Canada Impact Plus Research Chair
Vancouver Island University is seeking outstanding, internationally-based researchers for nomination to the Canada Impact+ Research Chair Program. This one-time national initiative is designed to attract world-leading scholars whose work addresses critical national and global challenges. Impact+ Chairs receive long-term funding and are expected to advance ambitious and transformative programs of research, build and maintain exceptional research teams and collaborate with partners across sectors and borders. Nominees must have an active track record of exceptional research accomplishments and funding and be excited to make new contributions in Canada. A core expectation of the role is the translation and mobilization of research outcomes into practice, policy and commercialization pathways that deliver measurable social and economic benefits for Canada and the world.
The Canada Impact+ Research Chair appointment includes a 75% research and 25% teaching workload (equivalent to 2 courses annually). The teaching responsibilities will align with the disciplinary and teaching background of the candidate. The successful candidate will join the Faculty of Science and Technology. VIU intends to nominate one Canada Impact+ Research Chair for a $1,000,000 per annum award in the fields of environmental or marine science. Chairholders are eligible to apply for up to $6M in infrastructure funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation.
Duties:
While Canada Impact+ Research Chairs are primarily research-focused appointments, the role includes teaching and academic service responsibilities. At VIU, academic roles encompass course delivery, research supervision, scholarly activity and institutional service. Chairholders are expected to build meaningful partnerships across sectors and Indigenous communities, and to ensure that research outcomes translate into practice, policy or commercialization pathways with measurable societal and economic benefit.
Required Qualifications:
Successful nominees will hold a PhD (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline, as required by VIU. Only applicants who are internationally based—working and residing outside of Canada—at the time of the Impact+ application deadline (June 29, 2026) are eligible.
Expatriate Canadians wishing to relocate to Canada are welcome to apply.
To be considered for this opportunity, applicants should:
- Hold a current appointment as a full or Associate Professor, or be eligible to be appointed at such levels
- Demonstrate a recent record of outstanding research accomplishments along with a strong commitment to contributing to Canada’s research ecosystem
- Show evidence of effective knowledge translation, making environmental and marine science research accessible and actionable for diverse audiences—including students, community partners, and stakeholders— and enhancing understanding of ecological, socio‑environmental, and behavioural dimensions of marine and coastal systems
- Demonstrate leadership in collaborative and interdisciplinary research, including building research networks, engaging in community‑based or participatory approaches, and contributing to initiatives in environmental science, marine ecology, conservation, climate resilience, or sustainability
- Provide evidence of sustained research excellence, including peer‑reviewed publications, external funding success, and demonstrated disciplinary impact
- Show success in initiation and leadership of interdisciplinary and collaborative research projects
- Demonstrate a strong commitment to mentoring research trainees at all levels including engaging and supporting undergraduate researchers in hands‑on inquiry and field‑based learning.
Strategic Priority Areas
Applicants must explain how the Chair will advance one or more of the following strategic priority areas of the program:
- Environment, Climate Resilience and the Arctic
- Food and Water Security
Vancouver Island University is the ideal location to study the impacts of climate change on shellfish health, seafood safety and marine environments. VIU has invested heavily in this area of research, having established two purpose-built facilities for applied research in aquaculture, marine restoration and ecology. VIU’s Deep Bay Marine Field Station is a nationally unique facility with a Federally licensed shellfish hatchery and marine farm that supports a genetic selection program for Pacific oysters and Yesso scallops in partnership with the British Columbia’s Shellfish Growers Association (BCSGA). The Station boasts dedicated scientific laboratories, conference space and a commercial kitchen for market development of seafood products. Through partnerships, the station has mobile laboratories devoted to kelp restoration with the Bamfield Marine Science Centre (BMSC), and an oceanographic mooring with Ocean Networks Canada (ONC). VIU’s Centre for Shellfish Research is located on the main campus in Nanaimo, and recent infrastructure funding has created containment laboratories for molecular genetics, microbiology, histology and aquatic containment in-vivo laboratories for aquatic animal health studies on finfish and invertebrates. Collaboration with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has enabled the establishment of an accredited marine biotoxin testing laboratory, creating capacity to support indigenous shellfish initiatives. The success of these two Centres is supported by broad collaborations with Federal and Provincial governments, First Nation Economic Development Corporations, NGOs and Industry.
How to apply
Applications are requested by March 23, 2026.
