Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Cold Region Roads

The Faculty of Engineering at the University of Ottawa invites applications for a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Cold Region Roads. The successful candidate will hold a tenure-track position in the Faculty's Department of Civil Engineering.

Overview

The maintenance and construction of durable and resilient road infrastructure is a major challenge across Canada, but particularly in northern communities, as the degradation of underlying permafrost and increased freeze-thaw cycles due to climate warming have severely affected the performance of many roads built in Canada. The CRC in Cold Regions Roads will aim to develop advanced knowledge and innovative engineering techniques to not only make our existing road transportation infrastructure resilient to climate change and variability, but also to enable the construction of new, sustainable, climate-resilient roads in cold regions in the future. Sustainable and Climate Resilient Road Transportation Infrastructure is a key priority for the federal, provincial, municipal levels of government in Canada. Moreover, many engineering firms are looking for appropriate and sustainable solutions to these problems. Thus, the chairholder and their research team will have the opportunity to work on the problems identified by government and/or industry collaborators/partners and develop innovative solutions.

The University of Ottawa is located on the unceded ancestral territory of the Algonquin people in the heart of the nation's capital. It is one of Canada's top ten research-intensive universities and the largest bilingual English/French university in the world. The Faculty of Engineering provides a learning environment that promotes excellence and innovation, with a strong emphasis on entrepreneurial design. Excellence and diversity in research are built on strong collaboration with industry and government research institutions, many of which are located in the nation’s capital. The Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Ottawa maintains active research programs in Geotechnical Engineering, Structural Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering Materials, and Construction Management. The Department has a fully equipped state-of-the-art research and teaching Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory.

Tier 2 Canada Research Chairs, tenable for five years and renewable once, are for exceptional emerging researchers, acknowledged by their peers as having the potential to lead in their field. For each Tier 2 Chair, the institution receives $100,000 annually for five years, with an additional $20,000 annual research stipend for first-term Tier 2 Chairs. In addition, new CRC nominees are also eligible for infrastructure support from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to help acquire state-of-the-art equipment essential to their work.  

Candidates should, at a minimum, be assistant or associate professors, or possess the necessary qualifications to be appointed to these levels. Candidates who are more than 10 years from their highest degree must contact the University of Ottawa directly for questions related to their potential eligibility for a Tier 2 Chair. The institution may nominate a professor or a researcher who is more than 10 years from their highest degree at the time of nomination and has experienced legitimate career interruptions (see acceptable justifications). In such cases, the institution must submit to the Secretariat a formal justification (using the Tier 2 Justification Screening Form), explaining why the nominee is still considered to be an emerging scholar. The University recognizes the legitimate impact that leaves (e.g., parental leave, leave due to illness) can have on a candidate’s record of research achievement and that these leaves will be taken into careful consideration during the assessment process. 

Selective hiring

The University of Ottawa is committed to ensuring equity, diversity and inclusion in the scholarly and leadership environments of our students, staff, and faculty. In accordance with the University’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan, the selection will be limited to members of the four designated groups such as Indigenous people, visible minorities, persons with disabilities, and women, as defined in the Employment Equity Act, with a preference for Indigenous people. Candidates from these groups who wish to be considered for this position must complete the confidential self-identification form during the application process online (go to My profile / Employment Equity section). The objective of this measure is to increase the representation of the four designated groups (women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples and members of visible minorities as defined in the Employment Equity Act) in the allocation of Canada Research Chair positions. Internal candidates are not eligible.

Skills requirements

  • Education: Ph.D. or equivalent in geotechnical engineering, civil engineering, or related discipline.
  • Required Qualifications: superior research achievements in the CRC’s identified area (geotechnical and road engineering, with particular emphasis on northern road design and materials) and proof of interdisciplinary collaborations, a solid record with respect to teaching and training of students at the graduate level, the ability to obtain external research funds, excellent communication skills in either English or French. Passive knowledge of the other Official Language in Canada is a requirement for tenure.  English-French bilingualism is an asset. Registration as a Professional Engineer in Canada needs to be satisfied at the time of tenure and thereafter.

Rank and salary

Regular tenure-track academic appointment in the Faculty of Engineering with a salary consistent with the collective agreement of the Association of Professors of the University of Ottawa. Salaries are competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Benefits package

The University of Ottawa provides a complete benefits package which includes long term disability, basic group life insurance, supplementary health insurance, University of Ottawa Pension Plan and optional life insurance, as well as covers relocation expenses.

Location of work

Faculty of Engineering,Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5

Application Package

  • A cover letter;
  • An up-to-date curriculum vitae (Please include any personal circumstances and/or career interruptions such as parental or sick leaves that may have impacted your research trajectory. These will be taken into consideration in the selection process);
  • A research plan (2 to 3 pages);
  • A statement of teaching interests (1 to 2 pages); 
  • A statement on equity, diversity, and inclusion philosophy and concrete practices (1 page);
  • The names of three people who may be contacted by the University for letters of reference which will follow the Canada Research Chairs guidelines (i.e. at least one arm’s length with no conflict of interest and two who are not affiliated to the University of Ottawa unless they are the candidate’s PhD or postdoctoral supervisor); and
  • Self-identification: Complete the confidential Employment Equity section online (go to My profile / Employment Equity section) during the application process online.

Submission process

Deadline:   October 29, 2022

Applications should be submitted electronically through the University of Ottawa Academic Careers website at the following link.

The selection process will begin immediately after the closing date and will continue until the position is filled. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Please address your cover letter to the following person:

Dr. Sylvain Charbonneau, Vice-President, Research and Innovation

University of Ottawa

550 Cumberland St., room 246

Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5 CANADA

For questions, please email: [email protected]

According to government policy, all qualified candidates are invited to apply; however, preference will be given to Canadians and permanent residents. When submitting your application, please indicate if you are legally entitled to work in Canada.

The University of Ottawa provides accommodations for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you are invited to proceed in the selection process, please notify us of any accommodations that you require by contacting the Office of the Vice-Provost, Faculty Relations by email at [email protected]. Any information you send us will be handled respectfully and in complete confidence.

The University of Ottawa is proud of its 160-year tradition of bilingualism. Through its Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute, the University provides training to staff members and to their spouses in their second official language.

 Ad posted on August 29, 2022