Canada Impact+ Emerging Leader in Manufacturing and Advanced Materials

University of Ottawa; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Ottawa invites applications for a tenure-track Canada Impact+ Emerging Leader position in Manufacturing and Advanced Materials within the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. The successful candidate will build an internationally recognized program focusing on sustainable nanomaterials and energy materials for storage, energy harvesting, and the energy transition.

They will lead research in AI-guided discovery, materials informatics, and high-throughput

Qualifications

• PhD in relevant engineering field and track record of independent research.
• Experience in materials research for energy storage, energy conversion, or sustainable materials.
• Ability to secure external funding and supervise students/postdocs.

Responsibilities

• Establish an internationally recognized, funded research program.
• Foster interdisciplinary collaborations within the Faculty of Engineering and across campuses.
• Develop and deploy research in energy materials for storage, conversion, and sustainability.
• Mentor trainees and contribute to teaching and service in the department.

Skills

Materials science

Energy storage

Nanomaterials

Sustainable materials

AI-guided discovery

Education

PhD in Chemical or Materials Engineering

Job description

Job Type: Academic Regular

Faculty/Department: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering_FT

The University of Ottawa (uOttawa) invites applications for a tenure-track Canada Impact+ Emerging Leader position in Manufacturing and Advanced Materials, aligned with the Government of Canada's strategic priority area. The position is associated with the Canada Impact+ Research Chair in Emerging Sustainable Materials for the Energy Transition in the Faculty of Engineering under the Eddie Goldenberg Research Chairs of Canada Program (formerly Canada Impact+ Research Chairs Program).

The successful candidate will join the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering within the Faculty of Engineering. The faculty seeks an emerging scholar who will establish an internationally recognized, independent research program that complements the Canada Impact+ Research Chair by advancing sustainable nanomaterials and advanced functional materials for energy harvesting, energy storage, and the energy transition. The successful candidate will contribute to the discovery, design, characterization, development, and deployment of next-generation materials that support renewable energy technologies, device engineering, system-level integration, and sustainable manufacturing. Research areas of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Materials for energy storage and conversion, including batteries, hydrogen technologies, fuel cells, electrocatalysts, and solar-energy systems
• Energy harvesting, energy storage integration, device engineering, and system-level applications for sustainable energy technologies
• Sustainable and circular materials, including recyclable, bio-based, and biodegradable polymers and composites
• Nanostructured and multifunctional materials, including photonic and optoelectronic materials for energy conversion, renewable energy technologies, and emerging applications
• AI-guided materials discovery, materials informatics, high-throughput experimentation, and autonomous laboratories
• Recovery, recycling, and substitution of critical or strategic materials
• Functional and responsive materials, including smart polymers, membranes, catalysts, and coatings
• Materials for extreme environments, including lightweight, corrosion-resistant, thermally stable, and high-strength materials
• Advanced biomaterials for health, biotechnology, drug delivery, and biosensors

The successful candidate will benefit from a vibrant interdisciplinary research environment within the Faculty of Engineering, spanning advanced materials, device engineering, and system-level applications, with opportunities for collaboration across the Faculties of Engineering and Science. The successful candidate will have access to state-of-the-art research infrastructure, including the STEM Complex, which houses the Centre for Hybrid Interfaces and Intelligent Thin Films (HIIT) and the Sustainable Soft Materials enabled through Advanced Regulatory Toxicology (SSMART) laboratory, providing leading-edge capabilities in advanced functional materials for emerging technologies. Additional research infrastructure includes the CFI-funded NanoFab core facility for advanced photonics microfabrication, the Materials Characterization Core Facility (MatChar), SUNLAB for solar cell characterization, and the National Research Council-uOttawa Joint Centre for Extreme Photonics. Together, these facilities, combined with strong national and international collaborations and industry partnerships, provide an exceptional environment to establish an internationally competitive research program and translate discoveries into innovative technologies with economic, environmental, and societal impact.

The Emerging Leader will be expected to establish an externally funded research program, train highly qualified personnel, foster interdisciplinary collaborations, and translate research discoveries into innovative technologies that strengthen Canada's leadership in Manufacturing and Advanced Materials.

uOttawa is ranked fifth in research intensity in 2025 and is renowned for pioneering discoveries across multiple disciplines. Several of our research centers and institutes rank among the top 100 globally, including the top six in Canada.

Located in Canada's vibrant capital, uOttawa, proud to be the world's largest bilingual (English and French) university, is minutes away from federal and other government institutions, several national agencies, embassies, international organizations, and connected to the thriving high-tech sector. We are committed to building partnerships across Canada and internationally and fostering innovation and knowledge mobilization in areas of significant social and economic impact.

About the Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders Program

The Eddie Goldenberg Research Chairs of Canada Program is a very prestigious, one-time initiative designed to support universities in attracting world-leading researchers whose work addresses critical nat