Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Climate Policy and Clean Growth

Overview

The University of Ottawa and its Faculty of Social Sciences invites highly qualified candidates to apply for a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Climate Policy and Clean Growth. Chairholders must be exceptional, emerging researchers who have demonstrated the potential to achieve international recognition in their fields within five to ten years.  This Chair will implement an ambitious, policy-relevant research program, secure external funding, and be actively involved with graduate student training and teaching.  They will be jointly appointed to the Graduate School of Policy and International Affairs (GSPIA) and the interdisciplinary Institute of the Environment (IE), and will teach and supervise graduate students in both units. 

The candidate’s research should address climate policies that enable a clean, innovative, inclusive and prosperous economy.  It can focus on any aspects of this area (e.g. energy, transport, nature-based solutions, circular economy, clean innovation, etc.).  The Chairholder is expected to have a particular focus on policy-relevant research that actively informs policy and/or economic development in Canada (as part of the IE’s mandate).  There is opportunity to collaborate with Smart Prosperity Institute – Canada’s largest green economy research centre and think tank, based at the IE. Applicants should have relevant expertise, for example in policy studies, political science, law, economics, business, innovation, etc.

Located on the unceded territory of Anishinaabe Algonquin people, in the heart of the nation's capital, the University of Ottawa is one of Canada's top ten research-intensive universities and is the first and largest bilingual university in North America.  It offers its 47,000 students and 5,500 employees a dynamic and stimulating environment where research and knowledge are fundamental to all aspects of university life. The University is situated close to the Parliament of Canada, multiple national agencies, NGOs and business associations, as well as various provincial and municipal agencies.  

Tier 2 Chairs, tenable for five years and renewable once, are for exceptional emerging researchers, acknowledged by their peers as having the potential to lead in their field. For each Tier 2 Chair, the institution receives $100,000 annually for five years, with an additional $20,000 annual research stipend for first-term Tier 2 Chairs.  

Candidates should, at a minimum, be assistant or associate professors, or possess the necessary qualifications to be appointed to these levels. Candidates who are more than 10 years from their highest degree must contact the University of Ottawa directly for questions related to their potential eligibility for a Tier 2 Chair. The institution may nominate a professor or a researcher who is more than 10 years from their highest degree at the time of nomination and has experienced legitimate career interruptions (see acceptable justifications). In such cases, the institution must submit to the Secretariat a formal justification (using the Tier 2 Justification Screening Form), explaining why the nominee is still considered to be an emerging scholar. 

The University recognizes the legitimate impact that leaves (e.g., parental leave, leave due to illness) can have on a candidate’s record of research achievement and that these leaves will be taken into careful consideration during the assessment process. New CRC nominees are also eligible for infrastructure support from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to help acquire state-of-the-art equipment essential to their work.   

Standard hiring

The University of Ottawa is committed to ensuring equity, diversity and inclusion in the scholarly and leadership environments of our students, staff, and faculty. Accordingly, we strongly encourage applications from skilled and experienced members of the four designated groups (such as Indigenous peoples, racialized individuals, persons with disabilities, women and gender equity-seeking groups, as defined in the CRC Program method for establishing equity targets and the Employment Equity Act), as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively implement equity measures that ensure and retain diverse teams and promote inclusive practices for team members. All candidates are asked to complete the confidential self-identification form during the application process online (Employment Equity Questionnaire). Internal candidates are not eligible. 

Skills requirements

Education: Ph.D. in a discipline relevant to climate policy and clean growth,  or Ph.D. expected by July 2024.  

Required Qualifications: superior research achievements in the Chair’s area, evidence of interdisciplinary collaboration, a solid record in teaching and training of graduate students, experience or interest in policy engagement, and the ability to obtain external research funds (all considering the applicant’s career stage). English-French bilingualism is an asset. Active knowledge of both Official Languages in Canada is required for tenure (training is provided).

Rank and salary

Regular tenure-track academic appointment in the Faculty of Social Sciences. Salary scale for an Assistant Professor starts at $89,622 (as of May 1, 2023). Salaries are competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience. 

Benefits package

The University of Ottawa provides a complete benefits package which includes long- term disability, basic group life insurance, supplemental health insurance, University of Ottawa Pension Plan, optional life insurance, and relocation expenses. The position comes with a funding package to support the Chair and its research and training program.

Location of work

Graduate School of Public and International Affairs and Institute of the Environment, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5.

Application package

  • A cover letter;
  • An up-to-date curriculum vitae (Please include any personal circumstances and/or career interruptions such as parental or sick leaves that may have impacted your research trajectory. These will be taken into consideration in the selection process.);
  • A research plan (2 to 3 pages);
  • A statement of teaching interests (1 page);  
  • A statement on interest and experience in informing policy development (1 page)  
  • A statement on equity, diversity, and inclusion philosophy and concrete practices (1 page);
  • The names of three people whom may be contacted by the University for letters of reference, which will follow the Canada Research Chairs guidelines (i.e. at least one arm’s length and two who are not affiliated to the University of Ottawa unless they are the candidate’s PhD or postdoctoral supervisor); and
  • Self-identification: Complete the confidential Employment equity questionnaire on the web portal during the application process. The Canada Research Chairs Program requires institutions to collect self-identification data from all applicants, following the program’s best practices.

Deadline: January 11, 2024

Applications should be submitted electronically through the University of Ottawa Careers portal.

The selection process will begin immediately after the closing date and will continue until the position is filled. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Please address your cover letter to the following person:

Dr. Sylvain Charbonneau, Vice-President, Research and Innovation
University of Ottawa
550 Cumberland St., room 246
Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5 CANADA

For questions, please email: [email protected]  

Ad posted on December 5, 2023 

The University of Ottawa is committed to ensuring equity, diversity, and inclusion in the scholarly and leadership environments of our students, staff, and faculty. Accordingly, we strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples in Canada, visible minorities members (racialized persons), persons with disabilities, women, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with equitable, diverse, and inclusive communities. Candidates who wish to be considered as a member of one or more designated groups are asked to complete the confidential Self-Identification Questionnaire, to be completed at the time of application.

All qualified candidates are invited to apply; however, preference will be given to Canadians and permanent residents. When submitting your application, please indicate if you are legally entitled to work in Canada.

The University of Ottawa provides accommodations for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you are invited to proceed in the selection process, please notify us of any accommodations that you require by contacting the Office of the Vice-Provost, Faculty Relations by email at [email protected]. Any information you send us will be handled respectfully and in complete confidence.

The University of Ottawa is proud of its 160-year tradition of bilingualism. Through its Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute, the University provides training to staff members and to their spouses in their second official language.