Tier 1 Canada Research Chair

aim of submitting an outstanding nomination to the Tier 1 Canada Research Chairs Program, as part of an extended application period. Candidate Profile The successful candidate will be expected to develop and lead a cutting-edge, transformative research program aligned with UQAR’s strategic research priority in northern studies. The Chair will contribute to strengthening this area of excellence by fostering collaboration among faculty members within the department who work across levels of biological organization, from the molecular to the ecosystem level. The successful candidate will also be expected to generate new scientific knowledge that aligns with the needs of communities, stakeholders, and industry partn The Chair’s research program must focus on northern organisms and ecosystems, encompassing all environments with pronounced seasonality driven by photoperiod or exposure to cold temperatures. Ideally, the research program should align with at least one of the following research areas: Animal or plant ecology and physiology Community ecology Systems biology Evolutionary biology Biology and ecology of global change Population genetics and genomics Theoretical biology and modelling The successful candidate will advance their research vision, notably through the supervision of graduate students. The successful candidate will also be expected to teach one (1) course per year in French in undergraduate or graduate biology programs within the Department of Biology, Chemistry and Geography. Candidates who do not have sufficient fluency in French at the time of appointment may be granted a reasonable period to attain the required level of proficiency. The Tier 1 Canada Research Chair will receive funding for a seven-year term, renewable once. The Chairholder will have access to exceptional research infrastructure and a wide range of state-of-the-art equipment, as well as opportunities to acquire additional cutting-edge equipment through the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Research Tools and Instruments (RTI) Grants Program. For more information on the Tier 1 Canada Research Chairs Program, see https://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/program-programme/nomination-mise_en_candidature-fra.aspx Selection Criteria Applicants must meet the following requirements: Degree level and field: Doctorate (Ph.D.) in a relevant discipline (UQAR requirement, not a program requirement) Area of specialization and research: Must align with one of the following areas: Animal and plant ecology and physiology Community ecology Systems biology Evolutionary biology Biology and ecology of global change Population genetics and genomics Theoretical biology and modelling Program eligibility: The successful candidate must meet the eligibility requirements for the Tier 1 Canada Research Chairs Program. They must be a full professor or an associate professor expected to be promoted to full professor within one or two years of nomination. Candidates recruited from outside academia must possess the qualifications required for appointment to an equivalent position. The Canada Research Chairs Program imposes no restrictions on applicants with respect to nationality. The Canada Research Chairs Program uses equity targets to remove barriers to participation for individuals from the four designated groups in research. For more information on UQAR’s equity targets under the Canada Research Chairs Program, see: https://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/program-programme/equity-equite/population-based_institutional_equity_targets-cibles_etablissements_equite_population-2021-2029-fra.aspx Additional considerations: Applications will be evaluated based on the program criteria: be an outstanding, innovative, world-class researcher whose accomplishments have had a major impact in their field; be an internationally recognized leader in their field; demonstrate a strong ability to recruit and supervise graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, while considering the different practices in their field or discipline, and once appointed to the Chair, be able to recruit, train, and retain excellent trainees, students, and future researchers; propose an original, innovative research program of the highest quality. Application Procedure The application package must include: A curriculum vitae A proposal for the Chair’s research program, including the program’s key objectives, the impact of the contribution to the research field, a funding plan, a training plan for highly qualified personnel (detailing the EDIA approach) and, where applicable, the identification of infrastructure to be developed or equipment to be acquired. (maximum of 5 pages) A summary of recent accomplishments in the targeted priority research area. (maximum of 2 pages) A statement explaining the impacts of career interruptions on the academic record presented, where applicable. (maximum of 1 page) The voluntary self-identification form (see the section on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility Considerations ) Interested candidates are invited to submit their application materials to Thomas Buffin-Bélanger, Chair of the Department of Biology, Chemistry and Geography at the Université du Québec à Rimouski, via email at dep_biochigeo@uqar.ca . Applications will be reviewed starting January 31, 2027 , and will continue to be accepted until the position is filled. Applications will be evaluated by a selection committee, and the selection process will be based on applicants’ ability to meet the objectives and criteria of the Canada Research Chairs Program, as described on the program website: https://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/program-programme/nomination-mise_en_candidature-fra.aspx# The selection process will be conducted in collaboration with a member of the institution’s EDIA team. In addition, each member of the selection committee will have received training on unconscious bias in the hiring process, will be required to commit to EDIA principles, and will declare any real or apparent conflict of interest. Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility Considerations UQAR is fully committed to the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in employment, particularly for individuals from historically underrepresented, equity-seeking, and rights-seeking groups, including women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and members of visible minorities. UQAR strongly encourages individuals from these groups to apply for this position. Candidates from these groups are invited to voluntarily self-identify when submitting their applications. To do so, they must complete the voluntary self-identification form for equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), which can be requested by email at dep_biochigeo@uqar.ca . Once completed, a PDF of the form must be submitted to vrveri@uqar.ca at the time of application. All information provided will be treated confidentially. Furthermore, accommodations to the selection process are available upon request for candidates with disabilities. Such requests will be handled confidentially and can be directed to UQAR’s Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (EDIA) team at edi@uqar.ca . UQAR also recognizes the impact that career interruptions, such as illness, disability, and family and community responsibilities, may have on research outcomes. These considerations will be taken into account throughout the evaluation process, from a perspective that extends beyond a traditional conception of research excellence. Where applicable, applicants are invited to explain, when submitting their application, the impact that a career interruption may have had, or that an evaluation based on traditional criteria of research excellence could have, on their record of achievements. This information will be treated confidentially by the members of the selection committee. We invite you to consult the EDIA at UQAR website: https://www.uqar.ca/luniversite/equite-diversite-inclusion-et-accessibilite/quest-ce-que-ledia/ledia-a-luqar/