TIER 2 CANADA RESEARCH CHAIR (CRC) IN ELECTROCHEMICAL ENERGY MATERIALS

Date posted: November 4, 2026

Simon Fraser University (SFU), Canada’s engaged university, sits at the intersection of innovative education, cutting-edge research, and community outreach. Designated Canada’s top medium-size university in Maclean’s University Rankings, SFU has ten faculties and 37,000 students. It is also home to Western Canada’s first new Medical School in 50 years, which began admitting students in 2026. SFU is one of Canada's fastest-growing research universities, with a 144% increase in sponsored research income over the past 10 years, reaching $286 million in 2024/25.

The Department of Chemistry at Simon Fraser University invites applications for a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Electrochemical Energy Materials. Preference will be given to an appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor, but candidates qualifying for Associate Professor appointments may also be considered. This position has an anticipated start date of April 1, 2028 and is contingent upon the applicant being awarded a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair.

The Organization

With three campuses located in beautiful British Columbia’s largest municipalities—Vancouver, Burnaby and Surrey—our students, faculty and staff are privileged to live, work, and play on the traditional unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), q̓íc̓əy̓ (Katzie), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), Qayqayt, Kwantlen, Semiahmoo and Tsawwassen Peoples. SFU is an equity employer and strongly encourages applications from all qualified individuals including women, Indigenous Peoples, racialized persons, people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, persons with disabilities, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of the university.

Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University

The Department of Chemistry (http://chemistry.sfu.ca/) offers a highly collaborative research environment with expertise spanning materials chemistry; inorganic, physical and analytical chemistry; organic chemistry and chemical biology; and nuclear science. The Department has established strengths in electrochemistry, electrocatalysis, surface and interface science, nanomaterials, fuel cells, battery materials, molecular electronics, and related areas of sustainable chemistry.

This position will build on a strong foundation for electrochemical energy research at SFU within the Department of Chemistry. Researchers have opportunities to connect fundamental chemistry and materials discovery with broader work in energy conversion, storage, clean hydrogen, and sustainable technologies. The Department’s location within the Faculty of Science at SFU also creates opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration across chemistry and related scientific and engineering disciplines.

Of particular relevance to this position is the SFU Clean Hydrogen Hub, located at the Burnaby campus. The Hub is an SFU core research facility that brings together industry, community, academia, and government partners to advance the clean-energy transition. It serves as a testbed and research and innovation platform for emerging clean-hydrogen technologies.

The Hub provides opportunities for research and collaboration across the clean-hydrogen value chain, connecting academic researchers with technology developers, manufacturers, community partners, and industry users.

This position will also benefit from access to SFU’s 4D LABS , which provides specialized facilities, advanced equipment, and technical expertise in nanofabrication and materials characterization. Its instrumentation includes electron microscopy, surface analysis, and nanoscale fabrication tools, supporting researchers in the synthesis, processing, and detailed characterization of advanced materials across a range of scientific disciplines.

The successful candidate will therefore join an environment in which their research can complement existing scientific strengths and research activities associated with SFU’s strengths in energy and materials science while building an internationally innovative and competitive program in electrochemical energy materials.

The Opportunity

The Department of Chemistry at SFU invites applications for a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Electrochemical Energy Materials with an anticipated start date of April 1, 2028. This is a full-time tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor, or possibly at the rank of Associate Professor. This opportunity is open to all candidates internal or external to SFU. The applicant’s research area should primarily align with the mandate of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) as outlined in the Guidelines for Selecting the Appropriate Federal Granting Agency. For more information about SFU’s requirements for appointment at each rank, please see SFUFA/SFU Collective Agreement, Article 28 (https://www.sfu.ca/faculty-relations/collectiveagreement.html)

The Canada Research Chairs Program stands at the centre of a national strategy to foster research excellence in Canada and improve our depth of knowledge and quality of life, strengthen Canada's international competitiveness, and help train the next generation of highly skilled people through student supervision. The CRC program consists of a two staged nomination process:

1. Internal selection: Interested applicants submit an application to this CRC job advertisement
2. Institutional nomination: The successful applicant will prepare the required documents, including a proposed research program, to be nominated by SFU to the CRC program and undergo peer review.

Tier 2 CRCs are intended for exceptional emerging scholars (i.e., candidate must have been an active researcher in their field for fewer than 10 years at the time of nomination) and should, at a minimum, be assistant or associate professors (or possess the necessary qualifications to be appointed to these levels). Applicants who are more than 10 years from their  first independent academic research-related appointment (and where career breaks exist, e.g., parental leave, extended sick leave, clinical training, etc.) may have their eligibility for a Tier 2 CRC assessed through the program’s Tier 2 justification process; please see the CRC website for eligibility details.

The Candidate

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to build an independent, internationally competitive research program in experimental electrochemical energy materials within a research environment that supports strong activity in electrochemistry, materials chemistry, energy conversion, and clean-energy technologies.

The position is intended to strengthen SFU’s research capacity in electrochemical transformations for clean energy storage and conversion and to contribute to SFU’s 2023–2028 Strategic Research Plan, including the priority area of Advancing Community-Centred Climate Innovation.

The successful candidate will be expected to develop a distinctive research program that complements existing scientific strengths within the Department of Chemistry and across SFU. They will have opportunities to build interdisciplinary collaborations, establish an independently funded research program, supervise and mentor highly qualified personnel, and develop national and international research partnerships.

Through connections with the Department of Chemistry at SFU, and research activities associated with the SFU Clean Hydrogen Hub, the successful candidate will be well positioned to contribute to the continued development of electrochemical energy materials research at SFU and to help expand research, training, and collaboration in areas relevant to clean energy storage and conversion.

