Canada research chair position (nserc, tier 2) - 2023

Posted from February 1 to April 30, 2023

Strategic Orientation - Climate Action

Institute on Circular and Climate Resilient Built Environment

This call for applications is open to both current ÉTS professors and external candidates.

The École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS Montréal), one of the three largest engineering education and research institutions in Canada, is calling for nominations for a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in the Natural Sciences and Engineering (NSERC) to support the Strategic Orientation-Climate Action of its Strategic Research Plan and to contribute to the Institute's mission on the circular and climate-resilient built environment.

This strategic Orientation aims to study, model and plan for climate change so that we can mitigate and adapt to it to become resilient. Technology will play a key role in revolutionizing approaches to sustainable industrialization, energy transition and the circular economy.

To this end, ÉTS Montréal wishes to strengthen its Strategic Field - Infrastructure and the Built Environment with the creation of this chair. The research teams working in this strategic area propose solutions to modernize the construction industry and to build infrastructures and built environments that are resilient to climate change and sustainable. This chair will also contribute to the mission of the newly created Institute on Circular and Climate Resilient Built Environment at ÉTS (https://www.etsmtl.ca/en/research/chairs-and-labs/institute-built-environment). Based on a multidisciplinary research team, this institute's mission is to provide concrete means to facilitate the construction of adapted, resilient and environmentally impact-reducing infrastructures by taking the path of transition towards the circular economy.

More specifically, the chair proposal should address one of the following issues (the term infrastructure includes everything related to the built environment):

• Adaptation of infrastructures to climate change;
• Reducing the environmental footprint and/or improving the circularity of infrastructure.

For more details on the Strategic Field - Infrastructure and the Built Environment of the Strategic Research Plan, please visit the website at https://www.etsmtl.ca/en/docs/ets/about-ets/Publications/Documents/Plan-Strategique-Recherche-2022

This Tier 2 Canada Research Chair is a five-year, once-renewable, $100,000 per year award, plus an additional $20,000 per year as a research allowance for any first-time chairholder. The total amount of $120,000 contributes to the full funding of the Chairholder’s research.

In addition, the opportunity is offered to submit, simultaneously, an infrastructure application to the John R. Evans Leaders Fund program of the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), co-funded by the Government of Quebec, for a maximum value of $250,000 from each organization.

As part of the Université du Québec network, ÉTS Montréal is a dynamic, fast-growing engineering school whose orientation is "engineering for industry". Its campus, located in the Quartier de l'Innovation (Innovation district), offers a stimulating multicultural environment and privileged access to several industrial and university partners.

ÉTS Montréal comprises five departments (Construction; Electrical; Mechanical; Systems; and Software and information technology), with more than 220 faculty members and over 12,800 students.  The institution hosts more than 35 chairholders and approximately 35 research clusters.

The institution's commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

In accordance with its own recruitment policies, as well as the " Equal Access Employment Program ", ÉTS Montréal promotes excellence in research and research training, guarantees equal opportunities for all candidates and supports the principle that excellence and equity are both compatible and complementary.

ÉTS Montréal is actively implementing its Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan, which aims to increase the representation of women and gender minorities, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities,  and racialized individuals  among Canada Research Chairholders.

Canada Research Chairs Program Requirements

The Canada Research Chairs Program was established by the Government of Canada to attract and retain, among others, some of the world's most accomplished and promising researchers.

For Tier 2 Canada Research Chairs, the nominee is an outstanding emerging world-class researcher who has demonstrated particular creativity in research and is likely to become a leader in his or her field.

Tier 2 Canada Research Chairs are intended for individuals who obtained their most advanced degree 10 years ago or less. However, a researcher's career may involve career breaks or special circumstances that may have an impact on their productivity. ÉTS Montréal recognizes this and takes it into account during the evaluation process. Therefore, provided that justification is attached, ÉTS Montréal invites any person who, at the time of nomination, has exceeded this deadline due to career interruptions or special circumstances that could have had an impact on their record of achievement to submit their application. Acceptable justifications are usually limited to interruptions in the nominee's research career due to maternity or parental leave, extended sick leave, clinical training, or care of a family member (see information on  Tier 2 Justification and the Interruptions and special circumstances section of the curriculum vitae).

Outstanding researchers from around the world are encouraged to apply for this prestigious Canada Research Chair. The Chairholder will have a reduced teaching load.

To meet the program's selection criteria, the candidate must:

• Be an excellent emerging world-class researcher who has demonstrated particular creativity in research;
• Have demonstrated that she or he has the potential to achieve an international reputation in her or his field over the next five to ten years;
• Have the potential to recruit, train and retain excellent trainees, students and future researchers once he or she is a Chairholder;
• Propose an original, innovative and high quality research program.

Eligibility of candidates according to ÉTS requirements

• Have a doctorate in engineering in a discipline taught or related to those taught at the institution;
• Have the ability to teach in French or demonstrate a willingness to learn the French language and engage in a francization process supported by ÉTS;
• With regard to the pool of potential appointments, the committee will also take into account the contribution of final appointments to the achievement of institutional diversity and equity targets, particularly for designated groups within the meaning of the Equal Access Employment Program (EAEP).

How to apply?

Submitting an application

Interested candidates are invited to submit their application before April 30, 2023, at midnight (Québec time).

The application to be submitted in a single pdf document includes:

1)A curriculum vitae with a list of your publications, including justification for career breaks if any;

2)A statement of your five most important research contributions during your career, explaining their importance and impact;

3)A cover letter (maximum 2 pages) presenting your vision for your chair, including 

- the summary of the research project (maximum 100 words, written in non-specialised language, describing the originality and importance of the proposed research programme)

- the means used to position the institution as a leader in the field of the chair; and

- the expected and potential benefits in terms of research excellence;

4) A research program proposal (maximum 3 pages) including the following sections

a) the objectives and main achievements to be implemented (100 words maximum)

b) summary programme of activities and contribution to existing knowledge in the field

c) the training of the highly qualified personnel who will be called upon to collaborate

5) If necessary, a justified request for infrastructure (maximum 1 page) to carry out your research. The maximum funding for the CFI and the Quebec government's John R. Evans Leaders Fund is $250,000 each;

The text must be presented using a font size of at least 12 points. Any additional pages or additional information will be removed prior to review.

We encourage you to answer the questions on the application form, including those related to the Equal Access Employment Program.

Accommodation

Persons with disabilities may be provided with confidential accommodation based on their needs in this competition. If you require accommodation, we invite you to contact Alissa Lauriault (elle/she), Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Advisor in the Office of Academic Affairs, at edi@etsmtl.ca

Additional Information

The candidate selected by the institution will be invited to apply on October 17, 2023 or by April 16, 2024. If you any question regarding your application or the selection process, you can send it to: Decanat.Recherche@etsmtl.ca

Working conditions

Working conditions are governed by the current Professors' Association collective agreement.

Regular full-time position.

Expected start date: to be determined.

Immigration Requirements

All qualified candidates are invited to apply for these positions. However, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents in accordance with Canada's immigration requirements.