Tier 1 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Health Law

The University of Ottawa invites applications for a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Health Law. Applicants must be full-time tenure-stream Associate or Full Professors at the University of Ottawa. We are looking for an exceptional researcher who leads a globally recognized interdisciplinary research program focused on the issues arising at the intersection of law, health policy, medicine and medical technology and innovation, including the role of law and technology in addressing health inequities.

The goal of this Chair is to increase innovation, intensity and impact of interdisciplinary research in the field of health law, while developing wide-ranging interdisciplinary partnerships with researchers, policy-makers, and a broader range of stakeholders. The successful applicant will hold a permanent regular position in the Common Law Section of the Faculty of Law, where they will be called upon to play a leading role in interdisciplinary research, and in the supervision of graduate students (LL.M., Ph.D.).

The Faculty of Law is proud to serve as the home-base for the Centre for Health Law, Policy and Ethics, a leading interdisciplinary research centre in the area of health law and policy. The Centre has close partnerships with health science research institutes and hospitals in the region, as well as with the Faculty’s Centre for Law, Technology and Society. The successful applicant will be able to contribute to the activities of the Centres and – depending upon their proposed area of research – to the activities of other research institutes and centres at the University of Ottawa such as the Human Rights Research and Education Centre; the Interdisciplinary Centre for Black Health; the uOttawa Brain and Mind Research Institute; the LIFE Research Institute; and the Centre for Research on Health and Nursing.

Located on the unceded ancestral lands of the Omamiwiiniwug Algonquin nation, the Faculty of Law of the University of Ottawa boasts 75 full-time faculty members in its Common Law Section, and 35 in its Civil Law Section, which combined with its six research centres, 15 chairs, and three laboratories, fosters an exceptional intellectual environment for research and teaching.

Our graduate programs include a general master’s degree (LL.M.) and master’s degrees with the following concentrations: health law, policy and ethics; law and technology; international humanitarian and security law; global sustainability and environmental law; international trade law and foreign investment; and feminist and gender studies. We also offer a doctoral program in law (Ph.D.).

Tier 1 Chairs, tenable for seven years and renewable once, are for outstanding researchers acknowledged by their peers as world leaders in their fields. For each Tier 1 Chair, the institution receives $200,000 annually for seven years. Nominees for Tier 1 Chair positions must be full professors or associate professors who are expected to be promoted to the full professor level within one or two years of the nomination. 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.

The University of Ottawa is committed to ensuring equity, diversity and inclusion in the scholarly and leadership environments of our students, staff, and faculty. In accordance with the University’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan, the selection will be limited to members of the four designated groups such as Indigenous peoples, individuals who are racialized, persons with disabilities, and women, as defined in the Employment Equity Act. All candidates who wish to be considered for this position must complete the confidential self-identification form during the application process (Count-me In survey). The objective of this measure is to increase the representation of the four designated groups (women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples and members of racialized minorities as defined in the Employment Equity Act) in the allocation of Canada Research Chair positions. Only uOttawa internal candidates are eligible.

• Education: LLM or a Ph.D. in Law or a related discipline.
• Required Qualifications: Outstanding independent research achievements in the CRC’s identified area(s), evidence of interdisciplinary and international collaborations; a solid record of sustained commitment to teaching and training of students at the graduate level, a substantial record of securing external research funding, excellent aptitude to teach and conduct research in English or French; and at least a passive knowledge of the other language.

Faculty of Law, Common Law Section, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5

• A cover letter;
• An up-to-date Curriculum Vitae with your employee number (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 on equity, diversity, and inclusion philosophy and concrete practices (1 page);
• The names of three people who may be contacted by the University for letters of reference which will follow the Canada Research Chairs guidelines (Tier 1: all three arm’s length with no conflict of interest including one international); an
• Self-identification: All candidates must complete the institutional self-identification questionnaire, the Count-me in Survey (accessible via VirtuO). This information will be used for adjudication purposes but detailed information will be kept confidential and will not be shared with selection committee members.

Deadline: July 13, 2023

Applications should be submitted by email as one pdf document sent to this address: [email protected]

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:

Julie Saint-Pierre, Interim Vice-President, Research and Innovation
University of Ottawa
550 Cumberland St., room 246
Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5 Canada

For questions, please email: [email protected]

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 more than 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.

Ad posted on June 13, 2023