Canada Impact+ Chairs

The Opportunity
SFU invites applications from world-leading researchers for the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs. Impact+ Chairs will receive long-term funding and support to lead bold, transformative research in Canada’s priority areas, build exceptional teams, and collaborate across sectors and borders. Chairholders are expected to translate discoveries into real-world applications and benefits, and to train the next generation of highly qualified personnel.

This programprovidesan opportunity to nominate internationally renowned scholars and scientists as chair holders in areas of strategic importance to Canada. The nominees must have an activerecenttrack recordofexceptionalresearch accomplishments and significant interest in making new contributions to Canada.

Impact+ Chairs are valued at up to $8 million or $4 million over eight years, with a possibility of a four-year 50% funded extension to support their research programs and teams.

Successful awardees may also apply forup to $6 million for research infrastructure fromthe Canada Impact+ Research Infrastructure Fund.

Applicants must be full professors or associate professorsexpected to be promoted to full professor within one to two years of the nomination. Alternatively, if they come from outside the academic sector, applicants mustpossessthe qualifications necessary to be appointed at these levels.

Only candidates who are internationally based (both working andresidingoutside of Canada) are eligible to be nominated.

The Impact+ Chairs program uses a two-stage process: applicants first apply to this position for internal review, after which selected candidates will be supported by SFU to prepare a nomination, including a proposed research program, for submission to the Impact+ Chairs program.

The nomination is expected to besubmittedin March or June
2026.SFU will provide substantial support in the preparation and development of the program application including project management, budget planning, proposaldevelopmentand editing. If successful, Impact+ Chair awardees will also receive substantial support for their research programs and for administration of the grant.

In addition to the Impact+ Chairs nomination process, successful candidates will be appointed to a faculty position (Associate Professor or Professor) inan appropriate academic department/school/faculty at SFU, as early as Fall 2026.Procedures and processes have beenestablishedtopermitnon-Canadian chair holders, and in some cases members of the chair’s team, to work in Canada.

SFU welcomes applications fromoutstanding,establishedresearchersin anyof the Government of Canada’sidentifiedstrategic priority areas:

advanced digital technologies (including artificial intelligence,quantumand cybersecurity);

health, includingbiotechnology;

clean technology and resource valuechains;

environment, climateresilienceand the Arctic;

food and watersecurity;

democratic and communityresilience;

manufacturing and advanced materials; and/or

SFU recognizes that alternative career paths and/or career interruptions (e.parental leave, leave due to illness) canimpactresearch achievements and commits to ensuring that leaves are taken into careful consideration.

Candidates are encouraged to highlight in their application how alternative paths and/or interruptions have had an impact on their career.

SFU also recognizes the value of mentoring and research training, outreach, professional service, and nontraditional areas of research and/or research outputs;demonstrated experience in increasing diversity in thepreviousinstitutional environment, and in curriculum, is also an asset.

Additional Information
This Faculty position is contingent upon the nominee being awarded an Impact+ Chairthrough the program’s peer review…