Career opportunities

Canada Impact+ Research Chairs - Associate Professor / Professor

Ad posting date: December 18, 2025.  

Ad closing date: June 15, 2026.  

Review of applications for the March intake will begin on January 19, 2026. 

University of Waterloo is a global research and innovation hub that drives economic and social prosperity for Canada and the world. With the strategic integration of research and teaching excellence, a world-leading co-operative education program and unmatched entrepreneurial culture, Waterloo’s community of researchers and innovators are uniquely positioned to address the most pressing global challenges facing humanity and our planet.  

Recognized as Canada’s top comprehensive research university, Waterloo combines multi-disciplinary research, deep connections with industry, unique creator-owned IP policy and robust commercialization support to turn discoveries into real-world solutions that create measurable benefits for society and the economy. Waterloo at 100 is the strategic vision that reinvents the culture of our institution to build a better future.  

The University of Waterloo is seeking internationally renowned scholars and researchers to apply to be nominated for the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs program. Two maximum award values: $1 Million per year, or $500K per year for eight years, with potential for a four year renewal. Appointments to a variety of disciplines across the university are possible, but the fields of research must be aligned with one or more of following federal strategic priority areas:  

  • advanced digital technologies (including artificial intelligence, quantum and cybersecurity); 

  • health, including biotechnology; 

  • clean technology and resource value chains; 

  • environment, climate resilience and the Arctic; 

  • food and water security; 

  • democratic and community resilience; 

  • manufacturing and advanced materials; and/or 

  • defence and dual-use technologies. 

Eligibility: 

The Impact+ Research Chairs is a one-time program that offers eligible institutions the opportunity to nominate internationally renowned scholars and scientists as chairholders in areas of strategic importance to Canada. The nominees must have a recent track record of research accomplishments and significant interest in making new contributions to Canada. Only candidates who are internationally based (residence and employment outside of Canada) at the time of application are eligible to apply. 

The University of Waterloo requires nominees to have a PhD (or equivalent) and will be appointed in a University of Waterloo academic department/unit as a full professor or associate professor with a promotion to full professor within two years of starting their appointment, or, if recruited from outside the academic sector, must possess the necessary qualifications to be appointed at these levels. The rank and salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.  

We acknowledge that research careers are not linear and that life circumstances—such as illness, disability, family and community responsibilities (including maternity or parental leave, caregiving leaves, chronic illness or disability, and COVID-19-related impacts)—can affect the pace and nature of research contributions. The assessment process will take these circumstances into careful consideration, and nominees are invited to provide relevant context to ensure their achievements are evaluated fairly and equitably.  

The candidate will propose an innovative program of high-quality research relating to one or more of the eight federal priority areas listed above that will attract external funding and excellent graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. A successful record of research funding is required. Ability and desire to partner with faculty in closely related fields at the University of Waterloo and externally, is expected. Duties include research, teaching at the undergraduate and graduate level, service to the unit, and the supervision of graduate students.  

Successful nominees for this program will be expected to start their position, on a full-time basis, within 12 months of the acceptance by the chairholder. For more details on eligibility requirements, see the Government of Canada’s Program Information page, as well as general guidance applicable for the Impact+ program at Canada Excellence Research Chairs and Canada 150 Research Chairs Administration Guide.  

Applications: 

Applicants must upload their information to the Canada Impact+ Chair position in this online portal and complete the confidential self-identification form noted below. Include:  

  • cover letter (including identification of one or more federal strategic priority areas in the subject line);  

  • curriculum vitae; 

  • teaching statement of 3-5 pages; 

  • research statement of 3-5 pages (include statements on how research results could be shared and applied in practices, policies, products and/or services);  

  • a list of five publications that are aligned with the identified priority areas (appended to the research statement);

  • three referees (letters will only be requested if invited for interview).

The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is centralized within our Indigenous Initiatives Office.  

The University of Waterloo values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees.   As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically undervalued and marginalized, including applicants who identify as Indigenous peoples (e.g., First Nations, Métis, Inuit/Inuk), Black, racialized, people with disabilities, women and/or 2SLGBTQIA+ community.  

As part of the application, applicants are required to complete a confidential self-identification form. This form is found here: https://uwaterloo.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_08RcdJzz6YAh4TX. The information disclosed through this form will be kept strictly confidential and will be aligned with identity and equity data best practices, and university policy. The information will only be used in alignment with the Impact + Chairs Program goals. Further information can be found at: https://www.canada.ca/en/impact-plus-chairs/program-details/competition/2026/apply.html#10.  

The University of Waterloo has an Indigenous Verification Process to ensure that claims of Indigenous identity are made with integrity and respect. Shortlisted candidates may be asked to engage in this process in accordance with University guidelines.  

