Canada Impact+ Research Chairs Program

The Canada Impact+ Research Chairs Program (Impact+) is a Tri-Agency initiative of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.  It is administered by the Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat (TIPS), which is housed within SSHRC.  It is part of the Government of Canada’s new initiative to recruit world-leading researchers.

The Canada Impact+ Research Chairs 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.

The Impact+ program awards chairs of two award values:

  • $8 million over eight years ($1M per year); or
  • $4 million over eight years ($500,000 per year).

The two award values recognize the varying costs of research within different research disciplines and aim to be inclusive of all areas of research.  Both awards have the potential for a four-year extension funded at 50% of the original award value.  Chairs will be appointed as full-time Full Professors or Associate Professors who are expected to be promoted to Full Professor within two years of starting their chairholder appointment.

Key Objectives of the Impact+ Program are to:

  • Attract world-leading researchers to strengthen Canada’s global competitiveness and innovation leadership;
  • Transform bold discoveries into innovative products, ideas, policies, and solutions that benefit Canadians and the world;
  • Help Canada grow and sustain a critical mass of expertise through the development of high-impact research teams; and
  • Incentivize strategic partnerships across sectors such as industry, health systems, government, and not-for-profit organizations, to accelerate translation of research into practice and enhance long-term adoptions and impact.

Brandon University will Consider Applications in the Following Strategic Priority Areas:

  • Advanced digital technologies (including artificial intelligence, quantum and cybersecurity)
  • Environment, climate resilience and the Arctic
  • Food and water security
  • Democratic and community resilience

Selection Criteria

Impact+ nominees will be selected based on the following evaluation criteria:

  1. Research/academic merit and leadership skills of the nominee
  2. Quality of the research program
  3. Potential contribution to the excellence of the Canadian and international research ecosystem
  4. Potential for knowledge translation, mobilization, and application of research results

How to Apply

Candidates should include the following in their submission:

  1. Cover letter demonstrating how the candidate meets the selection criteria (2 pages)
  2. Demonstrated alignment with the Impact+ strategic priority area(s) (1 page)
  3. Curriculum vitae
  4. Research proposal (5 pages) that includes:
    1. Current and proposed Impact+ program of research
    2. Attracting, training, and mentoring of trainees and research personnel
    3. Knowledge mobilization plan that demonstrates benefits nationally and internationally
    4. Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) plan that includes considerations in the design of the program of research and research team, as well as fostering EDI throughout the implementation of the program
  5. Infrastructure and space requirements (1 page)
  6. Names and contact information of at least three referees who are established authorities in the field, and who are not in a conflict of interest
  7. Employment Equity Questionnaire: The candidate must ensure they have completed the confidential Employee Equity Questionnaire and submitted it to the Brandon University Diversity and Human Rights Advisor by the deadline

Individuals interested in applying to Brandon University for Impact+ awards may access the complete job posting for more information.  Submissions should be forwarded electronically in one single electronic file (example, PDF) to Dr. Bernadette Ardelli, Vice-President (Research & Graduate Studies).

          Date Posted Online:  February 20, 2026

          Rank:  Professor or Associate Professor, tenured or tenure-track appointment

          Salary:  Commensurate with qualifications and experience

          Date of Appointment:  January 2027 or on the availability of the successful candidate

          Deadline for Submissions:  by March 21, 2026

Interviews are expected to be held in March 2026 and the successful candidate(s) will work with Brandon University to create a formal application for submission to the Tri-Agency Interagency Programs Secretariat (TIPS), due June 29, 2026, with results expected in November 2026.

Canada Impact+ Infrastructure Fund

The Canada Impact+ Research Infrastructure Fund (CIRIF) is part of Canada’s Impact+ Research talent initiative, which is designed to attract globally recognized researchers, strengthen Canada’s innovation leadership, and enhance its competitiveness on the world stage. Its core objective is to transform groundbreaking discoveries into innovative products, policies and solutions that benefit Canadians.  Institutions will apply to the CFI for funding through CIRIF on behalf of researchers they recruit through the Canada Impact+ Research Chairs program. The CFI is a separate organization dedicated to providing researchers with leading-edge research equipment and facilities. The CFI does not fund individual researchers directly. Research institutions, including universities, colleges and research hospitals, submit funding proposals to the CFI in support of researchers

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI)

EDI Commitment Statement

Brandon University is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace and regards individual merit as the prime criterion for the treatment of current faculty and staff and for the employment of new faculty and staff.  Equity is deeply embedded in hiring practices and diversity welcomed.  We are committed to the values of openness, fairness, and tolerance and to ensuring that candidates are not advantaged or disadvantaged, whether they are from a dominant or marginalized group or based on protected characteristics, as outlined in the Human Rights Code.

Our Moral and Legal Obligations

Brandon University has a moral obligation to:  provide equity in the workplace; eliminate employment barriers experienced by those in the designated groups; ensure no person is denied employment opportunities for reasons unrelated to qualifications and ability; be inclusive of all community members; enhance employment and economic growth; and promote social justice.

Brandon University has a legal obligation to comply with the requirements of all relevant legislation, such as The Manitoba Human Rights Code, Temporary Foreign Worker Program, The Accessibility for Manitobans Act, as well as internal policies and collective agreements that govern the various groups of faculty and staff.

Our commitment to diversity and equity provides the campus community the opportunity to: serve the needs and expectations of our community better, locally and on a global scale; attract, retain, motivate and develop the best-suited and most qualified people; expand our levels of creativity and innovation for the improvement of decision-making and problem-solving; and be recognized as a socially conscious and progressive university which respects and is inclusive of differences and integrates this diversity into teaching and learning, research, scholarly and creative activities.

Strategies for Raising Institutional Awareness of EDI

Brandon University raises institutional awareness of equity, diversity, and inclusion through a number of ongoing initiatives such as:

  • Collecting information on the four Employment Equity Groups (EEG) from all new hires to add to our current database.  The data is entered into the Human Resources Information System, which also shows employee response rates.  We continue to communicate with employees on the importance of responding to the EEG survey and ongoing efforts are made to encourage employees to respond.  Brandon University wants to ensure that the makeup of the workforce reflects the makeup of the available labor force.  To achieve this goal, the most accurate EEG data is needed, whether an employee identifies as a member of a designated group or not;
  • Ongoing training on faculty and non-faculty recruitment and selection, training on the discrimination and harassment policy and procedures, and training on The Accessibility for Manitobans Act;
  • Through the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee, initiatives such as revising the equity self-identification form, creating FAQs, spearheading and partnering on several awareness events such as Orange Shirt Day, Black History Month, and securing a space for a multi-faith prayer space on campus;
  • Through the Status of Women Committee, initiatives in relation to gender equity such as ongoing public reporting, workshops, mentoring for female faculty members, Employment Equity Working Group, and running events for Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day;
  • Brandon University’s Campus Master Plan and the Indigenization of the Campus; and
  • EDI work via a number of Brandon University Committees such as the President’s Anti-Racism Task Force, BU Queer Committee, and Sexual Assault Advisory Group.

Related Policies and Procedures

The policies and procedures that govern the staffing of Canada Impact+ Research Chairs at Brandon University are in line with the process for recruiting Brandon University Canada Research Chairs.  Relevant policies and procedures are as follows:

    Recruitment Information

      Orientation and Onboarding

        Human Rights, Anti-Discrimination, and Anti-Harassment

        Accessibility and Accommodation