Canada Impact+ Research Chair

Professor

Date posted: February 20, 2026
Closing date: March 22, 2026

Canada Impact+ Research Chair (Impact+) in Community Health and Digital Innovation

UVic acknowledges and respects the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees and Xʷsepsəm/Esquimalt) Peoples on whose territory the university stands, and the Lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day. Listen to our full Territorial Acknowledgement here.

The University of Victoria (UVic) seeks to recruit a world class researcher for a Canada Impact+ Research Chair (Impact+) in Community Health and Digital Innovation. The Impact+ program is a one-time initiative designed by the Canadian government to support institutions in attracting world-leading researchers whose work addresses critical national and global challenges. The program emphasizes both research excellence and tangible impact. Impact+ Chairs will receive long-term funding (between $500K to up to $1M per year for 8 years, with possibility of 4 year extension) and institutional support to advance ambitious and transformative projects in Canada’s strategic priority areas, build and maintain exceptional research teams, and collaborate with partners across sectors and borders. Impact+ Chairs are expected to drive the translation of discoveries into applications, commercialization and social and economic benefits for Canada and the world, while also developing the next generation of highly qualified personnel.

The Chairholder will benefit from and contribute to a dynamic and highly collaborative research environment, which has positioned UVic as #4 in Canada in scientific impact in Biomedical and Health Sciences (Leiden Ranking 2025) and #1 in Canada for international research collaboration (Leiden Ranking 2025). Results of UVic research is impactful and accessible, as UVic is ranked #2 in Canada in Open Access publications (Leiden Ranking 2025). UVic is also home to the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR), a network of researchers and partner organizations dedicated to conducting ethical, collaborative, high-quality studies of risk and protective factors for substance use and addictions and evaluating interventions relevant to substance use and related health determinants. In 2021, CISUR was named the Collaborating Centre on Alcohol and Public Health Policy Research by the World Health Organization. The Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health (IALH), another UVic research entity, is a multidisciplinary centre established to promote and conduct basic and applied research that is relevant to advancing lifelong health for all. UVic hosts the Mental Health Research Cluster, funded by the Aspiration 2030 Research Cluster program, which brings together a collaborative network of researchers and external partners committed to advancing mental health care through a holistic, interdisciplinary approach.

The Impact+ Chair in Community Health and Digital Innovation will be hosted in the School of Exercise Science, Physical & Health Education. The Chairholder will lead a research program that will leverage digital innovation, including artificial intelligence and emerging health technologies, to improve identification, prevention, management, and health equity in the strategic areas of mental health and substance use and chronic diseases across the lifespan. Indigenous health is a key focus. Other strategic areas will also be considered.

The candidate's qualifications, experience and overall market demand will determine a candidate’s final salary offer. The salary for this position includes a competitive salary range of $220,000 - $230,000. UVic is committed to offering an equitable and competitive salary, inclusive of a generous benefits package, eligible leaves and pension plan.

Process

The Impact+ nomination process involves two stages. Interested applicants must first apply to this job posting. The successful applicants will then be nominated by UVic for an Impact+ Chair and, upon approval by the Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat (TIPS), will then be offered an appointment at the rank of Full Professor.

The University will actively support the candidates throughout the nomination process. Results are expected by September 2026, with successful individuals expected to commence their role within the following 12-month period.

This position is contingent upon the applicant receiving an Impact+ Chair. The position is subject to the availability of funding and to final approval by the Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat (TIPS).

Requirements

Eligibility

Applicants must be top-tier researchers whose accomplishments have made significant breakthroughs in their field with major societal impact and who are acknowledged as world leaders in their fields. The successful candidate will have a PhD (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline as part of the UVic requirement. The applicant will be proposing an original, innovative research program of the highest quality that will advance the frontiers of research in the field on a global scale and impact Canadians and others around the world. The applicant will offer evidence of high-quality teaching, supervision, and mentorship of diverse teams and establishing an equitable and inclusive research environment.

The Chairholder will be expected to bring an independent, transdisciplinary and internationally recognized research program, with a record of obtaining substantive research funding, and producing high-impact research outputs, such as publications in top-tier peer-reviewed research in their fields. We welcome colleagues with experiences and competencies that can contribute to the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion and Indigenization throughout campus life.

