University of Manitoba: CRC Tier 2 in Emerging Materials for Sustainable Energy

 Position #32411-32412

The University of Manitoba invites applications for a Canada Research Chair Tier 2, a full-time tenure-track or tenured position at the rank of assistant or associate professor, in the area of Emerging Materials for Sustainable Energy.

The Government of Canada has established the CRC program to enable Canadian universities to foster world class research excellence. The proposed CRC aligns with the University’s strategic research plan that identifies Sustainable Systems for Resilient Communities and High-Performance Materials, Structures and Processes as targeted areas.

The Department of Chemistry and the University of Manitoba (UM) have a strong track record in Materials Chemistry including outstanding technical facilities to support cutting-edge, collaborative research. The Department of Chemistry has 10 instructors and 20 full-time tenured and tenure-track faculty members including researchers focusing on materials for advanced battery technologies, molecular materials for photophysics and magnetism, novel low-dimensional semiconductors, amorphous glasses, and solid-state materials for fuel-cell applications.

The Department and the University of Manitoba, in particular through the Manitoba Institute of Materials (MIM), the Manitoba Chemical Analysis Laboratory (MCAL), and the Prairie Regional NMR Facility, have excellent research infrastructure and access to on-site high-performance computing, with a strong focus on materials science. For more information and a complete list of available instrumentation, please visit: https://sci.umanitoba.ca/chemistry/ and https://www.umanitoba.ca/manitoba-institute-for-materials/ and partner centres https://umanitoba.ca/manitoba-institute-for-materials/members-and-partners. Additional infrastructure is available through the Department’s close connections with other departments in the Faculty of Science (https://sci.umanitoba.ca/industry/facilities-institutes-and-capabilities/) such as Physics and Astronomy (https://sci.umanitoba.ca/physics-astronomy/), affiliated institutes like the Manitoba Quantum Institute (MQI; https://sci.umanitoba.ca/physics-astronomy/research/research-institutes/the-manitoba-quantum-institute/), and the Price Faculty of Engineering (https://umanitoba.ca/engineering/), home to the Nano-Systems Fabrication Laboratory (NSFL; http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~shafaic/NSFL_site/index.html).

A growing sustainable technology sector in Manitoba offers opportunities for the development of partnerships with local start-ups and established industry, with dedicated support staff in the Faculty of Science for Business Development and Strategic Partnerships (https://sci.umanitoba.ca/industry/research-facilitation-business-development/).

To enhance our department, we particularly invite applications from those who will increase and support our diversity, including women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, racialized persons, underrepresented groups such as 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, questioning, intersex, asexual and other diverse sexual identities), and those committed to an inclusive environment.

Responsibilities:

The University of Manitoba is seeking a highly promising emerging researcher who will develop, characterize, model, and/or optimize new materials to address our gap in knowledge and innovation in the area of materials for sustainable energy, broadly defined, at the fundamental and/or applied levels.

A competitive research program supported by a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in this area could span a number of aspects in materials science for sustainable energy, and may cross traditional subdisciplines, from synthetic organic and/or inorganic chemistry, to physical, analytical, and/or quantum-level characterization.

The successful candidate will be expected to establish and maintain a vibrant, externally funded research program, form productive research collaborations within the University of Manitoba and beyond, and provide high-quality training at the undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral level, as well as contributing to our teaching mission.

In addition, the candidate will contribute to the vibrant nature of the Department of Chemistry and the University of Manitoba by providing meaningful service and leadership supporting our academic and research activities.

Qualifications:

The successful candidate must have a PhD and/or postdoctoral experience and proven success in research, with a highly productive track record of academic output. The ideal candidate will demonstrate the ability and/or potential to mentor students in materials research, and leadership in research and service initiatives. Rank and salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

A Tier 2 CRC Nomination will be submitted soon after a successful candidate has been selected. Chairs are awarded by the Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat after a rigorous evaluation, and award decisions are expected in the Fall 2023. The appointment will be conditional on a successful Canada Research Chair nomination.

Applicants must be exceptional emerging scholars with less than 10 years of experience as an active researcher since obtaining their terminal degree at the time of nomination. Tier 2 Chairs are valued at $100,000 per year for 5 years with an option to renew once. Applicants who are more than 10 years from having earned their highest degree (and where career breaks exist, such as maternity, parental or extended sick leave, clinical training, etc.) will have their eligibility for a Tier 2 Chair assessed through the program’s Tier 2 justification process. Please contact the UM’s Office of Research Services (researchgrants@umanitoba.ca) for more information.

The University acknowledges the potential impact that Career Interruptions and Personal Circumstances can have on an applicant’s record of research achievement. We encourage applicants to explain the impact of any such interruption(s) in their submission. Measures will be taken to ensure that these leaves will be taken into careful consideration during the evaluation process. The CRC Nomination Selection Committee will receive equity training that includes instruction on how to recognize and combat unconscious, implicit, overt, prejudicial and other kinds of bias. The Canada Research Chairs website also provides full program information including details on eligibility criteria at: www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/program-programme/nomination-mise_en_candidature-eng.aspx

EQUITY STATEMENT

The University of Manitoba is committed to the principles of equity, diversity & inclusion and to promoting opportunities in hiring, promotion and tenure (where applicable) for systemically marginalized groups who have been excluded from full participation at the University and the larger community including Indigenous Peoples, women, racialized persons, persons with disabilities and those who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, questioning, intersex, asexual and other diverse sexual identities). All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. If you require accommodation supports during the recruitment process, please contact UM.Accommodation@umanitoba.ca or 204-474-7195. Please note this contact information is for accommodation reasons only.

The University of Manitoba, founded more than 140 years ago, is located in Winnipeg, and is the region’s largest research-intensive university. The university community is comprised of close to 30,000 students, 9,000 faculty and staff, and over 140,000 alumni. A vibrant, prairie city with a population of 750,000, Winnipeg boasts world-class arts and entertainment, professional sports teams and an affordable, balanced lifestyle; for more information, visit https://www.tourismwinnipeg.com.

Application materials, including reference letters, will be handled in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Manitoba). Please note that application materials may be provided to participating members of the search process.

Application review will begin on August 3, 2022.  The position is expected to commence September 1, 2023 or as negotiated.

Application materials should include:

• a cover letter outlining the candidate’s qualifications and how they fulfill the above-listed criteria
• a curriculum vitae (including examples of significant research contributions)
• a statement outlining the innovative and original proposed five-year research program envisioned for the Tier 2 chair and its potential to attract funding, contribute to student training and other impacts on the broader community (up to five pages)
• a statement on candidate’s strengths and experiences in increasing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in a previous institutional environment (up to two pages)
• a teaching statement that documents the candidate’s experience in and approach to training and mentoring students and outlines the candidate’s teaching philosophy (up to two pages)
• the names and contact information of three referees

Send to:
Dr. Ute Kothe
Search Committee Chair
University of Manitoba
Department of Chemistry
144 Dysart Road
Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada
Email – chemistry.materials@umanitoba.ca
Please refer to position # 32411-32412 in the subject heading

https://sci.umanitoba.ca/chemistry/canada-research-chair-tier-2