Canada Excellence Research Chair positions

The Waterloo Centre for Astrophysics (WCA) at the University of Waterloo invites candidates to apply for one of several Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) opportunities.  The WCA consists of 14 faculty members, with vibrant visitor and meeting programs. Current areas of research interest include cosmology, large-scale structure, gravitational lensing, black holes, galaxies, clusters, quasars and sub-mm astronomy.  The group has a close connection to the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, which is located just a short walk away.  

Candidates will be leaders in their field with evidence of an exceptional research program following the award of their PhD. They will propose an innovative program of high-quality research that includes collaboration with researchers in closely related fields and supervision of graduate students. The research will complement, enhance and expand current activity within the WCA. 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 university. Informal inquiries about how this position relates to the WCA can be directed to [email protected].

The role for a successful candidate would include appointment to a full-time position at the rank of Associate or Full Professor within the Department of physics and astronomy. All CERC appointments are subject to review and approval by the CERC Secretariat.

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 with regard to nationality or country of residence. Researchers who hold a full-time academic appointment at a 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 legitimate career interruptions can have an impact on research achievements. Applicants are encouraged to explain further how this may affect them in their application. Contact the Office of Research for full CERC information including further details on eligibility criteria.

How to apply

The deadline to apply is February 21, 2022. Apply in confidence with a curriculum vitae, cover letter, research statement, teaching dossier, and up to five sample research outputs. 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: Dr. Charmaine Dean, Vice-President, University Research, Office of Research, University of Waterloo at [email protected].

The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview or workplace accommodation requests please contact Occupational Health ([email protected]  or Karen – extension 40538); 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 [email protected].

The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Attawandaron (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 Relations Office.

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, Inuk (Inuit)), Black, racialized, people with disabilities, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.