Canada Impact+ Research Chair in Space Systems for Data Collection, Processing, and Transmission

University of Manitoba

Canada Impact+ Research Chair in Space Systems for Data Collection, Processing, and Transmission

Full Time, Tenured
Department of Mechanical and / or the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Price Faculty of Engineering, University of Manitoba
Position #: 37343 and 37344
Posting Start Date: January 20th 2026
Posting End Date: February 19th 2026, or until the position is filled

Expected start date of appointment: Within 12 months of the award date (September 2026).

The Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the Price Faculty of Engineering at the University of Manitoba jointly invite applications for a Canada Impact+ Research Chair in the field of Space Systems Design for Responsive and Resilient Data Collection, Processing, and Transmission. A Canada Impact+ Research Chair is one of the most prestigious international awards globally, providing Chairholders and their research teams with an award of up to $8 million over eight years ($1 million per year). In addition, there is potential for a four-year extension at 50% of the initial award value per year. This extension will be determined by an external review in Year 7 of the award.

Successful nominees will be expected to start their position at the University of Manitoba within 12 months of accepting the award. The successful candidate will be appointed to a full-time tenured position at the rank of Full Professor, or at the rank of Associate Professor with an opportunity to apply for promotion to Full Professor within two years of starting their appointment. Salary will be based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience, in accordance with the University of Manitoba Faculty Association collective agreement. The position will be provided with a start-up package and opportunities to compete for additional equipment funding through the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI).

The Canada Impact+ Research Chair Program
The Canada Impact+ Research Chairs (Impact+) program is a new initiative funded by the Government of Canada to attract world-leading researchers to Canadian universities whose work addresses critical national and global challenges. Impact+ chairholders must advance ambitious and transformative projects in one or more of Canada’s strategic priority areas, build and maintain exceptional research teams, and collaborate with partners across sectors and borders. Canada’s strategic priority areas are: Advanced digital technologies (including artificial intelligence, quantum and cybersecurity); Health, including biotechnology; Clean technology and resource value chains; Environment, climate resilience and the Arctic; Food and water security; Democratic and community resilience; Manufacturing and advanced materials; and Defence and dual-use technologies. Impact+ chairholders are expected to drive the translation of discoveries into applications, commercialization and social and economic benefits for Canada and the world, while also developing the next generation of highly qualified personnel. Please consult the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs website ( https://www.canada.ca/en/impact-plus-chairs/program-details/competition/2026/apply.html) for full program information, including further details on eligibility criteria and application requirements.

Applicants must have a recent track record of research accomplishments and significant interest in making new contributions to Canada. Only candidates who are internationally based (both working and residing outside of Canada) at the time of the first intake application deadline (March 24, 2026) are eligible to apply. The focus of this position is Space Systems Design for Responsive and Resilient Data Collection, Processing, and Transmission. We propose a senior research chair in the Price Faculty of Engineering that focuses on spacecraft constellation design, operations, and management for the purposes of high-volume data collection, processing, transmission, and security. While this position will ostensibly support the aerospace research theme given the prevalence of satellite remote sensing and low-altitude transmission networks such as Starlink and Lightspeed, it will align with the interests of many other research areas that are of strategic importance to the University of Manitoba. The ideal candidate will have expertise in at least one of the following areas: space systems design; orbital dynamics; space data collection, transmission, and analytics; with an emphasis on dual-use aerospace technologies for data manipulation and interpretation. The candidate should have demonstrated research accomplishments in the fields of data reduction, large-scale data architectures, and data security / privacy constructs. The candidate must also have a proven track record of successful leadership of multi-disciplinary (e.g., science, engineering, medicine, political science, and humanities) projects, given the diverse applications and stakeholders of space-based data and information systems. While this is a research-intensive position, the successful candidate will also contribute to educating undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate students through teaching and mentorship in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and/or the Department of Electrical and Computer, and participate in academic service activities at Department, Faculty, and University levels. Teaching experience in aerospace engineering courses and related areas would be an asset.

The successful applicant will have access to core resources within the faculty, including aerospace clean rooms, mechanical and electrical assembly and test laboratories, antenna measurement facility, nanofabrication, high-performance computing, and mechatronics verification laboratories.

The appointment is dependent on a successful Canada Impact+ Research Chair Award, and the two-stage process of this appointment is:

1. Applicants must apply to this University of Manitoba advertisement for review and endorsement, and
2. The successful candidate will then prepare the required nomination package, with the support of the Office of the Vice President (Research & International) at the University of Manitoba. Completed nomination packages will be submitted to the Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat (TIPS) as part of the national Impact+ Program’s application process. An academic appointment at UM is dependent on a successful review by the multidisciplinary selection committee and approval by the TIPS Steering Committee.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Manitoba

The combined Department of Mechanical Engineering with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering includes over 1,000 undergraduate students and about 300 research graduate students pursuing M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees. The Departments educate undergraduate and graduate students in mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering design principles, particularly within the aerospace sector and often in collaborative teaching and research environments with the local aerospace industry (such as Magellan Aerospace and Boeing).

