Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Vascular Dementia

The University of Ottawa and Bruyère Health Research Institute invites applications for a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Vascular Dementia. The successful candidate will hold a clinical non-tenure track position with the Faculty of Medicine’s Department of Medicine, its affiliated hospital Bruyère Health, and its affiliated research institute (Bruyère Health Research Institute -BHRI), with the potential for other cross-appointments. The candidate will be a member of the Brain-Heart Interconnectome (BHI). The BHI is a ground-breaking interdisciplinary research program aimed at accelerating prevention, detection, treatment and care of interconnected brain and heart disorders through research co-produced with patients and other knowledge users. The Chairholder will hold, or will be eligible to hold a licence to practice medicine with the College of Physician and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO).

We are interested in attracting early-career candidates with demonstrated strengths and recognition in vascular cognitive impairment. The candidate will have a strong understanding of cerebrovascular disease mechanisms, small vessel disease, stroke-related dementia, and neurovascular disfunction. Research expertise in healthy brain aging and dementia prevention is highly valued, including for example, the relationship of cerebrovascular disease on the development of cognitive impairment and the impact of vascular risk factor identification and management on reducing the risk of cognitive decline.  The candidate will be a team builder with strong potential to develop and foster local, pan Canadian and international collaborations. They will also be committed to training the next generation of researchers and using a research co-production approach involving patients and other users.

The successful candidate will become an integral part of a dynamic, collaborative, and interconnected research environment in the Faculty of Medicine and its associated Research Institutes and as part of the multi-institutional and transdisciplinary Brain-Heart Interconnectome. As Chair, the researcher will also directly contribute to development of and leadership in running pharmacological and non-pharmacological clinical trial interventions designed to extend longevity and/or quality of life of dementia patients.

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 Canada Research Chairs (CRC) Program allocates to institutions $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. 

Preferential 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, individuals who are racialized, persons with disabilities, women and gender minorities, 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 research team members. As part of this preferential hiring process, applications from members of the four designated groups will be prioritized and assessed first for the vacancy. The purpose of this measure is to increase the representation and contribution of members of the four designated groups in the allocation of Canada Research Chair positions. All candidates are asked to complete the confidential self-identification questionnaire during the application process online. Internal candidates such as professors, postdoctoral fellows, and students are not eligible.

Skills requirements:

• Education : MD or MD/PhD
• Required Qualifications: superior research achievements in the CRC’s identified area(s) and proof of interdisciplinary collaborations, a solid record with respect to publications, teaching and training of students at the graduate level, the ability to obtain external research funds, excellent communication skills in either English or French. Passive knowledge of the other Official Language in Canada is an asset.

Rank and salary: Clinical non-tenure track academic appointment in the Faculty of Medicine Department of Medicine (Division of Neurology). Additional appointment within the relevant affiliated research institute will depend on area of expertise and partnership agreements. Academic rank will be at the Assistant or Associate Professor level and commensurate with the career stage and track record of the successful candidate.

Location of work:  Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5

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 relevance to the BHI and commitment to a research co-production approach (research carried out in collaboration with community, patients, health professionals, policy makers and other knowledge users) (1 page);
• A statement of teaching interests (1 to 2 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 (i.e. Tier 2: 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 online 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: August 6, 2025

More information regarding Academic Careers can be found online. Apply online 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. Julie-St-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 is committed to ensuring equity, diversity and inclusion in the scholarly and leadership environments of our students, staff and faculty. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples in Canada, visible minority members (racialized persons), persons with disabilities, women and all qualified applicants with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with equitable, diverse and inclusive communities. Applicants who wish to be considered as a member of one or more designated groups should complete the confidential Self-Identification Questionnaire when they apply.

In accordance with government policy, 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 emailing the Office of the Vice-Provost, Faculty Relations, 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 175-year tradition of bilingualism. Through its Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute, the University provides second-language training to staff members and their spouses.