Chairs are expected to build significant new partnerships and collaborations with both Canadian and international entities (industry, health systems, government and not-for-profit organizations), as well as by and with Indigenous Peoples and communities, where appropriate. A core expectation is that Chairs, and their research teams, will actively translate and mobilize research outcomes into practice, policy, and commercialization pathways that deliver measurable social and economic benefits for Canada and the world.

Applicants must be full professors or equivalent who can be hired at UVic at the full professor level. Current UVic faculty members are not eligible to apply. Only candidates who are internationally based (both working and residing outside of Canada) at the time of the application deadline are eligible to apply.

Please note that the requirement for the candidate to hold a PhD is a requirement of the University of Victoria and not the Impact+ Program.

Additional information

The Impact+ program is a tri-agency initiative of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). It is administered by the Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat (TIPS), which is housed within SSHRC. 

For more information on the Impact+ program generally and on eligibility specifically, please consult the Impact+ Chairs website.

To safeguard research in academia, the Government of Canada has implemented the Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC) and the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships (NSGRP). These Research Security policies apply to the Canada Impact+ Research Chair program. UVic recommends applicants to review these policies to ensure alignment with Research Security considerations of research funding programs. Vetting of shortlisted candidates will be integrated into the adjudication process for this competition. When awarded the Impact+ position, the successful applicant must not have any active affiliation with any entity on Canada’s List of Named Research Organizations (NRO) of concern and must maintain this status throughout their tenure as Chair.

Contact information

How to apply

To be considered, applications should be sent to Dr. Nevin Harper at ephe.director@uvic.ca Please combine the following documents into a single pdf file, and include the chair title in your email subject line:

• A cover letter (maximum 3 pages) describing briefly how the applicant meets the eligibility criteria listed above, including a description of current and future research interests and accomplishments related to the themes and sub-themes described above, and how UVic will provide an ideal research environment.
• A full CV, including details of research and teaching, scholarly output (for example, high impact publications, as well as any non-traditional research outputs such as policy or community reports, datasets, software, creative arts, patents), grants, collaborations/partnerships, impact measures (such as influence on policy and practice, community engagement, commercialization), personal honours/awards, and leadership experience.
• A one-page (maximum) statement that describes the applicant’s experience with attracting and mentoring a diverse group of students, trainees and research personnel, and establishing an equitable and inclusive research environment, as well as a plan for establishing and maintaining a diverse core team and an inclusive research environment.

Shortlisted applicants will be asked to provide the names and contact information of three references.

Please note that reference and background checks, including credential and degree verification, may be undertaken as part of this recruitment process.

Application deadline

In order to be considered, application packages must be received by 12:00pm PDT (noon) on Sunday March 22, 2026. Any inquiries regarding this posting may be directed to Sarah-Louise Decrausaz at decrausa@uvic.ca

Equity statement

UVic is committed to upholding the values of equity, diversity, inclusion and human rights in our living, learning and work environments. In pursuit of our values, we seek members who are eager to actively participate in that shared responsibility. We actively encourage applications from members of historically and systemically marginalized groups. Read our full equity statement.

As outlined above, UVic is fully aligned with the Impact+ program’s initiatives which encourage applications from individuals from all underrepresented, equity-seeking, rights-seeking populations, including racialized individuals, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, women, and individuals from the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

The University recognizes that life circumstances such as illness, disability, family and community responsibilities (e.g., maternity leave, parental leave, leaves due to illness, leaves due to caring for family members, slowdowns due to chronic illness or disability, or COVID-19 impacts) are often an expected part of life and are likely to have an impact on a nominee’s record of research achievement, and that these impacts will be taken into careful consideration during the assessment process. We encourage applicants to explain in their application the impact that career interruptions have had on their record.

UVic is dedicated to making our university, campus, and courses accessible to all students. We commit to addressing and removing barriers that hinder full and equal participation of people with disabilities. UVic's Accessibility Plan includes guiding principles and existing resources. It summarizes consultations, barriers and priorities for the next three years to address those barriers.

Persons with disabilities, who anticipate needing accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, may contact Heidi Morrison within Faculty Relations and Academic Administration in the Office of the VP Academic and Provost at FRrecruit@uvic.ca. Any personal information provided will be maintained in confidence.

In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the job advertisement efforts to attract a diverse pool of individuals, applicants will be invited to complete a confidential self-identification survey after the application deadline.