Additionally, Faculty members within these departments lead the Biomedical Engineering graduate program, an exciting interdisciplinary initiative involving colleagues from the Faculties of Engineering, Science, and Health Sciences. Currently, the Departments have a total of 60 academic staff, and over 50 postdoctoral fellows, visiting scholars and adjunct professors. Included in these are four Canada Research Chairs as well as a number of prominent researchers who have achieved recognition as NSERC Industrial Research Chairs, Fellowships of the Royal Society of Canada, and University Distinguished Professorships. We maintain substantially funded research activities with strong connections across our campus and to other institutions (including the Centre for Earth Observation Science, the Asper School of Business, and the Centre for Defence and Security Studies). These are complemented by collaborations with industrial partners, defence research institutions, and government laboratories. Additional information on the Departments can be found at our website (umanitoba.ca/ece and umanitoba.ca/engineering/mechanical).

The University of Manitoba (UM) is a driving force of innovation, discovery and advancement. Our momentum is propelled by our campus community – UM faculty, staff and students whose determination and curiosity shape our world for the better. Our teaching, learning and work environment is uniquely strengthened and enriched by Indigenous perspectives. With two main campuses in Winnipeg, satellite campuses throughout Manitoba, and world-wide research, UM’s impact is global.

Join us in advancing the fight against cancer, rare diseases, and infectious diseases, leading global public health efforts at scale in Asia and Africa, connecting to the Arctic, opening a new maritime trade route, working alongside Indigenous partners, enhancing defence and security in the North, developing materials for green energy and the digital economy, and making Canadian agriculture more globally competitive and sustainable.

UM’s Strategic Research Themes are: (https://umanitoba.ca/research/strategic-research-plan)
• Foundations
• Social Justice and Human Rights
• Research by, with, and for Indigenous Peoples
• Water and Food Security
• Health and Well-being
• Climate Action and Sustainability
• Manitoba, Hudson Bay, Arctic, and the World

Please consult the Change Through Research University of Manitoba Strategic Research Plan 2024-2024 for further information about these Research Themes. (https://umanitoba.ca/research/sites/research/files/2024-07/university-of-manitoba-strategic-research-plan-2024-29.pdf)

The Application Process
Applicants must apply to this University of Manitoba advertisement through the UM Careers portal for review and endorsement and clearly state the application position number in the cover letter. Applicants should upload their cover letter separately, their curriculum vitae separately, and then combine their research plan, teaching statement, personal statement and a list of three referees into a single PDF file and upload it under ‘Additional Documentation’ when applying in UM Careers. If you experience any difficulties accessing UM Careers, please contact Susan Hirst, Executive Assistant, Dean’s Office, Price Faculty of Engineering, University of Manitoba susan.hirst@umanitoba.ca for assistance. Further details on the application materials are:

• a concise cover letter describing suitability for the position
• a curriculum vitae (including examples of significant research contributions)
• a research plan (3 page maximum) outlining an independent, innovative research program, and its potential to attract funding and contribute to student training
• a teaching statement (1/2 page) that documents the applicant's experience in and/or approach to training and mentoring diverse students and the candidate's teaching philosophy
• a personal statement reflecting on the applicant's positionality, demonstrated commitment, and approach to issues pertaining to anti-racism and social justice (including principles of equity, access, and participation) in the following areas: teaching, research, and service
• the names and contact information of three referees

A review of applications will begin February 19, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled. Application materials, including letters of reference, will be handled in accordance with the protection of privacy provision of The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Manitoba). Please note that curriculum vitae may be provided to participating members of the search process.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Considerations

Equity, diversity and inclusion are embedded as foundational principles in Impact+ objectives, expected outcomes and reporting requirements of the competition. The three agencies expect that institutions and chairholders will demonstrate and implement the highest EDI standards for the duration of their award.

UM is committed to these principles and to promoting opportunities in hiring, promotion and tenure (where applicable) for systemically marginalized groups who have been excluded from full participation at UM and the larger community including Indigenous Peoples, women, racialized persons, persons with disabilities and those who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, questioning, intersex, asexual and other diverse sexual identities).

The Canada Impact+ Research Chair nomination selection committee will receive equity training that includes instruction on how to recognize and combat unconscious, implicit, overt, prejudicial and other kinds of bias.
If you require accommodation supports during the recruitment process, please contact UM.Accommodation@umanitoba.ca or 204-474-7195. Please note this contact information is for accommodation reasons only.

The University acknowledges the potential impact that Career Interruptions and Personal Circumstances can have on an applicant's record of research achievement. We encourage applicants to explain the impact of any such interruption(s) in their submission. Measures will be taken to ensure that these leaves will be taken into careful consideration during the evaluation process.

Live and Work where the Red and Assiniboine Rivers Meet

The City of Winnipeg (www.tourismwinnipeg.com), located where the Red and Assiniboine Rivers meet, is recognized for its vibrant, multicultural community and diverse culture. The city, with a growing population of more than 766,000, is home to internationally renowned festivals, galleries and museums, the historic Exchange District and The Forks, and ever-expanding research, education, and business sectors. From the Hudson Bay waters, across the farmland fields, to the pulse of the cities and towns, The Province of Manitoba’s (www.travelmanitoba.com) people and places – its 100,000 lakes, 92 provincial parks, winding river valleys and storied prairie skies – inspire.