Canada Impact+ Research Chair in Music and Artificial Intelligence (Associate or Full Professor)

Founded on October 18, 1950, the Faculty of Music of the Université de Montréal is the largest French-language music teaching institution in North America. Its innovative programs prepare students for a professional career in music, helping them build the career they aspire to and amplifying their reach on the world scene. Its teaching staff exhibit two key qualities: a commitment to providing students with personalized support, and a desire to involve them in research projects and activities showcasing the Faculty.

As part of the 2026 Canada Impact+ Research Chairs Program competition, the Faculty of Music is recruiting a professor at the rank of Associate or Full Professor to advance research and teaching in Music and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

This position is contingent on the candidate’s success in obtaining a Canada Impact+ Research chair in this competition.

The program awards Chairs of two award values: $8 million over eight years ($1 million per year); or $4 million over eight years ($500,000 per year). The chair offered under this call will have a value of $1 million per year for a duration of eight years. The successful candidate will be expected to collaborate in preparing the application, leading up to its submission in March 2026.

Day-to-day responsibilities
Through your undergraduate and graduate-level teaching, and your research activities, you will contribute to the faculty’s pursuit of excellence. Furthermore, you will promote your discipline and actively participate in the daily activities of a renowned institution. As a Professor and holder of an Impact+ Canada Research Chair, you will:

• Leverage your world-class leadership in music and AI in alignment with the Government of Canada’s science, technology and innovation priorities, with the potential to generate positive social and economic benefits for Canadians;
• Actively foster co-creation of research projects and initiatives with partners from all sectors (academic, public, private, and non-profit) to increase the application of research outcomes in Music and AI, for the benefit of society at large. You will also facilitate the mobilization and application of the Chair’s research results in diverse ways to stimulate economic growth and social innovation;
• Have the opportunity to apply for infrastructure funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI);
• Teach at all levels of study;
• Supervise master’s and doctoral students as well as postdoctoral fellows in the completion of theses and dissertations;
• Lead major interfaculty projects with national and international reach;
• Contribute actively to the academic and scientific life of the Faculty.

Qualifications

• Be eligible for the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs Program and apply to the 2026 competition;
• Hold a PhD in a relevant discipline, such as Music, Engineering and Multimedia. This requirement is set by the Université de Montréal; not by the Canada impact+ Research Chairs program;
• Demonstrate outstanding expertise and international recognition as a leader in Music and AI;
• Have an international profile in the field and show strong leadership in major international networks;
• Be able to lead ambitious, productive research teams;
• Possess the qualities required to conduct research that mobilizes and applies knowledge to deliver social and economic benefits for Canada and beyond;
• Demonstrate the ability to provide interdisciplinary teaching;
• Have the ability to work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary context, in complementarity with faculty members;
• Have adequate proficiency of the French language or be committed to learning it once hired, through the Université de Montréal’s French language support program, in accordance with the Université de Montréal language policy.

Additional information about the position

• Competitive salary and a comprehensive range of benefits;
• Expected start date: September 1^st, 2026;
• Located at the Montreal campus.

Link to submit your application: https://www.umontreal.ca/public/www/documents/offres_emploi_profs/MUS_Impact__01-26_01_ENG.pdf 

How to submit your application
The application file presented must include the following documents, to be submitted during the posting period, from, January 16, 2026 to February 19, 2026, inclusively:

• A cover letter;
• A curriculum vitae;
• Copies of, or links to, three recent publications or research papers;
• A statement outlining your teaching and mentoring experience and approach;
• A research program proposal;
• Contact details of three referees who will be solicited for a letter of recommendation;
• Important: the research program proposal should cover 8 years (suggested length: 4 pages).

Contact information

Nathalie Fernando, Dean, Faculty of Music
[email protected]

We encourage you to complete the self-identification questionnaire. More information is available in the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion section at the end of this document.

Candidates who have already applied for a 2026 Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) position at the University of Montreal might be considered for this Impact+ Canada Research Chair position.

As per UdeM’s appointment procedures, members of the Assembly of Professors may consult all submitted application files. If you wish your application to remain confidential until the shortlist is established, please mention it in your application.

HEALTH AND FINANCIAL BENEFITS

• Medical, paramedical, dental and travel insurance
• Employee and Family Assistance Program along with an Institutional Health and Wellness Program
• Defined benefit pension plan with indexed pension payments upon retirement (rrum.umontreal.ca)
• Life insurance and disability income insurance

WORK-LIFE BALANCE

• Up to two years of parental leave
• Reduced workload upon return from parental leave, until the child turns two
• Two on-campus childcare centres
• Summer camps and spring break camps at UdeM’s Sports and Fitness Centre
• Compassionate leave

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Research and study leave
• Research start-up funding
• French language training program
• University-level teaching skills development activities
• Professional development and sabbatical leave allowance program
• Tuition waiver program for you, your spouse, and dependent children

The Université de Montréal (UdeM) places equity, diversity and inclusion at the core of its mission. It adopts a broad and inclusive definition of diversity that goes beyond applicable laws, and encourages all qualified individuals, regardless of their characteristics, to apply. Women, Indigenous Peoples, members of visible or ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, and members of the 2SLGBTQI+ communities are invited to apply and to complete the self-identification form. This process directly supports employment equity objectives and helps strengthen the representation of members of these groups within our community.

Completing the self-identification questionnaire is strongly encouraged when submitting your online application.

This voluntary initiative aims to foster a diverse and equitable environment. The information provided is essential to improving UdeM’s practices and fulfilling its legal obligations. It is collected and used in strict compliance with applicable federal and provincial laws, remains strictly confidential, and will never be disclosed without your consent. It is used to advance employment equity, recognize the expertise of members of designated groups, and enhance their representation within the UdeM community.

During recruitment, selection tools may also be adapted, on a confidential basis, to meet the needs of persons with disabilities. Candidates requiring accommodation are invited to contact, Marie-Lou Lalime at the Bureau du personnel enseignant (Faculty Office) in complete confidentiality by email ([email protected]) or by phone at 514 343-6111 ext. 5472.

In accordance with current Canadian immigration requirements, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

UdeM also recognizes that parental, medical, caregiver or COVID-19 related leaves can lead to career interruptions or slowdowns. Applicants are encouraged to indicate any such circumstances that may have affected their career path. This information will be fully taken into account in the evaluation of applications.