Canada Excellence Research Chairs

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1. Program overview
2. Eligibility of nominees
3. Equity, diversity and inclusion
4. Application process
5. Internal selection process
6. Timeline overview
7. Job advertisement

Program overview

The Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) program is funded by the three federal research funding agencies: the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). The program offers eligible Canadian, degree-granting institutions an opportunity to establish highly funded research chairs in the Government of Canada’s ST&I priorities for the CERC and CFREF programs. 

The objectives of the program are to:

• strengthen Canada's ability to attract the world’s top researchers, in order to be at the leading edge of breakthroughs in ST&I priority areas expected to generate social and economic benefits for Canadians; 
• help Canada build a critical mass of expertise in ST&I priority areas identified by the Government of Canada; 
• create a competitive environment to help Canadian institutions, in their pursuit of excellence in their research, attract a cadre of world-leading researchers; and
• contribute to branding Canada as a location of choice for world-leading research, science and technology development, alongside other federal programs with similar objectives.

The 2022 CERC competition is a quota based program where eligible Canadian Institutions are assigned a maximum dollar value per year for which they may apply. CERC awards are tenable for 8 years and non-renewable. In the 2022 competition, there are two sizes of awards:

1. $1 million per year
2. $500,000 per year

In the 2022 competition, SFU is eligible to apply for up to $2 million dollars per year or a maximum of 4 applications. Eligible expenses include those related to compensation and research activities for the chairholder and core team and up to 25% for indirect costs of research. 

It is anticipated that results of the 2022 competition will be released in Spring 2023, therefore the earliest appointment start date at SFU is expected to be fall of 2023 (negotiable). 

Eligibility of nominees

Nominees must be full professors or associate professors expected to be promoted to full professor within one or two years of the nomination. The nominee must hold a full-time academic appointment at the nominating institution as of the start date of the Chair award. 

The program imposes no restrictions on nominees with regard to nationality or country of residence and there are established procedures to allow non-Canadian chairholders to work in Canada. Members of the Chair’s team may also be eligible for an expedited work permit. 

If an institution nominates a researcher who is currently at a Canadian institution, the institution must demonstrate the net benefit to the country in moving the researcher from one Canadian institution to another. 

Equity, diversity and inclusion

Applications must demonstrate and implement the highest EDI standards.  The program requires the participation and contributions of students, trainees and researchers from underrepresented groups. It is also expected that applications will implement measures that specifically support early career researchers. If applicable, applications should include Indigenous research components that are co-created and co-led with Indigenous Peoples.  

EDI considerations must also be embedded into the recruitment process. The recruitment process must identify and address systemic barriers, attract a diverse pool of applicants and be open, fair, transparent and equitable. 

Application process

The CERC program requires a two staged application process where interested applicants must first apply to an open job posting at the university and then applicants who are successful through the internal selection process will submit an application to the program. SFU will provide substantial support in the preparation and development of the program application including project management, budget planning, proposal development and editing. If successful, CERC awardees will also receive substantial support to their research programs and for administration of the grant.

SFU's CERC 2022 job advertisement

Internal selection process

For the 2022 competition, CERC positions were not assigned to specific units in order to encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates. Candidates who are successful through the internal selection process will be appointed to an appropriate academic department/school/faculty at SFU.

SFU welcomes applications from outstanding established researchers in any area of SFU institutional strength, with particular emphasis on the following themes:

1. Quantum Sciences
2. Computational and Engineering Sciences
3. Improving our Understanding of Human Health
4. Climate Change
5. Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
6. Major National and International Research Initiatives

Timeline overview

Job advertisement

SFU’s CERC 2022 job advertisement (.pdf)