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Canada Excellence Research Chairs Nominees

About the Canada Excellence Research Chairs Nominees Program

McMaster University is seeking outstanding researchers for consideration as Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC) nominees.

The CERC program offers eligible Canadian, degree-granting institutions an opportunity to establish highly-funded research chairs in the areas that align with the Government of Canada’s science, technology and innovation priorities.

Nominees must be full professors or associate professors expected to be promoted to full professor within one or two years of the nomination. Alternatively, if they come from outside the academic sector, nominees must have the qualifications necessary to be appointed at these levels.

Researchers who hold a full-time academic appointment at a Canadian institution are eligible to be nominated; but, they may not be nominated by the institution at which they currently hold their appointment. If an institution nominates a researcher who is currently at a Canadian institution, the institution must prove the net benefit to the country in moving the researcher from one Canadian institution to another. Please consult the Canada Excellence Research Chair Program website for full program information, including further details on eligibility criteria.

ABOUT MCMASTER

McMaster University is located on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga Nations, and within the lands protected by the “Dish With One Spoon” wampum agreement.

McMaster’s main campus, located in the Westdale neighbourhood of Hamilton, Ontario, is comprised of 300 acres of scenic property at the western end of Lake Ontario, between Toronto and Niagara Falls. Our 30-acre central core is designated for pedestrians and bicyclists. Nearby attractions include Cootes Paradise, the Bruce Trail, the Waterfront Trail, the Royal Botanical Gardens, and the Niagara Escarpment, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.

Founded in 1887, McMaster University is one of only four Canadian universities ranked among the top 80 in the world by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for 2022. Home to more than 70 research centres and institutes, McMaster is comprised of six faculties: the DeGroote School of Business, and the Faculties of Engineering, Health Sciences, Humanities, Science, and Social Sciences. Named Canada’s most research-intensive university in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 by Research Infosource, McMaster is dedicated to teaching, learning and service. With a student population of more to 36,000, McMaster welcomes students from 120 countries as well as Canada.

McMaster has a vision to achieve international distinction for creativity, innovation and excellence as a research-intensive, student-centred university. In committing to that vision, we are also focused on the promotion of inclusive excellence, recognizing the critical role that diversity of identity, background and perspective play in harnessing creativity and innovation, and the importance of building inclusive and collegial teams within our community.

Selection Criteria

McMaster’s nominees for the Canada Excellence Research Chairs program will be selected in accordance with the following criteria:

  • The candidate is a top-tier researcher whose accomplishments have made a major societal impact (as appropriate based on career stage) and who is recognized internationally as a leader. In cases where the candidate is a Canadian Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit or Métis) researcher based in Canada, the impact can be at the international level and/or at the community, regional or national level. Quality and impact of the candidate’s research track record, including their record of service to the research community (e.g., service on peer review committees, faculty recruitment committees, advisory committees).
  • The candidate’s record of attracting and mentoring a diverse group of students, trainees and research personnel, and establishing an equitable and inclusive research environment.
  • The candidate’s plan for establishing and maintaining a diverse core team (at the student, trainee, personnel and early-career researcher levels), and an environment that is safe and inclusive and allows all team members to reach their full research potential (e.g., through the recruitment and outreach strategy, equitable training opportunities, professional development and mentoring).
  • Extent to which the proposed research program aligns with one or more of the Government of Canada’s science, technology and innovation priority areas for the CERC program.
  • Extent to which the proposed research program promises to be world-leading in the field.
  • Extent to which the proposed research program enhances knowledge mobilization and translation so that all sectors of society (industry, government, academia, not-for-profit, etc.) benefit from the research and data generated.
  • Quality of the proposed research program in terms of how it has embedded EDI considerations (i.e., GBA+ or SGBA+) at each stage of the research process (research questions, design, methodology, data collection, analysis and interpretation, and dissemination of results), as applicable.
  • Quality of the proposed research program in terms of how research is co-created and co-led by and with First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, as investigators, trainees, partners and collaborators, and its recognition of Indigenous ways of knowing (as applicable).
  • Likelihood that the work associated with the proposed research program will be recognized as globally relevant and will advance the frontiers of research in the field on a global scale.
  • Opportunities for collaboration with other researchers working in the same or related areas at the nominating institution, in the same region, within Canada and abroad.
  • Likelihood that the work of the proposed Chair will advance Canada’s reputation as a global centre for science, research and innovation excellence.
  • Plan of the Chair and core team members to communicate the research results and their impacts to the world and a variety of audiences.
  • Potential to apply the research results from the Chair to advance public policy and/or the potential to commercialize research discoveries from the Chair in order to create social and economic advantages for Canada.

In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community with a Shared Purpose, McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity, and has a strong commitment to employment equity. The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. The University seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. While all qualified candidates are invited to apply, we particularly welcome applications from women, First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, and members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community.