The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for people with disabilities. If you have any application or interview accommodation requests, please contact Canada-ImpactChairs@uwaterloo.ca, For any other workplace accommodation requests please contact Karen at Occupational Health (occupationalhealth@uwaterloo.ca). At all phases of the recruitment, we will work with the selection committee to secure accommodation while maintaining confidentiality.  

If you have any questions regarding the position, the application process, assessment process, eligibility, or the program, visit: https://uwaterloo.ca/research/find-and-apply-funding/find-funding/canada-impact-research-chairs-program-university-waterloo  

Three reasons to apply: https://uwaterloo.ca/faculty-association/why-waterloo

Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC), Associate or Full Professor in Quantum Information

Date Posted: August 27, 2025

Located in the heart of Waterloo Region, the University of Waterloo is at the forefront of innovation and home to world-class research and inspired teaching. The Institute for Quantum Computing, in collaboration with the Faculties of Mathematics and Science, is seeking exceptional scholars and researchers to take up a position as a Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in the strategic priority area of Quantum Information. The CERC program was established to offer Chairs valued at $500,000 or $1,000,000 per year, for a total of $4,000,000 or $8,000,000 over eight years. The University of Waterloo is proceeding with nominations at the $500,000 level, with funds allocated towards the Chair’s salary and research expenses.


Candidates will have a PhD or equivalent with a relevant professional designation or licensure, a requirement of the University of Waterloo. A global research leader with evidence of an exceptional research program that has made a major societal impact, the candidate will propose an innovative program of high-quality research that includes collaboration with researchers in closely related fields and supervision of graduate students. They will also teach at the undergraduate and graduate levels (a reduced teaching assignment will be in place during the term of the Chair) and provide service to the unit. Applicants whose research aligns with the University’s Strategic Plan and Research Strategic Plan and the Government of Canada priorities are preferred. The search is open to all areas of quantum information related to the goals and ongoing research at IQC. We are especially interested in candidates working in:


• Quantum Error Correction,
• Quantum Networking,
• Interface Theory/Experiment,
• Applied Quantum Algorithms, and
• Quantum Materials/Devices.


The role includes appointment to a full-time tenured or tenure-track position at the rank of Associate or Full Professor within the Faculty of Science or Mathematics, along with membership in IQC. Specifically, this position can be held in any of the following departments and schools connected to IQC: Applied Mathematics, Pure Mathematics, Combinatorics and Optimization, Computer Science, Chemistry, and Physics & Astronomy. IQC membership is renewable and comes with research space and a stipend. Information about research at IQC can be found at https://uwaterloo.ca/institute-for-quantum-computing/research. All CERC appointments are subject to review and contingent upon approval by the CERC Secretariat (results expected January 2027). The salary range for the position will depend upon the rank (i.e., Associate Professor, Professor).



Eligibility


Candidates should be at the rank of Full Professor or be an Associate Professor who is expected to be promoted to the rank of Full Professor within one to two years of the nomination. Alternatively, if from outside the academic sector, nominees must possess the necessary qualifications to be appointed at these levels. The CERC program imposes no restrictions on nominees regarding nationality or country of residence. Researchers who hold a full-time academic appointment at another Canadian institution are eligible, but should they be nominated, the University will be required to demonstrate the net benefit to Canada in moving the researcher from one Canadian institution to another.
 

At Waterloo, it’s recognized that career interruptions can have an impact on research achievements. Applicants are encouraged to explain further how this may affect them in their application; this information will be taken into careful consideration during the assessment process. Contact the Office of Research for full CERC information, including further details on eligibility criteria.
 

How to apply


Applications received by September 30, 2025, will be given full consideration. However, applications will continue to be reviewed until the position is filled. Apply in confidence with a curriculum vitae, cover letter, research statement, teaching dossier, and up to five sample research outputs. Three letters of reference will be requested for applicants invited for an interview. If applicable, applicants are also invited to submit an optional letter or oral statement of support from the individual’s community that describes the individual’s involvement/role within the community, or a statement of lived experience. Send application packages to: https://uwaterloo.ca/institute-for-quantum-computing/research/available-positions.


All applicants to this CERC opportunity are required to self-identify using the self-identification applicant survey. The CERC program requires institutions to collect self-identification data from all applicants to assess the diversity of its candidate pool. Information disclosed by applicants will be kept strictly confidential.
 

The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Karen Parkinson (Occupational Health, occupationalhealth@uwaterloo.ca), who will work with the selection committee to secure accommodation while ensuring that the information is safe-guarded and confidentiality is maintained. If you have any questions regarding the position, the application process, assessment process, or eligibility, please contact: IQC Executive Director at iqc-dtr@uwaterloo.
 

The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is centralized within our Office of Indigenous Relations (https://uwaterloo.ca/human-rights-equity-inclusion/indigenousinitiatives).


The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion. As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as Indigenous peoples (e.g., First Nations, Métis, Inuit/Inuk), Black, racialized, people with disabilities, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply, however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.


Three reasons to apply: https://uwaterloo.ca/faculty-association/why-waterloo.