Impact+ Emerging Leaders Early Career Researcher in Environment, Climate Resilience and the Arctic (Assistant Professor)

Deadline to Apply: Monday, August 3, 2026

Located in downtown Toronto, the largest and most culturally diverse city in Canada and on the territory of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Mississaugas of the Credit and the Wendat Peoples, the Department of Civil Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science at Toronto Metropolitan University [www.torontomu.ca] invites applications for an Impact+ Emerging Leaders Early Career Researcher (ECR), tenure track position at the rank of Assistant Professor in the federal priority area of Environment, Climate Resilience and the Arctic, effective June 1, 2027, subject to final budgetary approval. 

Launched in December 2025, the Impact+ program is a one-time national initiative to support Canadian institutions in recruiting world-leading researchers and emerging leaders (ECR) whose work addresses critical national and global challenges. The successful ECR nominee is expected to have an independent program of research, with potential for impact through collaborations with, but not limited to TMU’s incoming Canada Impact+ Research Chair (CIRC) in Integrated Urban Systems Engineering. For more details on eligibility requirements, visit the Government of Canada’s Program Information page.

The program provides $100,000.00 dollars per year over a six (6) year period to help institutions recruit and launch the research programs of exceptional early career researchers, with the possibility of a further six (6) year extension at the same level of funding based on evidence of transformational research, partnership development and career progression. The successful candidate will continue to hold a tenure-stream position following the funded period.

We seek an emerging leader in Integrated Urban Systems Engineering with expertise in Digital Twins, Agentic Systems and/or Physics-Informed AI. The successful candidate will advance the climate resilience of integrated urban environments through research that may include, for example, developing innovative computational frameworks to model complex interdependencies within critical infrastructure networks. Applicants should demonstrate a track record of using scientific machine learning or systems modelling to solve resilience challenges at the intersection of built and natural systems.

The successful candidate will engage in a combination of teaching, scholarly research and/or creative activity and service duties while maintaining an inclusive, equitable, and collegial work environment across all activities. Teaching duties will entail teaching at undergraduate and graduate levels, supervision of students and/or curriculum development. The successful candidate will pursue a strong, innovative research program and/or creative activity that is externally funded and that produces cutting-edge, high quality results. 

The Impact+ Emerging Leaders Program is part of the Government of Canada’s Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC), and it is the responsibility of all candidates to have read and understood what this means as part of their nomination.

This position falls under the jurisdiction of the Toronto Metropolitan Faculty Association (TFA) [www.tfanet.ca]. Visit us at www.torontomu.ca/faculty-affairs to view the TFA collective agreement and a summary of TFA benefits. The minimum salary for the Assistant Professor rank is $103,916.30 per annum and TMU is committed to providing a competitive total compensation package which shall include a base salary, an excellent benefits package and a research chair stipend. 

Eligibility and Qualification Requirements
The Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders program is intended for outstanding career researchers who are prepared to establish and advance an independent research program in Canada. To be eligible, candidates must: 

• be an early career researcher, within five years of the start date of their first research-related appointment, minus the length of any eligible leaves of absence (e.g. maternity, parental, medical, bereavement), as of the date of this posting;  
• be internationally based (both working and residing outside of Canada) at the time of application; and
• be exceptional emerging scholars who have demonstrated particular research creativity and the potential to achieve international recognition in their fields in the next five to ten years.  

Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering (or an equivalent accredited engineering program) and a PhD in Civil Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline relevant to the position by the time of appointment. The successful candidate must be eligible for registration as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) in Ontario and will be expected to attain this designation within a reasonable timeframe. In addition, the successful candidate must present evidence of: 

• a strong emerging scholarly research and/or creative activity in the federal priority area of Environment, Climate Resilience and the Arctic, that is current, innovative and impactful as evidenced by, but not limited to, peer-reviewed publications, working papers, public policy contributions, presentations at academic conferences, community and professional work, grants, research related awards and other writing or creative production that contributes to the visibility and prominence of the discipline. 
• demonstrated potential for teaching excellence at all levels of the undergraduate curriculum and suitability for teaching in the graduate program, as evidenced by a teaching dossier that includes a teaching philosophy statement, experience with course and curriculum review and/or development, examples of best practices in pedagogy, including effective use of classroom technology and any experience with experiential learning, sample syllabi, strong teaching evaluations, teaching awards, and other relevant achievements in teaching;
• a commitment to our values of equity, diversity, and inclusion as it pertains to service, teaching, and scholarly research or creative activities, including a demonstrated ability to make learning accessible and inclusive for a diverse student population; and 
• an ability and willingness to contribute to the life of the Department of Civil Engineering and the University through collegial service.  

TMU recognizes that scholars have varying career paths and that career interruptions can be part of an excellent academic record. Candidates are encouraged to provide any relevant information about their experience and/or career interruptions due to circumstances such as illness, disability, family and/or community responsibilities, to allow for a fair assessment of their application. 

Search committee members have been instructed to give careful consideration to diverse experiences and knowledge and be sensitive to the impact of career interruptions in their assessments. All applications will be assessed using equitable and inclusive evaluation practices that recognize diverse career paths, lived experiences, and forms of scholarly impact.