The successful candidate will also contribute to undergraduate and graduate education within the Department of Chemistry and participate in the academic and service life of the Department.

Qualifications

This Tier 2 CRC in Electrochemical Energy Materials is part of a Faculty of Science initiative focused on building research capacity in electrochemical transformations for clean energy storage and conversion, and SFU’s Strategic Research Plan for climate innovation and technology for sustainability.

We seek candidates who will mount a vigorous research program in experimental electrochemical energy materials that bolsters existing scientific strengths within the Department of Chemistry, as well as more widely across other faculties. Areas of specific interest include electrocatalysts, ion conductors, and electrochemical-related interfaces, as they pertain to electrochemical energy storage and conversion, for example, water electrolysis and/or carbon dioxide conversion. The applicant will be expected to forge strong collaborations, nationally and internationally, and complement existing research activities associated with SFU’s clean hydrogen hub.

Candidates must have a Ph.D. in Chemistry degree or a closely related field, extensive postdoctoral experience, and an outstanding track record of research accomplishment in the area of electrochemical energy materials. Early-career independent researchers are encouraged to apply.

Preferred candidates will have an established track record of academic publications and a record of interdisciplinary research that demonstrates productive collaborations among researchers from chemistry and related disciplines. The successful candidate will be expected to develop an internationally innovative and competitive program of research that will be supported by independent funding.

Prior experience in teaching and/or graduate supervision is desirable though not essential. A commitment to undergraduate and graduate education within the Department of Chemistry at SFU is required.

This position is contingent upon the applicant receiving a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair; therefore, investigators with outstanding publication records will be considered. The position is subject to the availability of funding and to final approval by the University Board of Governors and the Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat (TIPS). The CRC is tenable for five years and may be renewed once. Interested applicants are invited to review the initial appointment and chair renewal details of the CRC Program.

How To Apply

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. Please email your application as a single PDF to chemsec@sfu.ca, using the subject line “Tier 2 CRC in Electrochemical Energy Materials”. A complete application file should contain the following information:

• A cover letter that addresses the full scope of the job requirements, including a description of how you would contribute to SFU's ongoing commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), such as:
  • Promoting a culture of inclusive excellence through your teaching, research, or service. For example, how you support inclusive teaching practices or how you take into consideration biases/barriers that may be present in research.
  • Fostering an inclusive learning environment that supports students from diverse backgrounds and with diverse learning needs.
• An up-to-date, full curriculum vitae (include details of qualifications, research, teaching, scholarly record and funding, and list of collaborations/partnerships);
• A 2-3 page research statement and explanation of how the research aligns with this position;
• A teaching portfolio including a two-page statement of teaching philosophy and experience, including experience with and understanding of inclusive teaching and diverse student needs, as well as other evidence of teaching strengths;
• Two examples of refereed published scholarly work;
• The names and email addresses of 4-6 referees, one of whom should be able to discuss teaching capabilities or provide evidence of teaching potential;
• Please indicate your legal status to work in Canada;
• And complete the Applicant Demographic Survey administered by SFU’s CRC lead. Candidates who do not complete the Applicant Demographic Survey will not be considered for this position.

SFU recognizes that alternative career paths and/or career interruptions (e.g. parental leave, leave due to illness) can impact research achievements and commits to ensuring that leaves are taken into careful consideration. Candidates are encouraged to highlight in their application how alternative paths and/or interruptions have had an impact on their career.

SFU also recognizes the value of mentoring and research training, outreach, professional service, and nontraditional areas of research and/or research outputs; demonstrated experience in increasing diversity in the previous institutional environment, and in curriculum, is also an asset.

All applications should be submitted to:

Dr. Charles Walsby, Professor, Department Chair and Chair of the Tier 2 CRC Search Committee

Department of Chemistry

Simon Fraser University

8888 University Drive

Burnaby, BC, Canada, V5A 1S6

Applications received by January 4th, 2027 will be given full consideration. Applications received after this date may be reviewed if the position is still open. The anticipated start date for this position is April 1, 2028.

Faculty salaries at SFU are based on the salary scales bargained between the University and the SFU Faculty Association. A reasonable estimate of the salary range is $104,700 to $133,322 for an Assistant Professor and $130,142 to $155,584 for an Associate Professor, depending on experience.

SFU offers a comprehensive benefits package, including pension, health, and dental benefits. For details on the benefits offered by SFU, please visit the Faculty Relations, Benefits and Service page website. SFU is committed to ensuring that the application and interview process is accessible to all applicants. Applicants requiring assistance or accommodation are encouraged to contact SFU’s Equity Office at edi@sfu.ca.

The CRC program established equity targets based on Canada’s 2016 census as a tool to address the underrepresentation of individuals from the four federally designated groups: women and gender minorities, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities and racialized minorities in active CRC positions. Full information on SFU’s CRC equity targets can found on SFU’s CRC public transparency and accountability webpage.

The CRC program will require nominees who identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit), to affirm their Indigenous citizenship and/or membership at the time of nomination using the Tri-Agency Policyand Directive on Indigenous Citizenship and Membership Affirmation. The affirmation process will be required in all cases where an individual is Indigenous from Canada (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) and not just in cases where the institution has an equity target for Indigenous Peoples. Individuals who are Indigenous from outside of Canada are encouraged to self-identify as racialized and indicate they are Indigenous as a write-in response.

Personal information that forms part of an application is collected under the general authority of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, applicable University Policies, and the SFUFA/SFU Collective Agreement. For further details, see the full Collection Notice.