Canada Research Chair in Cold Regions Ecosystems Science (NSERC - Tier I)

Wilfrid Laurier University•Waterloo, ON

11d•Hybrid

About The Position

Wilfrid Laurier University invites applications for a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair (CRC) (NSERC) in Cold Regions Ecosystem Science within the Department of Geography & Environmental Studies. Tier 1 Chairs are intended for outstanding established scholars whose accomplishments have made a major impact in their fields and are recognized internationally as leaders. Nominees must have superior records of attracting and supervising graduate students and postdoctoral fellows and be proposing an original, innovative research program of the highest quality. The successful candidate will develop a leading-edge research and graduate training program focused on understanding and predicting ecosystem changes in the Canadian Arctic at local and regional scales and the consequent implications for resources on which Arctic communities depend. This includes changes in hydrology, lakes, energy and water fluxes, permafrost, snow, carbon fluxes, tundra vegetation, and wildfires. The role requires established experience integrating field observations, remote sensing, and high-resolution numerical and data-driven models. The successful candidate will also become Director of the Trail Valley Creek (TVC) Research Station in the Northwest Territories, a world-class research infrastructure providing housing and resources for researchers and access to extensive data sets. Research activities at TVC are conducted under a formal agreement with the Government of the NWT and in collaboration with Inuvialuit organizations. The Chair will be based at Laurier’s Waterloo campus, with access to modern equipment staging facilities, wet and dry labs, technical support, and affiliation with the Cold Region Research Centre. The candidate is expected to engage actively with Indigenous communities, generate scientific data for environmental planning, and collaborate on training community members and future northern scientists. The position involves training and mentoring undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, research associates, and early career scholars, teaching two courses annually at the graduate or senior undergraduate level, and engaging in science communication.

Requirements

Applicants for Tier 1 Chair positions must be full professors or associate professors expecting promotion within two years of the nomination
Alternatively, if they come from outside the academic sector, candidates must possess the qualifications necessary for appointment at these levels
Outstanding and innovative world-class researchers whose accomplishments have made a major impact in their fields
Recognized internationally as leaders in their fields
Superior records of attracting and supervising graduate students and postdoctoral fellows
Proposing an original, innovative research program of the highest quality
Established experience integrating field observations, remote sensing, and high-resolution numerical and data driven models to understand past and future changes in Arctic/sub-Arctic ecosystems due to changing climate
Established leading-edge research program focused on understanding and predicting ecosystem changes in the Canadian Arctic/sub-Arctic at local and regional scales and the consequent implications for resources on which Arctic/sub-Arctic communities depend
Clearly established track record of attracting and managing large research grants from Tri-Agency and other sources of funding
Clearly established track record of scholarly publications and other impactful outputs, on subjects directly pertaining to Arctic/sub-Arctic ecosystems
Demonstrate a superior record in training and mentoring undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, research associates, and early career scholars
Demonstrate experience with collaborations between physical and social scientists
PhD in Geography, Earth and Environmental Science, Biology, Chemistry or another discipline directly related to cold regions ecosystem science

Nice To Haves

Experience managing a large research station or facility
A track record of research grants focused on Arctic/sub-Arctic regions
Experience collaborating with Indigenous communities including conducting community-based research and training

Responsibilities

Develop a leading-edge research and graduate training program focused on understanding and predicting ecosystem changes in the Canadian Arctic at local and regional scales and the consequent implications for resources on which Arctic communities depend
Focus research program on one or more types of ecosystem change such as hydrology, lakes, energy and water fluxes, permafrost, snow, carbon fluxes, tundra vegetation in the vicinity of the Arctic tree line, and wildfires
Become Director of the Trail Valley Creek (TVC) Research Station
Attract, develop and retain excellent trainees, students and future researchers
Engage actively with Indigenous communities as part of their research
Generate scientific data and products that may be utilized for environmental planning, policy and decision-making at local, territorial and national/international levels
Collaborate with Indigenous communities to train community members and develop the next generation of northern scientists
Train and mentor undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, research associates, and early career scholars
Teach two courses annually at the graduate or senior undergraduate level
Engage in science communication across a range of media platforms