Working at TMU
Serving a highly diverse student population of over 45,000, TMU offers over 100+ undergraduate and graduate programs built on the integration of theoretical and practical learning. Distinguished by a professionally focused curriculum and a strong emphasis on excellence in teaching, research and creative activities, TMU is a vibrant, urban university known for its culture of innovation, entrepreneurship, community engagement and city building, reflected in its award-winning architecture. 

At the intersection of mind and action, TMU is on a transformative path to become Canada’s leading comprehensive innovation university. Our new academic plan, Transformative Futures, offers an exciting roadmap towards our ongoing pursuit of academic excellence and to addressing the complex and evolving challenges of our time. 

TMU’s research enterprise has grown rapidly in recent years, with externally funded research more than doubling over the past four years, reflecting both the strength of our research community and our expanding national and international profile. 

Guided by our 2025–2030 Strategic Research Plan, TMU is focused on strengthening established areas of research excellence while advancing high-impact work in strategic and emerging fields. The university places strong emphasis on collaborative and multidisciplinary research that brings together partners across sectors, institutions, and disciplines to broaden impact and create inclusive research and academic opportunities. TMU is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion, Indigenous reconciliation, and responsible research practices, offering scholars an environment that supports ambitious inquiry, meaningful partnerships, and research that informs policy, practice, and society

At the heart of TMU’s remarkable achievements and its ambitious aspirations are its students, faculty and staff. Committed to a people first culture, the university prides itself on offering exceptional benefits and perks, celebrating the achievements of its faculty and staff and maintaining its unwavering commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, including its ongoing commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, confronting Anti-Black Racism and accessibility for persons with disabilities. TMU’s growing reputation and global reach—reflected in its performance across select national and international rankings—support its mission to address real-world challenges, attract top talent and strengthen impact across teaching, research and innovation. Among its many recognitions include being ranked number one on the Forbes list of Canada’s Best Employers for Diversity. We invite you to explore employment at TMU as well as our community of diverse faculty and staff networks.  

Connect with us on LinkedIn for the latest news and opportunities at TMU. 

Department of Civil Engineering
The Department of Civil Engineering offers undergraduate and graduate (Master’s and Doctoral) programs to approximately 1000 students. Our faculty prides itself on the excellence of its scholarly, research, and creative (SRC) activities, the quality of its teaching, and its community engagement. We are interested in candidates who will contribute to the Department of Civil Engineering’s existing strengths and assist in advancing its priorities. Please visit us at https://www.torontomu.ca/civil/ to learn more.
How to Apply
Applicants must submit their application online via the Faculty Recruitment Portal [https://hr.cf.torontomu.ca/ams/faculty/] by clicking on “Start Application Process” to begin. Applications, consisting of the following, must be received by August 3, 2026: 

1. a letter of application addressing interest in the position, in working at TMU and alignment with the above identified federal priority area; 
2. a complete curriculum vitae inclusive of details of research and teaching, scholarly record, funding, collaborations/partnerships with industry government, not-for-profit, and/or community, and leadership experience.
3. a five-page (maximum) research statement, submitted as a single PDF, inclusive of the following:
   • An overview of the applicant’s research proposal, including knowledge mobilization and innovation activities; 
   • How the proposed research embeds equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA) considerations at each stage of the research process; 
   • Potential to collaborate with other researchers at TMU, within Ontario and across Canada; 
   • Social and economic benefits for Canada that will result from the research program, including potential industry, government, not-for-profit, and/or community partnerships; 
   • Contribution and fit to the research ecosystem in Canada and internationally; 
4. a one-page (maximum) statement that describes the applicant’s past experience with attracting and mentoring a diverse group of students, trainees and research personnel, and establishing an equitable and inclusive research environment; 
5. a teaching dossier that includes a teaching philosophy statement, results of teaching evaluations and an EDI statement; and
6. names and contact information of three individuals who may be contacted for references.

At Toronto Metropolitan University, we believe that diversity of knowledge, worldviews and experiences that come from membership in different groups is fundamental to innovation, teaching and scholarship and that our students are best served by faculty who reflect the diversity of TMU’s student body and the community in which TMU is situated. To ensure representation of the excellent talent in Canada, we are particularly interested in applications from members of historically disadvantaged and marginalized groups including: First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples*, Indigenous peoples of North America, Black-identified persons, other racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and those who identify as women and/or 2SLGBTQ+. ?

* Applicants who self-identify as First Nations, Métis, Inuit peoples, or Indigenous peoples of North America ?will be invited to complete an affirmation process at TMU.  This process involves candidates providing relevant documentation to support the claim of Indigenous identity and participating in discussions with the University’s Indigenous Human Resources Lead in order to share relevant information about their lived experience. 

Contacts
Any confidential inquiries about the opportunity can be directed to the Department Hiring Committee Chair Darko Joksimovic at [email protected]. 

Candidates who belong to one or more of the equity-deserving groups recognized at TMU are welcome to connect with Debbie Thompson [[email protected]], Executive Director, Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion [www.torontomu.ca/equity].  

Indigenous candidates who would like to learn more about working at Toronto Metropolitan University are welcome to contact James McKay, Indigenous Human Resources Lead at [email protected]. 

TMU is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and aims to ensure that dignity, integration and equality of opportunity are embedded in all aspects of the University’s culture. For any confidential accommodation needs in order to participate in the recruitment and selection process and/or inquiries regarding accessing the Recruitment Portal, please contact Zenab Pathan, Director, Faculty Recruitment and Development, at [email protected].

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