Applications should include the following:
- Cover letter highlighting the candidate’s suitability for the role and most significant research contributions. In addition, candidates should describe the expected, transformative impact of the research to the University and the Canadian and international research landscapes in the context of the Strategic Priority Areas noted above (up to 2 pages)
- Full CV including details of research and teaching, research funding, collaborations/partnerships and leadership experience
- Description of the proposed program of research and how it advances the relevant strategic priority area(s) beyond discovery to generate societal, economic and policy impacts through collaborative partnerships. Include a project summary, context, methodology, partner engagement, knowledge translation and describe how your work includes equity, diversity and inclusion in research practice and research design (up to 5 pages)
- Teaching statement that summarizes the applicant’s experience in and approach to training and mentoring and teaching philosophy (up to 1 page)
- The names and contact information for 5 academic referees
- The Canada Impact+ Research Chairs program requires institutions to collect self-identification data from all applicants, in accordance with best practices. Please email the attached Self-Identification form directly to Carole Gray, HR Specialist, Recruitment and EDI at edi@viu.ca. The questions in this form are consistent with those used by the Canada Research Chairs Program and use wording found in the federal Employment Equity Act.
Vancouver Island University recognizes that life circumstances such as illness, disability, family and community responsibilities (e.g., maternity leave, parental leave, leaves due to illness, leaves due to caring for family members, slowdowns due to chronic illness or disability, or COVID 19 impacts) are often an expected part of life and are likely to have an impact on a candidate’s record of research achievement. We encourage candidates to explain in their applications the impact that career interruptions or other issues may have had. Please note that these impacts will be taken into careful consideration during the assessment process.
The Nomination process
The selected candidate will work closely with our Scholarship, Research and Creative Activity Office to complete the two-stage nomination.
The registration deadline is June 15, 2026
The application deadline is June 29, 2026
Nominations will be adjudicated by a multidisciplinary selection committee according to the evaluation criteria. Notices of decision are expected in November 2026. Appointment to an Impact+ university position is contingent upon receiving an Impact+ Chair award. The term is for eight years, with funding of $8 million over the duration, with the possibility of a four-year extension at 50% of the initial award value per year. Successful chairholders must begin their appointment on a full-time basis within 12 months of award acceptance. As such, they are expected to take up their Chair position in person at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo, BC by December 2027.
About Vancouver Island University
Vancouver Island University (VIU) is a vibrant, student-centred Canadian university located in one of the world’s most stunning coastal regions, within the traditional territories of the Coast Salish Peoples. VIU’s research enterprise, supported by 12 research and innovation Chairs and guided by our Strategic Research Plan. specializes in regionally relevant niche areas such as marine sciences, aquaculture and others. In 2024-2025 150+ externally funded research projects led by VIU faculty were supported by $7.4M and the cash and in-kind contributions of >120 community partners.
With more than 120 programs, small class sizes, and over $6.7 million awarded annually in scholarships and bursaries, VIU offers an exceptional and supportive learning environment.
Rooted in strong community connections, VIU is known for its innovative, community‑based approach and its growing national and international reach. It’s not only a place where students thrive, it's also a fantastic place to work. Employees enjoy comprehensive benefits, pension and vacation packages, wellness initiatives such as MindWellU, and a culture that celebrates excellence, inclusion, and community engagement.
Join VIU and be part of a welcoming university community making a meaningful impact on Vancouver Island and beyond.
Living in Nanaimo
Nestled on the East Coast of Vancouver Island, and recently ranked the 2nd best Canadian city for quality of life, Nanaimo offers an exceptional place to live and work. It holds the top spot in British Columbia due to a high climate index and very short commute times. As home to VIU, the city supports a vibrant academic community with strong institutional supports, deep community connections, and a commitment to student-centred learning and interdisciplinary collaboration. With a mild climate, safe and welcoming neighbourhoods, and easy access to Vancouver and the mainland, Nanaimo offers an outstanding quality of life for faculty and their families.
Our commitment to Equity Diversity and Inclusion
Vancouver Island University (VIU) is collectively committed to building and sustaining a diverse and inclusive working and learning environment for faculty, staff, and students. In our journey towards greater diversity, we invite applications from members of all underrepresented, equity-seeking, rights-seeking populations, including racialized individuals, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, women and individuals from the 2SLGBTQIA+ community who bring value to the VIU community through their lived experiences. We encourage members of all equity-seeking groups to self-identify within their application cover letter. When a candidate voluntarily discloses this information in their cover letter, the information will be used only for the fulfillment of the career opportunity. Disclosure and/or self-identification with an equity-seeking group will not lead to advantageous treatment of a candidate who is not qualified.
Vancouver Island University is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. We want to ensure that all participants can engage fully in interviews and other activities that are part of the process. If you have any accommodation requests, please email Carole Gray at recruit@viu.ca. All requests for accommodation will be treated confidentially.
#INDHP