Canada Research Chair (Tier II) and Assistant Professor in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems in Cold Climates

We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the traditional territories of the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta. The City of Calgary is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Districts 5 and 6.

Position Description

The Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at the University of Calgary is pleased to invite applications for a Tier II Canada Research Chair (CRC) position in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems in Cold Climates. This is a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2024.
We are seeking an emerging leader in energy systems, with a particular focus on renewable and sustainable energy systems for cold climates. The sustainability aspects cover environmental particularly related to net-zero targets, economic, social, and safety considerations.  The successful candidate is expected to pursue innovative and independent research with demonstrated excellence in intellectual and scholarly endeavors. This should be evidenced by scholarly output and research impact that demonstrates the potential for an independent and internationally recognized research program leading to high-quality publications, external funding, local and international collaboration, and an excellent training environment for graduate students and research personnel. 

To be eligible for consideration, candidates must hold a Doctoral degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related discipline by the start date or shortly after. Relevant industrial and teaching experience and evidence of transdisciplinary research in related areas are considered a major asset. Candidates should have strong oral and written English communication skills.  All candidates must be eligible for registration as a professional engineer with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA ). 

The successful candidate will benefit from a rich ecosystem that includes world-class research and teaching scholars, a focus on both fundamental and applied research as well as entrepreneurship, and a university community that supports inclusive excellence and transdisciplinary partnerships and collaborations. The successful candidate will contribute to advancing the University’s priorities in the context of the University’s strategic plan Ahead of Tomorrow , the ii' taa'poh'to'p Indigenous Strategy, the Institutional Sustainability Strategy , and the Schulich School of Engineering’s Strategic Plan Schulich Momentum .  The Chair will actively contribute to research, graduate student and postdoctoral scholar supervision, and teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The Chair will also provide service within and outside of the Department, contribute to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive, and accessible (EDIA) workplace and learning environments; and add to the diversity of the collegial and vibrant academic community. 

In accordance with the regulations set for Tier II Canada Research Chairs, applicants must have received their Ph.D. within the last 10 years and be an emerging world-class researcher. Candidates who are more than 10 years from having earned their highest degree and who have had career breaks, such as maternity, parental, or extended sick leave, and research interruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, etc., may have their eligibility for a Tier II Chair assessed through the program's Tier II justification process. Please contact UCalgary's Office of Research Services for more information: [email protected] . Further information about the Canada Research Chair Program, including eligibility criteria, can be found on the Government of Canada's CRC website.

Application Instructions:
Interested candidates are encouraged to apply online via the 'Apply Now ' link. Please be aware that the application website allows for only four attachments. Your four application attachments should be organized to contain the following (which may require you to merge documents):

• Cover letter and Curriculum Vitae, including the name and contact information of three referees 
• Statement of EDIA experience, contribution, and leadership plan (up to 2 pages).
  • This should include approaches that will be taken to incorporate EDIA in research and scholarship activities, as well as in teaching and learning activities inside and outside the classroom. It could also include approaches to working with students with diverse background. Past contributions to EDIA may also be described.
• Statement of research interests, accomplishments, and vision (up to 2 pages) and one of your research manuscripts (published or under preparation), all combined into one document
• Statement of teaching philosophy (up to 2 pages). 
  • This can include information on teaching experience, training, and mentoring inside and outside the classroom at the undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral levels.

Your statements on EDIA, research, and teaching are equally important when assessing your application. Applications exceeding the page limit per statement will be disregarded. 

Applications will be accepted until January 12, 2024

Questions may be addressed to:
Dr. Qiao Sun
Head, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
Email: [email protected]

The University of Calgary recognizes that candidates have varying career paths and that career interruptions can be part of an excellent academic record. Candidates are encouraged but not required to provide any relevant information about their experience and/or career interruptions to allow for a fair assessment of their application. Selection committees have been instructed to give careful consideration to, and be sensitive to the impact of career interruptions, when assessing the candidate's research productivity. 

Schulich School of Engineering
The Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering , part of the Schulich School of Engineering , is home to 44 full-time faculty and over 800 undergraduate and 360 graduate students. Our academic offers include undergraduate (BSc) and graduate (MSc, PhD, MEng) programs in mechanical engineering, along with minors in aerospace, mechatronics, manufacturing, biomedical, digital, energy and environment engineering, and graduate certificates. Aligned with the Schulich Momentum strategic plan, the Schulich School of Engineering continues to pursue its vision of global recognition for research impact and innovation, inclusivity in engineering, contributions towards Truth and Reconciliation, and enriching student success and experience. 

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy  committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion ([email protected] ) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources ([email protected] ).

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. In this connection, at the time of your application, please answer the following question: Are you a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada? (Yes/No)

Additional Information

To learn more about academic opportunities at the University of Calgary and all we have to offer, view our Academic Careers website . For more information visit Careers in the Schulich School of Engineering .

The University strongly recommends all faculty and staff are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

About the University of Calgary
UCalgary is Canada’s entrepreneurial university, located in Canada’s most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada’s leader in the creation of start-ups . Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca .
About Calgary, Alberta

Calgary is one of the world's cleanest cities and has been named one of the world's most livable cities for years. Calgary is a city of leaders - in business, community, philanthropy and volunteerism. Calgarians benefit from a growing number of world-class dining and cultural events and enjoy more days of sunshine per year than any other major Canadian city. Calgary is less than an hour's drive from the majestic Rocky Mountains and boasts the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway network in North America. 

Posting Date: December 11, 2023
Closing Date: January 12, 2024