Up to 30 tenure and tenure-track roles at Dalhousie University

Dalhousie University - VPRI; Halifax; On-site; CAD 100,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious Canadian university is launching a significant recruitment effort for Canada Impact+ Research Chairs and Emerging Leaders aimed at world-leading scholars. Successful candidates will establish major research programs aligned with global and national challenges and are expected to demonstrate significant research achievements plus leadership potential within their fields. Applications are welcomed from diverse backgrounds to promote equity and inclusiveness. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to transformative research in an inspiring environment.

Qualifications

• Strong recent record of research achievements.
• Demonstrated interest in contributing to Canada’s research landscape.
• Prepared to lead large research programs and supervise research teams.

Responsibilities

• Establish a major research program in Canada.
• Build meaningful partnerships across sectors and communities.
• Translate research outcomes into practice, policy, or commercialization pathways.

Education

Full professor or associate professor

Equivalent qualifications for appointment

Job description

With funding from Government of Canada’s $1.7 billion Global Impact+ Research Talent Initiative (Impact+), Dalhousie University has launched one of the most significant researcher recruitment efforts in its history. This national initiative is designed to recruit world‑leading scholars whose solutions‑driven work addresses critical global and national challenges and who are poised to build transformational research programs in Canada. Additionally, Dalhousie is aligning recruitment for up to nine Canada Research Chairs (CRCs), regarded as one of the country’s most prestigious pathways for attracting and retaining top research talent.

Positions include:

• Canada Impact+ Research Chairs, receiving $8 million or $4 million over eight years
• Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders, receiving $100,000 per year over six years
• Canada Research Chairs (Tier 1), receiving $200,000 annually per year over seven years
• Canada Research Chairs (Tier 2), receiving $100,000 annually for five years

Deadline to submit your application to Dalhousie for the Impact+ Emerging Leaders and CRC opportunities: January 19, 2026

Deadline to submit your application to Dalhousie for the Impact+ Research Chairs: January 22, 2026

Strategic Priorities

Dalhousie will nominate Impact+ and CRC candidates in areas identified by the Government of Canada as critical to global and national challenges. These priorities closely parallel Dalhousie’s own research priorities and strengths and are reflected in the university’s Strategic Research Clusters. Applications must demonstrate how the proposed program will advance one or more of the following strategic priority areas:

• advanced digital technologies (including Artificial Intelligence, quantum and cybersecurity)
• clean technology and resource value chains
• defence and dual‑use technologies
• democratic and community resilience
• environment, climate resilience and the Arctic
• food and water security
• health and biotechnology
• manufacturing and advanced materials

About the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs opportunity

Canada Impact+ Research Chairs are designed for internationally renowned researchers who are ready to establish a major research program in Canada. Dalhousie can nominate up to 14 Chairs across the Government of Canada’s strategic priority areas. Globally pre‑eminent researchers may be identified as Distinguished Chairs and receive up to $1.5 annually, in exceptional cases. Institutions may also request up to $6 million per Chair in research infrastructure funding through the Canada Foundation for Innovation.

Chairholders are expected to build meaningful partnerships across sectors and communities and ensure that research outcomes translate into practice, policy or commercialization pathways with measurable societal and economic benefit.

We welcome applications from researchers with complementary interests who wish to apply collaboratively. Candidates may identify a co‑applicant such as an early‑career researcher whose expertise aligns with your proposed research program. Each application will be assessed on its own merit regardless of any collaborative arrangements. Please indicate any collaborative intent and the name of your proposed partner in your application.

Qualifications and Eligibility:

• Be internationally based at the time of the first intake deadline (working and residing outside Canada).
• Have a strong recent record of research achievements and a demonstrated interest in contributing to Canada’s research and innovation landscape.
• Hold the rank of full professor or associate professor.
• If from outside the academic sector candidate must have equivalent qualifications for appointment at that level.
• Be prepared to lead a large research program, supervise and build a research team, and work closely with the host institution on governance and administrative requirements.

About the Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders opportunity

The Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders program supports the recruitment of internationally recognized scholars in the early stages of their careers who are poised to accelerate research excellence, translation and partnership building in one of Canada’s strategic priority areas.

