Canada Excellence Research Chair in Cold Ecosystems Conservation

Posting date: 3 July 2025
Application deadline: 15 September 2025

The Department of Biology of the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Université Laval is accepting applications for a Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Cold Ecosystems Conservation. The CERC Program enables the University to recruit world-class researchers in line with the government of Canada’s priorities in science, technology, and innovation.

The CERC in Cold Ecosystem Conservation aims to transform our understanding of how cold ecosystems function in a changing world and to propose relevant management and mitigation solutions. The Chairholder and the research group they assemble will pursue an ambitious research program to elucidate the key ecological and evolutionary processes of cold ecosystems. The approach should include exploiting exceptional field data acquired over several decades by Université Laval researchers and the use of models to address open questions in Cold Ecosystem Conservation to inform environmental policy. This program 
could include the following: 1) measuring and quantifying the impacts of climate change on populations, communities, and ecosystems in cold regions; 2) understanding how these changes affect population dynamics and the persistence of ecosystem functions; and 3) predicting how ecosystem components at the level of individuals and populations, and ecosystems will respond to future climate change to inform environmental policy. This overarching research theme is too complex for one person or one discipline alone. It requires collaboration among experts in cold environments (northern and southern), including holders of Indigenous Knowledge. The proposed CERC at Université Laval’s Department of Biology will serve as the core for this collaborative effort, uniting experts in ecology, conservation, and climate science to enhance our understanding of cold region ecosystems and develop effective protection strategies. The CERC will foster collaboration among Université Laval’s major research networks to train the next generation of scientists in the development of cutting-edge tools and new knowledge.

The Department of Biology at Université Laval is an ideal place for training and research in fundamental fields of biology, from cellular and molecular biology to genomics, physiology, and animal, marine, freshwater, and plant ecology, as well as conservation and evolution. The Department currently has an enrollment of 435 undergraduate students, 135 graduate students in Masters and PhD programs, and 22 professors. The Department is a leader in northern research, with recognized centers of excellence in non-human genomics, ecology and evolution, and oceanography. This research is supported by major infrastructure at 
Université Laval, including the new scientific complex Institut nordique du Québec, the Institute of Integrative Biology and Systems, NGCC Amundsen research icebreaker and 11 research stations in Nunavik and Nunavut under the stewardship of the Centre for Northern Studies. These stations include weather stations that have been maintained for 30–40 years and cover a latitudinal gradient of 3,000 km.

Université Laval is driven by a deep-rooted culture of sustainable development. It educates generations of committed and creative students who become leading citizens, scientists, and influential leaders. The total student enrolment stands at 55,000 with 1,700 professors. Open to the world and a leader among major French-speaking universities, Université Laval strives for excellence in teaching and research. Its clear ambition is to conduct inclusive, connected, and sustainable research for the benefit of local communities and the planet. According to the Times Higher Education 2024 Impact Ranking, based on the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Université Laval ranks 19th in the world and first among French-speaking universities. Université Laval is also the top Canadian university and one of the top international universities in the field of Arctic and subarctic sciences. Université Laval inspires its partners by uniting the forces of change and is at the heart of Quebec City’s vibrant academic community.

The person selected by the Nomination Committee must successfully pass an internal selection process at Université Laval as well as the national selection as part of the Canada Excellence Research Chair competition. For more information on the program and eligibility criteria, please visit the Canada Excellence Research Chair website.

The successful candidate will receive:

• A tenured full time full professor position.
• Competitive salary package including a chair bonus of up to 30% of union negotiated salary.
• $8 million over 8 years ($1 million/year, including salary) in funding from the CERC Program.
• A partial exemption from teaching duties for the duration of the chair.
• An allocation of $800,000 from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) for major laboratory equipment that can be leveraged to $2M.
• State-of-the-art laboratories in the INQ's new science complex, including laboratories for simulating cold conditions and a logistics center for mission 
  preparation.
• Competitive and attractive start-up funds. 

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Statement
Université Laval rejects all forms of discrimination, promotes excellence in research and research training, and guarantees equal opportunity for all candidates. We support the principle that excellence and equity are compatible and complementary. We welcome and encourage applications from racialized people, visible minorities, women, Indigenous Peoples (in Canada), people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, 2SLGBTQ+ communities, and all qualified individuals with the skills and knowledge to engage productively with diverse communities.

By choosing Université Laval, you will benefit from the following integration measures: 

• welcome days for new professors.
• free French courses for you and your spouse.
• support for relocating to Quebec City and job search assistance for your spouse.

