Aspiration Research Chair

Associate Professor or Professor

Aspiration Research Chair in Mental Health

We acknowledge and respect 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.  

The Faculty of Health at the University of Victoria (UVic) invites external applications for an Aspiration Chair in Mental Health, a senior academic and research leadership position.

Aspiration Research Chairs are intended for exceptional researchers who are internationally recognized leaders in their field, with demonstrated excellence in research and the ability to convene, connect, and lead large-scale, interdisciplinary initiatives. Aspiration Research Chairs play a critical leadership role in advancing UVic’s strategic priorities by strengthening research excellence, fostering external partnerships, and delivering meaningful societal impact.

The Faculty of Health at UVic is home to a vibrant and growing community of mental health researchers whose work spans neuroscience, clinical and community mental health, health systems and population health. UVic’s mental health research strengths are anchored by academic units, research centres, and research clusters, and are supported by a rich ecosystem of partnerships with health systems, community organizations, Indigenous communities, governments, and national and international collaborators.

The goal of the Aspiration Research Chair in Mental Health is to:

• Advance innovative, interdisciplinary research on mental health and wellbeing across the lifespan, including approaches to diagnosis, intervention and health system care delivery;
• Convene and connect researchers, clinicians, community partners, and knowledge users across disciplines to strength UVic’s mental health research ecosystem;
• Generate and mobilize evidence that reduces health disparities and improves mental health outcomes for equity-seeking populations;
• Build and sustain partnerships with Health Authorities, Indigenous communities, governments and community organizations to advance policy-relevant and implementation-focused mental health research; and
• Increase opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to engage in mental health research.

The successful candidate will hold a tenured faculty appointment in the Faculty of Health and will be a nationally and internationally recognized leader in health research, innovation, and community impact. Applicants must be full professors or equivalent or Associate Professors who can be hired at UVic at the full professor level within two years of starting their appointment. Current UVic faculty members are not eligible to apply.

The anticipated start date is January 2027. The Aspiration Research Chair appointment is for a five-year, non-renewable term, and the holder will receive up to $50,000 annually to support research, pedagogy or partnerships, as applicable. Upon completion of the term, the successful candidate will continue in a regular faculty position.

Salary Range  
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 $140,000 - $174,000 at the Associate Professor rank or $175,000 - $220,000 at the Professor rank. UVic is committed to offering an equitable and competitive salary, inclusive of a generous benefits package, eligible leaves and pension plan.  

Requirements

Role and Responsibilities
The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Lead an internationally recognized research program in mental health with demonstrated scholarly excellence and societal impact
• Strengthen and align UVic’s health research pillars through strategic planning, leadership, and coordination
• Convene researchers across disciplines, faculties, and institutions to build large-scale, interdisciplinary research initiatives
• Build and sustain high-impact external partnerships with health authorities, community organizations, governments, Indigenous partners, and funders
• Champion knowledge mobilization, implementation science, and policy-relevant research
• Mentor faculty, early-career researchers, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students
• Contribute to teaching and graduate supervision within the Faculty of Health
• Serve as a catalyst and connector for UVic’s mental health research community and represent UVic’s mental health research strengths regionally, nationally and internationally.

Required Qualifications
Candidates must:

• Hold a PhD (or equivalent) in a mental health relevant field or a closely related health discipline
• Be eligible for appointment at the rank of Associate Professor with tenure or Professor with tenure
• Demonstrate an internationally recognized research profile, evidenced by sustained external funding, high-impact publications, and scholarly leadership
• Show a strong record of research leadership, including experience leading teams, programs, centres, or large collaborative initiatives
• Demonstrate excellence in community-engaged, applied, or translational research
• Have experience building and sustaining external partnerships across health systems, communities, or policy environments
• Demonstrate outstanding communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills
• Have experience supervising graduate students and mentoring researchers

Experience working with community organizations, health authorities, Indigenous partners, or policy-makers is considered a strong asset.

This appointment is limited to candidates external to UVic.

Additional information

Faculty and Librarians at the University of Victoria are governed by the provisions of the Collective Agreement. Members are represented by the University of Victoria Faculty Association.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. If you are neither a Canadian citizen nor permanent resident, please indicate if you are authorized to work in Canada or willing to apply for authorization, if offered a position contingent upon eligibility and approval from Canadian government authorities.  

Contact information

Applications should include the following and be send to Kelli Stajduhar, PhD, RN, Search Committee Chair, at researchchair@uvic.ca.

1. A cover letter addressing the candidate’s suitability for the Aspiration Research Chair
2. A detailed curriculum vitae
3. A 2-page statement outlining the candidate’s vision for mental health research, including how they would strengthen UVic’s health research profile and impact, aligned with the goals of the chair
4. The names and contact information of three referees (to be contacted if shortlisted)

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

Application deadline

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.

The University acknowledges the potential impact that career interruptions can have on a candidate’s record of research achievement. We encourage applicants to explain in their application the impact that career interruptions have had on their record. 

Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process may contact 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.