Canada Research Chair

Canada Research Chair (CRC) Tier I in Smart and Sustainable Energy Systems

Position code: 23_C_CME_M

Date posted: October 31, 2023

Application deadline: March 15, 2024

Advertised until: Position is filled

Link to posting:

Position description

The Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering seeks to appoint a Canada Research Chair (CRC) Tier 1, a research-intensive faculty position, in Smart and Sustainable Energy Systems. We seek to recruit an outstanding researcher in the field of process systems engineering applied to sustainable energy systems. Of particular interest are systems combining the generation, use, and storage of renewable electricity, including units such as wind energy conversion systems, photovoltaics, electrochemical conversion processes, batteries (stationary and/or mobile), fuel cells, hydrogen storage, etc. Approaches may include process simulation, design, optimization, and integration; experimental testing and upscaling, and life cycle assessment. The position is at the level of full professor or associate professor who is expected to be promoted to full professor within one or two years of the nomination. The granting of tenure on appointment will be considered in accordance with the provisions of the CUFA collective agreement. Duties include research, teaching at both the graduate and undergraduate levels and service to the institution. The candidate must have a superior track record of attracting, developing, and retaining excellent trainees, students, and future researchers.

Qualifications and assets

Candidates must have a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering or a closely related field, with a PhD degree in a related field. Membership or eligibility for membership in a Canadian professional engineering association, preferably in Quebec, is required.

The main criteria for selection are scholarly and teaching excellence. The successful candidate is an outstanding and innovative world-class researcher whose accomplishments have made a major impact in their fields. They must have a well-established record of attracting major external funding and carrying out an independent research program leading to high-impact publications and/or commercial applications. Industry experience or applications of research to industry will be considered an asset. Applicants must also demonstrate a commitment to excellence in teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and to the supervision of master's and PhD students.

Candidates eligible for Canada Tier I Research Chair positions must be outstanding researchers acknowledged by their peers as world leaders in their fields. Nominees for Tier I Chair positions must be full professors or associate professors who are expected to be promoted to the full professor level within one or two years of the nomination. Alternatively, if they come from outside the academic sector, nominees must possess the necessary qualifications to be appointed at these levels. Please consult the Canada Research Chairs website for full program information, including further details on eligibility criteria.

Candidates are encouraged to share any career interruptions or personal circumstances that may have had an impact on their career goals (such as the decision to have a family, eldercare, illness, and so forth) in their letter of application. These will be carefully considered in the assessment process. The Department values diversity among its faculty and strongly encourages applications from women and members of underrepresented groups. Concordia University is an English-language institution of higher learning at which the primary language of instruction and research is English. Since this position supports the academic functions of the university, proficiency in English is required. Working knowledge of French, including reading and grading student work in French, is an asset.

How to apply

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; Canadians and Permanent Residents will be given priority. To comply with the Government of Canada's reporting requirements, the University is obliged to gather information about applicants' status as either Permanent Residents of Canada or Canadian citizens. While applicants need not identify their country of origin or current citizenship, all applicants must include one of the following statements:

Yes, I am a citizen or permanent resident of Canada

or

No, I am not a citizen or permanent resident of Canada

Applications should be addressed to: Alex De Visscher, Professor and Chair (cme-) and must include the following:

• a cover letter clearly identifying the title (Smart and Sustainable Energy Systems) and position code (23_C_CME_M),
• a detailed curriculum vitae,
• a research statement with a detailed research plan that will form the basis of the Canada Research Chair nomination,
• the three most relevant papers published by the candidate,
• a teaching statement with a teaching vision and an indication of teaching interests,
• contact information for at least four referees.

Electronic applications should be submitted by December 17, 2023, but will continue to be reviewed until the position is filled. Only short-listed candidates will be notified. The appointment is expected to commence on August 1, 2024, or shortly thereafter.

Concordia University is strongly committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community, and recognizes the importance of inclusion in achieving excellence in teaching and research. As part of this commitment to providing our students with the dynamic, innovative, and inclusive educational environment of a Next‐Generation University, we require all applicants to articulate in their cover letter how their background, as well as lived and professional experiences and expertise have prepared them to teach in ways that are relevant for a diverse, multicultural contemporary Canadian society.

Possible examples to demonstrate a diverse experience may include, but are not limited to:

• teaching about underrepresented populations
• community-based research
• mentoring students from underrepresented backgrounds
• offering or organizing educational programming
• participation in training and workshops

All applicants will receive an email invitation to complete a short equity survey. Participation in the survey is voluntary and no identifying information about candidates will be shared with hiring committees. Candidates who wish to self-identify as a member of an underrepresented group to the hiring committee may do so in their cover letter or by writing directly to the contact person indicated in this posting.

