Call for applications – Impact+ Canada Research Chairs – Spatio‑Temporal Modelling and Analysis (specialization in AI, Big Data, GIS) applied to Climate, the Cryosphere, Ecosystems, and Northern Environments

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 Spatio‑Temporal Modelling and Analysis (specialization in AI, Big Data, GIS) applied to Climate, the Cryosphere, Ecosystems, and Northern Environments. The research program must align with the Government of Canada’s strategic priority areas in Advanced Digital Technologies, Environment, Climate Resilience and the Arctic, and Food and Water Security, and must fit within UQAR’s research excellence axes in Nordicity, Marine and Coastal Sciences, and Rurality and Maritime Studies. This Chair will strengthen these axes by producing new scientific knowledge, innovative technologies, and decision‑support tools for public action, planning, and adaptation.

January 27, 2026

Rimouski Campus

• Degree Requirement: Doctorate (PhD), a requirement of UQAR and not of the program.
• Field of Study: PhD in geography, geomatics, environmental sciences, Earth and atmospheric sciences, data science, computer science, engineering, or another relevant discipline. Demonstrated experience in geospatial data and environmental modelling/AI is essential.
• Area of Specialization: Geomatics (GIS, remote sensing, cartography, spatial analysis, spatio‑temporal data), with strong specialization in:
  • AI / machine learning (supervised, unsupervised, deep learning, hybrid models)
  • Spatio‑temporal modelling (statistical, physical, hybrid, emulation)
  • Geospatial big data (large‑scale processing, cloud/HPC, processing pipelines, reproducibility) 
• Preferred Research Focus: The Chairholder must develop a research program centered on northern environments, with clear grounding in several of the following themes:
  • Spatial analysis and geospatial data science (change detection, spatial clustering, networks, geostatistics, spatio‑temporal causality, multi‑source integration)
  • Climate modelling (regional, downscaling, bias correction, reanalysis integration, data assimilation, extremes)
  • Hydro‑climate and northern environments (time series, remote sensing, predictive models, extreme events)
  • Glaciology / cryosphere (snow, ice, mass balance, advanced remote sensing, forecasting, uncertainties)
  • Permafrost (mapping, dynamics, processes, impacts, infrastructure risks, modelling)
  • Northern ecosystems (modelling spatio‑temporal evolution of vegetation and habitats, phenology, productivity, disturbances, connectivity, climate–hydrology–cryosphere–biosphere interactions, indicators for resilience and adaptation)
• Program Eligibility: The selected candidate must be eligible for the Impact+ Canada Chairs Program and must be a tenured or tenure‑track professor at their current institution, or—if 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 position is open to both Canadian citizens and non‑citizens. The Impact+ Canada Chairs program imposes no restrictions regarding applicants’ nationality. However, only candidates based abroad (working and residing outside Canada) as of the cohort deadline are eligible.

Individuals interested in this position are asked to 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

Applications will be evaluated by a selection committee, and the selection process will be based on the applicants’ ability to meet the objectives of the Impact+ Canada Chairs program, as described on the program website Application process – Canada.ca. The selection process will be carried out in collaboration with the institution’s equity officer. In addition, each member of the selection committee will have received training on unconscious bias in hiring, will be required to uphold EDI principles, and must 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, and family or community responsibilities—may have on research outcomes. These considerations will be taken into account throughout the evaluation process, in a manner that goes beyond traditional notions of excellence. Applicants are invited, when submitting their application, to explain the impact that a career interruption may have had, or that an evaluation based on traditional excellence criteria might have on their record of achievements. 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.