Job Description

Position Summary

Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) is the only institution in Quebec exclusively dedicated to research and graduate education. Since its establishment in 1969, it continues to fulfill its mission of actively contributing to Québec’s economic, social, and cultural development. INRS ranks first in Quebec in terms of research intensity. It comprises five interdisciplinary research and training centres located in Quebec City, Montreal, Laval, Varennes, and the Charlevoix region, that focus their activities on strategic sectors: Eau Terre Environnement, Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications, Urbanisation Culture Société, Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie and Ruralités durables (in development). Its community has nearly 1,500 members, including students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty members, and staff.

INRS is seeking applications of international caliber in order to apply to the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs Program (Impact+ Research Chairs) and, if the Chair is awarded, to fill a regular position within its faculty. The institution may submit between four and eight Chair applications to the Program. Each Chair will be worth a maximum of $500,000 or $1,000,000 per year for eight years, with a possibility for a four-year funded extension, at 50% of the original award value. These two award values recognize the varying costs of research within different research disciplines and aim to be inclusive of all areas of research. The deadlines for submitting complete applications are March 24, 2026, for Intake 1 and June 29, 2026, for Intake 2.

The Canada Impact+ Research Chairs (Impact+) program is a one-time initiative designed to support institutions in attracting world-leading researchers whose work addresses critical national and global challenges. The program emphasizes both research excellence and tangible impact. Impact+ Chairs will receive long-term funding and institutional support to advance ambitious and transformative projects in Canada’s strategic priority areas, build and maintain exceptional research teams, and collaborate with partners across sectors and borders. Impact+ chairholders are expected to drive the translation of discoveries into applications, commercialization and social and economic benefits for Canada and the world, while also developing the next generation of highly qualified personnel.

Applications must explain how the Chair will advance one or more of the following strategic priority areas for Canada:
• advanced digital technologies (including artificial intelligence, quantum and cybersecurity);
• health, including biotechnology;
• clean technology and resource value chains;
• environment, climate resilience and the Arctic;
• food and water security;
• democratic and community resilience;
• manufacturing and advanced materials; and/or
• defence and dual-use technologies.

If the Chair is awarded, the candidate will be eligible to apply to the Canada Impact Research Infrastructure Fund from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to support their infrastructure needs.

With results expected in June 2026 for Intake 1 and September 2026 for Intake 2, the successful candidate will have up to 12 months to take up their position as a faculty member and chairholder.

Main Roles and Responsibilities
• Develop an independent, innovative, and transformative research program;
• Collaborate with existing research teams while developing or maintaining external partnerships;
• Secure research funding from public or private sources, in accordance with Canada’s Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern and the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships;
• Participate in teaching and training activities as part of the graduate and postgraduate programs offered at the centre to which you will be affiliated;
• Supervise graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, interns, and research staff;
• Contribute to the national and international profile of INRS.

Requirements

Education
• Ph.D. in a relevant field (this is a requirement of INRS and not of the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs program).

Standard Requirements
• The nominees must have a recent track record of research accomplishments and significant interest in making new contributions to Canada;
• Only candidates who are internationally based (both working and residing outside of Canada) at the time of the intake’s application deadline are eligible to apply;
• Nominees must be full professors or associate professors or, if recruited from outside the academic sector, must possess the necessary qualifications to be appointed at these levels;
• Have an outstanding record of research achievements and scientific output of international scope and tangible impacts;
• Demonstrate strong potential for collaboration and complementarity with other INRS faculty members within a multidisciplinary perspective, and with other researchers in the same or related fields elsewhere in Canada and abroad;
• Demonstrate ability to supervise graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and research staff;
• Have a proven ability to establish and sustain an equitable, diverse, and inclusive research environment (e.g., recruitment strategy, fair access to training, mentoring, and professional development);
• Have a demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit and capacity to secure research funding. Current grants/contracts will be considered an asset;
• Demonstrate excellent potential to carry out original, productive, high-impact research in training, knowledge translation and mobilization, and the application of research findings; show strong scientific leadership and have international recognition enabling to apply for an Impact+ Research Chair.
Applicants are encouraged to review the eligibility and selection criteria for the Impact+ Research Chairs Program before applying.
The working language is French. Advanced knowledge of English is essential. Candidates with limited knowledge of French are strongly encouraged to apply. The necessary resources will be made available to facilitate the successful candidate's linguistic integration.

Inclusive Environment
INRS is committed to an Equal Access Employment Program and adheres to employment equity obligations under the Federal Contractors Program. It values equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), and invites applications from all qualified individuals, particularly from women, members of visible minorities and ethnic minorities, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, and members of 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Selection tools can be adapted for applicants with disabilities at any recruitment stage. For accommodation or EDI-related questions, please confidentially contact the EDI Advisor, Léa Maude Gobeille Paré, at: [email protected].
INRS also asks selection committees to consider career interruptions or special circumstances during application reviews. Applicants are encouraged to describe how any relevant personal circumstances may have affected their research record, so that a fair assessment of their research productivity can be made.

Additional Information
Posting period: February 2, 2026 – May 4, 2026
Applications will be processed on a rolling basis throughout the posting period and will continue to be reviewed until the positions are filled.
INRS encourages candidates who meet the requirements to apply online via the “Jobs” section by May 4, 2026, and include:
• A brief letter of interest clearly identifying which (one or more) of the eight strategic priority areas align with their research;
• Their complete CV;
• A copy of their three most significant publications;
• A description of their current and future research interests and the proposed Canada Impact+ research program (maximum six (6) pages, references excluded);
• A summary of their teaching and mentorship experience and philosophy (maximum one (1) page);
• Contact information for three references.
Incomplete applications will not be considered.