Chair Professor of Department of Physics

The University of Alberta invites applications to the Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC) Program. As published, the University has a maximum yearly CERC allocation valued at $3M for 3-6 CERC positions depending on the value chosen. Applicants will be in various strategic research areas for the institution.  The positions will be in the following disciplinary or interdisciplinary areas of research:

• Faculty of Science: CERCs
  • Research Areas:  Theoretical Quantum Physics

The University of Alberta is one of the largest and most research productive universities in Canada. With more than 40,000 students from 146 countries, the U of A regularly ranks in the top 5 universities in the country and in the top 100 universities in the world according to QSWorldwide university rankings. The university offers highly competitive salaries and an excellent benefits package. The University’s Forward with Purpose strategic plan for research and innovation can be found here.  The University of Alberta’s Strategic Research Plan for CFI/CRC/CERC can be found here. 

These CERCs are consistent with the Canada Research Chairs (CRC) Program’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Requirement and Practices and are aligned with the University of Alberta's strategic goals of Access, Community, and Belonging, its recently adopted Changing the Story: An Integrated Action Plan, and the University’s CRC EDI Action Plan which commit the University to intentionally pursuing and implementing system-wide equity initiatives to reduce barriers and increase belonging in all university structures, programs, policies, and practices.

The CERC program is about recruiting the best global talent to Canada and supporting the next generation of leaders, making them integral parts of these ambitious core research teams, so they can chart their own paths forward. The social and economic benefits of the program will, in addition, impact Canadians and others around the world, through the commercialization, knowledge translation and mobilization the research generates.  The objectives of the CERC program are:

• to strengthen Canada’s ability to attract the world’s top researchers, in order to be at the leading edge of breakthroughs in ST & I priority areas expected to generate social and economic benefits for Canadians;
• to help Canada build a critical mass of expertise in ST&I priority areas identified by the Government of Canada;
• to create a competitive environment to help Canadian institutions, in their pursuit of excellence in their research, attract a cadre of world-leading researchers; and
• to contribute to branding Canada as a location of choice for world-leading research, science and technology development, alongside other federal programs with similar objectives.

Following a highly competitive and rigorous selection process involving peer review, CERCs are appointed for a period of eight years in values of $8 million or $4 million (over the entire award period). These awards are not renewable. The two award values recognize the varying costs of research within different research disciplines and aims to be inclusive of all areas of research. Chairs will be awarded in alignment with the Government of Canada’s ST&I priority areas for the CERC program.

Nominees to the CERC program must be full professors or associate professors expected to be promoted to full professor within one or two years of the nomination. Alternatively, if they come from outside the academic sector, nominees must possess the qualifications necessary to be appointed at these levels. The nominee must hold a full-time academic appointment at the nominating institution as of the start date of the Chair award. Awardees will have up to 12 months to take up the award after the notice of award and acceptance has been signed by all parties.

The University of Alberta recognizes the legitimate impact that leaves (e.g., parental leave, leave due to illness) can have on a candidate’s record of research achievement and that these leaves will be taken into careful consideration during the assessment process. Please consult the Canada Excellence Research Chairs website for full program information, including further details on eligibility criteria and application requirements.

In addition to the above CERC requirements, the University of Alberta requires that the successful candidate will:

• Hold a MD, PhD or equivalent in a relevant discipline with documented research contributions;
• Demonstrated an innovative and world-class program of research that advances the state of the art in relevant research areas and has the potential for interdisciplinary impact; and
• Demonstrated commitment to EDI in their research and teaching.

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Articulate, develop and advance an innovative and productive research program that contributes to the vibrant intellectual life at the University of Alberta;
• Expand their leadership and influence within their academic discipline through editorships, awards, conference organization and other leadership contributions;
• Demonstrate a commitment to the training of highly qualified personnel at all levels of study; and
• Collaborate effectively within a multi-disciplinary community of researchers who vary with respect to theoretical orientations and levels of analysis.

Successful applicants to this job posting will be nominated for Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC). Nominations are subject to review by the Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat (TIPS), and appointment as a Canada Excellence Research Chair is conditional upon their approval.

Successful nominees to the CERC Program (i.e., appointed as a CERC by Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat (TIPS)) will be appointed at the Full Professor or Associate Professor level at the University of Alberta with tenure and the salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

General questions about the CERC program can be forwarded to Glen Thomas (University of Alberta CRC Coordinator and Advisor, crcadmin@ualberta). Please consult the Canada Excellence Research Chairs website for full program information, including further details on eligibility criteria.

Specific research questions about this competition should be sent electronically to the following faculty representatives:

• Faculty of Science:  Vice-Dean Faculty of Science, Dean’s office  (vicedsci@ualberta.ca)

The evaluation and decision of each competition above will take place within the unit sponsoring the research area. The selection process will be governed by the requirements for the recruitment and nomination process of the Canada Excellence Research Chairs Program.

To Apply:

• All applicants to this job posting are required to self-identify. You will be able to view and answer the survey by clicking the ‘Apply’ button. For any questions or concerns, please contact equity@ualberta.ca.
• Submit a current CV, including a one page description of the applicant’s proposed research for the CERC by clicking the "Apply Online" button below.

Applicants who require an accessibility arrangement for their application, interview, and/or subsequent recruitment meetings can reach out to the Staff Service Centre at 780-492-8000 or submit a General Inquiry with the competition number to arrange appropriate accommodations.

Date Posted: May 13, 2025

The Canada Excellence Research Chairs Program stands at the centre of a national strategy to make Canada one of the world's top countries in research and development by attracting and retaining a diverse cadre of world-class researchers. Chairholders aim to achieve research excellence in their disciplines, to improve our depth of knowledge and quality of life, strengthen Canada's international competitiveness, and help train the next generation of highly skilled people through student supervision, teaching and research. All eligible degree-granting institutions participating in the program are expected to make concerted efforts to meet their equity and diversity targets and provide a supportive and inclusive workplace.

This position requires that the incumbent be eligible to participate in government-funded research projects, including active ability to receive federal research funds on behalf of the university. Individuals having an active affiliation with a Named Research Organization are ineligible to participate in government-funded research projects in Sensitive Technology Research Areas in Canada. Applicants must be able to meet all applicable research security requirements.