Research chairs

Introduced by the federal government in 2000 to retain and attract exceptional research faculty.

Current Canada Research Chairs

• Ian Goldberg, 2019-2026
  • Canada Research Chair in Privacy Enhancing Technologies (Tier 1)
• Anita Layton, 2018-2025
  • Canada 150 Research Chair in Mathematical Biology and Medicine
• Ming Li, 2016-2023
  • Canada Research Chair in Bioinformatics (Tier 1)
• Cam Stewart, 2017-2024
  • Canada Research Chair in Number Theory (Tier 1)
• Jun Liu, 2017-2027
  • Canada Research Chair in Hybrid Systems and Control (Tier 2)
• Luke Postle, 2015-2025
  • Canada Research Chair in Graph Theory (Tier 2)
• Karen Yeats, 2017-2027
  • Canada Research Chair in Combinatorics of Quantum Field Theory (Tier 2)

Past Canada Research Chairs

• Ian Munro, 2015-2022
  • Canada Research Chair in Algorithm Design (Tier 1)
• David Landriault, 2016-2021
  • Canadian Research Chair in Risk Theory (Tier 2)
• Richard Cook, 2005-2019
  • Canada Research Chair in Statistical Methods for Health Research (Tier 1)
• Jim Geelen, 2003-2013
  • Canada Research Chair in Combinatorial Optimization (Tier 2)
• Achim Kempf, 2004-2014
  • Canada Research Chair in the Physics of Information (Tier 2)
• Srinivasan Keshav, 2004-2014
  • Canada Research Chair in Tetherless ComputingCanada Research Chair in Tetherless Computing (Tier 2)
• Debbie Leung, 2005-2015
  • Canada Research Chair in Quantum Communication (Tier 2)
• Michele Mosca, 2002-2015
  • Canada Research Chair in Quantum Computation (Tier 2)
• Justin Wan, 2006-2016
  • Canada Research Chair in Scientific Computing (Tier 2)

The University of Waterloo recognizes exceptional achievement and pre-eminence in a particular field of knowledge with the designation 'University Research Chair' - a title which may be held for up to seven years, with the possibility of re-nomination.

Current University Research Chairs

• William Slofstra, Pure Mathematics
• Chaitanya Swamy, Combinatorics and Optimization
• Shai Ben-David, Computer Science
• Raouf Boutaba, Computer Science
• Sue Anne Campbell, Applied Mathematics
• James Geelen, Combinatorics and Optimization
• Penny Haxell, Combinatorics and Optimization
• Lila Kari, Computer Science
• Achim Kempf, Applied Mathematics
• Matthew Kennedy, Pure Mathematics
• Kate Larson, Computer Science
• Debbie Leung, Combinatorics and Optimization
• Bin Ma, Computer Science
• Sri Namachchivaya, Applied Mathematics
• Alexander Schied, Statistics and Actuarial Science
• Ruodu Wang, Statistics and Actuarial Science

Past University Research Chairs

• Chris Bauch, Applied Mathematics
• Jason Bell, Pure Mathematics
• Carole Bernard, Statistics and Actuarial Science
• Timothy Chan, Computer Science
• Thomas Coleman, Combinatorics and Optimization
• Bill Cunningham, Combinatorics and Optimization
• Ian Goldberg, Computer Science
• Michele Mosca, Combinatorics and Optimization
• Tamer Ozsu, Computer Science
• Sivabal Sivaloganathan, Applied Mathematics
• Doug Stinson, Computer Science
• Ken Seng Tan, Statistics and Actuarial Science
• Stephen Vavasis, Combinatorics and Optimization
• Grace Yi, Statistics and Actuarial Science

Thanks to generous industry partners and donors, faculty members with extensive expertise can be awarded a Chair which allows for increased research resources and support.

Current Industry and Named Chairs

• Florian Kerschbaum, NSERC/RBC Industrial Research Chair in Data Security
• Johnny Li, Munich Re Chair in Insurance
• Jimmy Lin, David R. Cheriton Chair in Software Systems
• N. Asokan, David R. Cheriton Chair in Software Systems
• Ihab F. Ilyas, NSERC Thomson Reuters Research Chair in Data Quality

Past Industry and Named Chairs

• Frank Tip, David R. Cheriton Chair in Software Systems
• Gord Willmot, Munich Re Chair in Insurance

The University of Waterloo recognizes exceptional scholarly achievement and international pre-eminence through the designation “University Professor”. Once appointed, a faculty member retains the designation until retirement.

• Cameron Stewart, 2005
• Ken Davidson, 2007
• Ming Li, 2009
• Ian Munro, 2009
• Doug Stinson, 2013
• William Cook, 2015
• Tamer Ozsu, 2018
• Richard J. Cook, 2020

Retired University Professors

• Mary Thompson, 2004