and fisheries).
• 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 the academic sector, must possess the qualifications required to be appointed to similar positions.
• Other Considerations: The selected candidate must design and submit an ambitious research program aligned with one of the strategic priority areas established by the Government of Canada. The candidate must demonstrate strong research leadership potential in international collaboration, 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 (graduate students and professional research staff).

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.