Canada Excellence Research Chair in Forest Biodiversity Conservation (Full Professor)

COMPETITION: #25-03

Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management 
The University of New Brunswick (UNB) invites applications for a Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC)  in Forest Biodiversity Conservation, based in the Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management (ForEM) on UNB’s Fredericton campus. Launched in 2008, the CERC program helps Canadian universities attract world-renowned researchers and enhance Canada’s global leadership in research and innovation. As one of the most prestigious and generous research awards, it supports national goals to advance knowledge and train the next generation of talent. A CERC has two possible award values: $500,000 or $1,000,000 per year, for a total of $4,000,000 or $8,000,000 over eight years.

The program offers outstanding researchers the opportunity to lead a high-impact research program at UNB and contribute to Canada’s research excellence. The nomination process has two stages. The selected nominee will collaborate with the university to prepare a full application for the 2026 CERC competition. A successful application will result in a tenured appointment at the rank of Full Professor, with a maximum award value of $1 million per year for 8 years. If awarded, the funding will support salary and related expenses, the chairholder’s research activities, and up to 25% of the research’s indirect costs.

The applicant selected for nomination will complete the required CERC documentation, with support from UNB faculty and staff. The position’s start date will follow the release of competition results in January 2027. An exact start date will be negotiated with the successful applicant. This position will be posted until at least August 15, 2025, and application review will continue until the position is filled. The salary range and fringe benefits for this position is defined in the Association of University of New Brunswick Teachers (AUNBT) 2022 - 2025 Collective Agreement sections 35 and 36B.

This position reflects UNB’s institutional commitment to global leadership in research that addresses pressing environmental and societal challenges, as outlined in its Strategic Plan: UNB Toward 2030 and its Strategic Research Plan. The Chair will also contribute directly to Canada’s vision for forest biodiversity protection under the Canada 2030 Nature Strategy, including advancing national commitments to the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework and the 30x30 conservation target (30% of land and water protected by 2030). This is a unique opportunity to develop cutting-edge, solution-oriented research that supports sustainable forest management, biodiversity protection, and climate change mitigation.

The successful candidate will develop an internationally recognized research program that integrates advanced technologies with novel conservation and land-use policy frameworks to tackle urgent challenges at the interface of forestry, biodiversity, and climate. As part of this program, the successful candidate will lead the establishment of UNB’s Global Forest Biodiversity and Conservation Research Institute, an interdisciplinary hub focused on reconciling timber production with biodiversity conservation and carbon storage goals.

The successful candidate will provide science-based strategies to guide global and Canadian forest policy, with a particular focus on designing multifunctional landscapes, evaluating international wood trade impacts, and enabling long-term biodiversity and carbon monitoring. By combining ecological science, quantitative modeling, remote sensing, and Indigenous knowledge systems, the Chair will build a program that spans scales—from stand-level silviculture to international governance—and informs sustainable land-use strategies for a rapidly changing planet. This work will be embedded in strong collaborations with Indigenous Nations, non-governmental organizations, provincial and federal governments, global research institutions, and forestry industry leaders.

Position Responsibilities
The CERC will:

• Lead a groundbreaking, interdisciplinary, and internationally collaborative research program.
• Build and direct a high-impact research institute at UNB focused on forest biodiversity and sustainable forest management.
• Supervise and mentor graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, supporting inclusive and diverse research training.
• Secure external research funding from national and international sources.
• Mobilize research to inform forest policy and sustainability frameworks in Canada and abroad.

Qualifications
The successful candidate will:

• Be an internationally recognized scholar with a PhD (as required by UNB) and a track record of research excellence in forest ecology, conservation science, landscape ecology, or a closely related discipline.
• Have a strong practical and academic record in the field of forest management and field biology.
• Demonstrate success in securing competitive research funding and leading large collaborative, interdisciplinary teams, centres, or institutes.
• Show a strong record of high-impact publications and policy engagement.
• Demonstrate their commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion (EDI), and reconciliation in research and training.

Founded in 1785, UNB is among Canada’s oldest public universities. UNB is deeply engaged in research that contributes to resilient communities, healthy ecosystems, and innovative solutions for societal challenges. The Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management is a national leader in forestry and natural resources research, education, and innovation. Located in New Brunswick—the most heavily forested province in Canada—UNB is ideally situated for research that bridges science, policy, and practice in forest management. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. We welcome applications from all underrepresented, equity-seeking, rights-seeking populations, including racialized individuals, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, women, and individuals from the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Applicants should indicate current citizenship status. The offer of an appointment is conditional upon a successful outcome of the CERC nomination.

UNB recognizes the legitimate impact that life circumstances such as illness, disability, family, and community responsibilities (e.g., maternity leave, parental leave, leaves due to illness, leaves due to caring for family members, or slowdowns due to chronic illness or disability) are expected to have an impact on a candidate’s record of research achievement. These impacts will be taken into careful consideration during the assessment process. Please consult the Canada Research Chairs website for full program information, including further details on eligibility criteria.

UNB ensures that employment opportunities are accessible to all applicants. To request accommodations at any stage in the recruitment and hiring process, please contact UNB’s Recruitment & Employee Experience Specialist, Sara Rogers at 506-453-4648 or [email protected].

Applications should include:

• A cover letter describing qualifications and vision for the Research Chair.
• A full curriculum vitae.
• A statement of research accomplishments and future plans (max. 3 pages).
• A statement on equity, diversity, and inclusion in research and mentorship (max. 1 page).
• A statement on experience with Indigenous research and reconciliation (max. 1 page).
• Contact details for three referees.

Please send your application as a single PDF to [email protected] with the subject line “CERC – Forest Biodiversity Conservation.”

Short-listed candidates will be required to provide satisfactory proof of credentials including appropriately certified translations of credentials into English, as applicable.

The University of New Brunswick is committed to fostering diversity within our community and developing an inclusive workplace that reflects the richness of the broader community that we serve. The University welcomes and encourages applications from all candidates who will help us achieve our goals, including women, visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We recognize that career paths are not always linear, particularly for individuals from marginalized groups, and we encourage applicants to explain the impact any career interruptions may have had on their research history.