Career Interruption and Special Circumstances 
Université Laval acknowledges that career interruption and special circumstances (e.g., maternity or parental leave, leave for prolonged illness, clinical training, care for a family member, the COVID-19 pandemic) as well as disability may influence productivity and contributions to research. Applicants are invited to explain any such career interruptions, if they wish; any information provided will be considered and taken into consideration in the assessment of their applications. 

Accommodation
In complete confidentiality, accommodation can be offered to candidates according to their needs, including accessibility. If needed, we invite candidates to contact the equity officer using contact information below. 

Marie-José Naud
Advisor, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Research
[email protected] 

Job Description
In the current context of climate change, conservation ecology is the subject of intense international activity. We are seeking someone with proven leadership experience in integrating ecological and climate science. The ideal candidate have experience cold system research and is able to mount a research program to understand and predict how cold region ecosystems respond to rapid environmental change to support adaptive conservation strategies and environmental policies. We are looking for a candidate whose expertise will enrich existing Université Laval centers and institutes and create synergies within the University strengths in cold region ecology. This will foster a dynamic and collaborative research environment within our institution.

The CERC holder will combine recent and emerging methods in conservation science with Université Laval’s solid, well-established expertise in ecology, evolution, and oceanography to bring together the different disciplines and establish a center of expertise in conservation ecology for the conservation of complex, cold systems. These disciplines include:

• Conservation biology.
• Integrative biology.
• Population ecology.
• Ecosystem dynamics.
• Statistical ecology.
• Climate-ecosystem modeling.

Requirements

• Université Laval requires that candidates hold a Ph.D. in biological sciences or a relevant discipline related to the proposed CERC.
• Be a full or an associate professor eligible for full professor rank within two years of applying. Candidates from non-academic backgrounds must have the equivalent qualifications necessary for an appointment to such professorships.
• Be available to assume the position of Chair at Université Laval within 12 months of the institution’s and the candidate’s acceptance of the award notification.

The complete application file includes:

• A letter of intent of no more than two pages, highlighting the following:
  • The ability to act as a catalyst for structuring research at institutional, regional, national, and/or international levels in the field of cold ecosystem conservation.
  • The links between the proposal and the research strengths of the Department of Biology and Université Laval.
• A curriculum vitae in free format.
• A description of the research proposal within the framework of the CERC in Cold Ecosystem Conservation, no more than two pages.
• Names and email addresses of three people who can provide references and comment on the candidate’s application in relation to the evaluation criteria mentioned below.
• The self-identification form.

Send the application to [email protected] 

Competition Stages 

Criteria for evaluating applications for initial internal evaluation
A Nomination Committee, at the department level, selects one application for further 
consideration based on the following criteria and sub-criteria:

• A proven ability to independently develop original and ambitious research related to the identified field, particularly through:
  • The quality, impact, and influence of publications, peer-reviewed conferences, and other scientific contributions in the field.
• The ability to act as a catalyst for structuring research at institutional, regional, national, and/or international levels in the field of cold ecosystem conservation.
• roven ability or potential for university teaching at all three levels and supervision of graduate students, as well as a commitment to pedagogical innovation.
• Potential or demonstrated commitment to scientific and academic community service.
• The ability to communicate and integrate into the institution’s French-speaking environment within a reasonable timeframe.
• Demonstrated ability to provide benevolent leadership to multidisciplinary research teams and to develop trusted relationships with Indigenous Knowledge holders.
• Professional potential commensurate with the key skills required for the position:
  • Analysis, synthesis, and judgment.
  • Creativity and innovation.
  • Communication skills.
  • Interpersonal skills and openness.
  • Ability to work in a team and with partners.
  • Autonomy and sense of responsibility.
  • Sense of ethics and duty.
  • Supervision of people.

The Nomination Committee is composed of professors from the Department of Biology. In addition, an equity officer will take part in the committee meetings to ensure the conformity of the evaluation process. All committee members receive clear instructions on their role, the expected definition of excellence as well as on the impact of career interruptions and special circumstances in the evaluation of applications. Members must also complete unconscious bias training in peer review. 

The application of the selected candidate will be sent to the Office of the Vice Rector Research and Innovation for a final internal selection according to the selection criteria of the CERC Program. The final decision will be made by a committee chaired by the Vice-Rector, Research, Creation and Innovation, who will also consult with senior management 
at Université Laval.

Contacts

Call for application process
Jean-Pierre Tremblay
Head of the Department of Biology
Faculté des sciences et de génie
[email protected]

Questions related to EDI principles
Marie-José Naud
Advisor, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Research
Office of the Vice Rector, Research and Innovation
[email protected]