Canada Excellence Research Chair in Arctic Climate Action & Sustainability

University of Manitoba

The CERC program aims to attract the world’s top researchers to be at the leading edge of breakthroughs in Canada’s Science, Technology and Innovation priority areas expected to generate social and economic benefits for Canadians. This Chair will build on UM’s success with two previously awarded CERCs in Arctic climate and marine sciences and recognizes an urgent need to accelerate climate action and sustainability. This new CERC program in Arctic Climate Action and Sustainability will support Arctic (including sub-Arctic) communities in their pursuit of resilient, sustainable economies and healthy ecosystems in the face of continued climate change and accelerated development.


Applicants must be world-leading researchers in at least one of the broad fields that is key to Arctic climate action and sustainability. These fields may include Arctic (including sub-Arctic) climatology, hydrology, ecosystem health and services, or other relevant areas of Earth or environmental sciences. Applicants must also have a proven record of leadership excellence in interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary, and action-oriented research and will contribute to UM’s ongoing efforts to address environmental injustice and governance challenges related to climate change mitigation and adaptation. To be eligible, applicants must be full professors or associate professors expected to be promoted to full professor within one or two years of the nomination. Alternatively, if they come from outside the academic sector, applicants must possess the qualifications necessary to be appointed at these levels.

The CERC program recognizes that equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are essential to creating the excellent, innovative, impactful research needed to respond to global challenges. To be successful, applications must demonstrate and implement the highest EDI standards.

A CERC nomination will be submitted soon after a successful candidate has been selected. Chairs are awarded by the Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat after a rigorous evaluation. An award decision is expected in January 2027. The appointment will be conditional on a successful CERC nomination.

The CERC program will be hosted in UM’s Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources (https://umanitoba.ca/environment-earth-resources), located in Winnipeg and on the original lands of the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and on the national homeland of the Red River Métis. The Chair will benefit from and contribute to Riddell Faculty’s existing world-class research excellence in Arctic climate and marine sciences, mineralogy and geochemistry, natural resources management, and community-based research, highlighted by eight current research chairs across natural sciences, engineering, and social sciences. The prowess of UM in Arctic research is further exemplified by its active role in major national and international initiatives, internationally recognized research centres (e.g., the Centre for Earth Observation Science), and globally unique research facilities (e.g., the Churchill Marine Observatory), and a long history of knowledge co-development with Arctic and Northern communities and Indigenous organizations. It is expected that the Chair will collaborate, mobilize, and elevate existing expertise and capacity from researchers across UM, as well as the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, Canada’s newly established Water Agency, and other government departments responsible for oceans, environment, and resource development.

Interested applicants are requested to submit the following application material to the contact person indicated below:

• a cover letter highlighting the applicant’s qualifications for this position;
• a curriculum vitae (identifying examples of most significant research contributions);
• a two-page statement outlining the innovative and original proposed research program envisioned for the CERC, including its potential to attract funding, plan for partnerships (especially with Indigenous partners), and contribution to student training;
• a one-page statement outlining the approaches to EDI, and experience working with Indigenous Peoples or organizations (if applicable); and,
• the names and contact information for three references.

The University of Manitoba acknowledges the potential impact of 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 interruptions will be taken into careful consideration during the evaluation process. The CERC Selection Committee will receive equity training that includes instruction on how to recognize and combat unconscious, implicit, overt, prejudicial and other kinds of bias.

The University of Manitoba is committed to the principles of equity, diversity & inclusion and to promoting opportunities in hiring, promotion, and tenure (where applicable) for systemically marginalized groups who have been excluded from full participation at the University 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).

If you require accommodation supports during the recruitment process, please contact UM.Accommodation@umanitoba.ca or +1-204-474-7195. Please note this contact information is for accommodation reasons only.

Nomination Selection and Assessment:

Applications will be reviewed by the Faculty’s CERC Selection Committee, which is established as per the criteria by the CERC. The Committee will make a recommendation as to which applicant to put forward for consideration by the University’s Nomination Selection Committee, consisting of the Vice-Provost (Academic Affairs), the Associate Vice-President (Research), the Vice-President (Research and International), and the Provost and Vice-President (Academic), with the Vice-President (Research and International) as chair of this Committee.

Assessment Criteria:

The selection of successful applicants is based on the highest standards of research excellence using the following CERC criteria:
• research/academic merit and leadership skills;
• quality of the research program; and,
• potential contribution to the excellence of the Canadian and international research ecosystem.

Details can be found in the CERC program (https://www.cerc.gc.ca/program-programme/competitions-concours/2026/definition_ratings-definition_cotes-eng.aspx).

The selected applicant name, and accompanying documentation will be sent to the Office of the Vice-President (Research and International) for final decisions.

Timeline and Contact Information:

Please submit application to Janice Tilly, Executive Assistant to the Dean: Janice.Tilly@umanitoba.ca.

Review of applications will begin on September 8, 2025 and continue until a suitable candidate is identified.