While not necessary to qualify for a Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders role, applicants are encouraged to identify senior collaborators or mentors applying for the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs program with whom they hope to work and identify them in the application process. To hire a Canada Impact+ Emerging Leader, Dalhousie must first secure a Canada Research Impact+ Chair in a complementary research area.

Qualifications and Eligibility:

• Be internationally based (working and residing outside Canada) at the time the linked Canada Impact+ Research Chair award is accepted.
• Be an early career researcher, within five years of their first independent research position.
• Work in one of Canada’s strategic priority areas and be positioned to build a high‑impact program within that area.
• Demonstrate strong potential for transformational, translational research and the development of meaningful partnerships.

About the Canada Research Chairs opportunity

The Canada Research Chairs program was created to position Canada as a global destination for scholarship and innovation. The program provides long‑term, stable support that allows leading researchers to pursue ambitious agendas, build high‑performing teams and deepen Canada’s research capacity in areas of national and global importance.

Applicants are encouraged to identify collaborators applying for the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs program with whom they hope to work and identify them in the application process.

Qualifications and Eligibility:

• Researchers based in Canada and internationally are encouraged to apply.
• Tier 1 Chairs are reserved for researchers who are outstanding leaders in their fields and recognized internationally for their contributions in Canada’s strategic priority areas.
• Tier 2 Chairs support exceptional emerging scholars who demonstrate the potential to become future leaders in Canada’s strategic priority areas, within 10 years of their highest degree.

Why Dalhousie

Dalhousie is the only East Coast member of Canada’s U15, the country’s leading group of research‑intensive universities. With more than $250 million in annual research funding, we are Atlantic Canada’s engine of discovery and innovation. Anchored in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with additional agricultural and medical campuses and academic and clinical programs across the province and beyond, we drive positive change in the communities we serve locally, nationally, and around the world.

Our faculty work within a highly collaborative research community supported by major infrastructure, including Canada’s largest aquatic research facility and advanced platforms accelerating discoveries in health and the physical sciences. Researchers contribute to and benefit from a growing network of centres, institutes, and hubs driving discovery and industry partnership in areas like battery innovation and clean technologies, carbon capture and storage, additive manufacturing, AI and semiconductors, vaccine and immunotherapy development, genomics, cancer treatment, and much more.

We lead Canadian universities with an extensive ecosystem built to support research commercialization. Our researchers own and control their intellectual property. And, from idea to impact, we support researchers at every stage, whether developing and protecting IP, launching a startup, partnering with industry, or advancing social innovation.

Learn more on our website.

Why Halifax

Halifax offers a rare combination of coastal beauty, cultural energy, and economic momentum that makes it an inspiring place to live and conduct research. Ocean trails, green parks, and a thriving food scene sit alongside an innovation ecosystem that is accelerating growth in tech, health, ocean, and clean energy sectors. The city’s mid‑sized scale creates a uniquely livable environment with advanced health care, strong schools, vibrant arts, and treed neighbourhoods with commutes measured in minutes rather than hours. With direct air connections to major international hubs, Halifax has quick access to Canada and the world. Immigration, investment, and research activity continue to climb, shaping a city where top researchers can build bold programs of work in a community that values collaboration, curiosity, and quality of life.

Dalhousie University commits to achieving inclusive excellence through continually championing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. The university encourages applications from Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island (especially Mi’kmaq), persons of Black/African descent (especially African Nova Scotians), and members of other racialized groups, persons with disabilities, women, persons identifying as members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, and all candidates who would contribute to the diversity of our community. In accordance with our Employment Equity Policy, preference will be given in hiring processes to candidates who self‑identify as members of one or more of the equity‑deserving groups listed above. For more information, including details related to our Employment Equity Policy and Plan and definitions of equity‑deserving groups please visit www.dal.ca/hiringfordiversity.

If you require any support for the purpose of accommodation, such as technical aids or alternative arrangements, please let us know of these needs and how we can be of assistance. Dalhousie University is committed to ensuring all candidates have full, fair, and equitable participation in the hiring process. Our complete Accommodation Policy can be viewed here.