Adaptive Measures

Applicants who anticipate requiring adaptive measures throughout any stage of the recruitment process may contact, in confidence, Anna Barrafato, Accessibility Change Lead: or by phone at extension 3511.

Information about the Department

The Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering is a new, rapidly growing department with more than 15 faculty members active in various areas of chemical and materials engineering with a strong focus on sustainable chemical engineering and materials for sustainable energy conversion and storage. The department is dedicated to multidisciplinary research and training of undergraduate and graduate students and offers master's and PhD degrees in Chemical Engineering, and is currently developing a Bachelor's program in Chemical Engineering. Concordia University attracts high-quality, diverse domestic and international students in all its programs and enrolments are stable and strong at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. More information on the department is available at:

Information about the Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science

The Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science is ranked among the top ten engineering schools in Canada. The School is home to over 10,000 engineering and computer science students and a faculty complement of over 250 faculty members. The School has about 4,500 graduate students enrolled in 35 graduate programs. Its research profile continues to grow as it fosters multidisciplinary approaches to finding solutions to a broad range of societal challenges. Concordia University and the School attract a high-quality, diverse student population in all its programs. For more information on the Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science, please visit

Information about Concordia

Concordia University is located on unceded Indigenous lands. Tiohtià:ke/Montreal, on the traditional lands and waters of the Kanien'kehá:ka Nation, is historically known as a gathering place for many First Nations. Today it is home to a diverse population of Indigenous and other peoples. We respect the continued connections with the past, present and future in our ongoing relationships with Indigenous and other peoples within the Montreal community.

Building on the skills of our faculty and the strengths of Indigenous, local, and global partnerships, we set our sights further and more broadly than others and align the quality of learning opportunities to larger trends and substantial challenges facing society.

"Concordia is a young, forward-looking university. It's a unique place where experimentation, innovation and creativity are truly valued. Our community of students, faculty, staff and alumni all contribute to our momentum as Canada's next-gen university." — Concordia President Graham Carr.

Profoundly global, Concordia is North America's top university under the age of 50 and is recognized for attracting some of the most talented faculty and students from around the world. Driven by ambition, innovation and a commitment to reconciliation, research and community engagement, Concordia is celebrated for advancing transformative learning, convergent thinking and public impact.

Information about Montreal

Tiohtià:ke/Montreal, is exceptional; safe, vibrant and diverse, with new things to discover around every corner. The Kanien'kehá:ka Nation is recognized as the custodians of the lands and waters on which we gather and conduct our activities. With a population of 1.7 million, Tiohtià:ke/Montreal is home to four major universities and several clinical research centres and has been named the best student city in the world. It offers the most affordable tuition in Canada.

The city enjoys a thriving multicultural scene. Bilingualism is a part of Montreal's tradition and adds to its inspiring atmosphere. While supporting a significant anglophone population, it is the one of the largest French-speaking cities in the world.

Montreal is famed for its innovative culinary scene and festivals. It was also the first metropolis to be designated a UNESCO City of Design by the Global Alliance for Cultural Diversity.

The city is recognized globally as an important centre for commerce, aerospace, transport, finance, pharmaceuticals, technology, design, gaming and film.

Territorial Acknowledgements

Concordia University is located on unceded Indigenous lands. The Kanien'kehá:ka Nation is recognized as the custodians of the lands and waters on which we gather today. Tiohtià:ke/Montreal is historically known as a gathering place for many First Nations. Today, it is home to a diverse population of Indigenous and other peoples. We respect the continued connections with the past, present and future in our ongoing relationships with Indigenous and other peoples within the Montreal community.

Employment Equity

Concordia University is strongly committed to employment equity within its community, and to recruiting a diverse faculty and staff. The University encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including women, members of visible minorities, Indigenous persons, members of sexual minorities, persons with disabilities, and others who may contribute to diversification; candidates are invited to self-identify in their applications.

Immigration Status

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian and Permanent Residents will be given priority. To comply with the Government of Canada's reporting requirements, the University is obliged to gather information about applicants' status as either Permanent Residents of Canada or Canadian citizens. While applicants need not identify their country of origin or current citizenship, all applications must include one of the following statements:

Yes, I am a citizen or permanent resident of Canada

or

No, I am not a citizen or permanent resident of Canada.