Canada Research Chairs

On this page:

Program Updates
Deadlines for Submissions
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
Overviews and Detailed Processes
Affiliated CFI JELF
Current Postings
Checklists, Forms, Instructions & Templates
Links & Resources

The Canada Research Chairs (CRC) program provides universities the opportunity to recruit world-class scholars across all research disciplines. Chairholders aim to achieve research excellence in engineering and the natural sciences, health sciences, humanities, and social sciences, improving our depth of knowledge and quality of life, strengthening international competitiveness, and training the next generation of highly skilled people. A Tier 2 candidate should show potential to grow into a leader in their research field and be in the top 10% of their field among candidates at similar career stage. A Tier 1 candidate should be an internationally recognized leader in their field and in the university as a whole. Full details of the Canada Research Chairs Program are available here.

Program Updates

In January 2021, ISA undertook a comprehensive review of SFU's CRC Online Administration Guide and held extensive consultations with stakeholders from across SFU. Key changes include:

• Identifying key roles and responsibilities with overviews and detailed processes
• Clarifying the job ad approval process
• Clarifying when and how VPA position numbers are created
• Streamlining how CRC Appointment Packages are processed/approved
• Revising memo/ad templates and introducing a standardized Chair Request form 
• Changing how nominees are notified of award results
• Clarifying the recommendations for allocating institutional support to Chairholders

Archived content can be provided upon request to isa_crc@sfu.ca.
Updated: June 14, 2021

CRC moved to the Convergence Platform in January 2021. ISA has compiled annotated instructions for submitting a nomination or renewal through Convergence. More program updates can be found here.

Deadlines for Submissions

The Institutional Strategic Awards office and the Associate Vice President, Research must vet CRC nominations to ensure all compliance and equity requirements are met. ISA’s CRC Lead and Senior Advisors also provide high–level reviews of early–stage and penultimate drafts. Below are timelines for regular cycles:

Note: Nominations are accepted off-cycle for foreign nominees (whether a foreign national or Canadian citizen), and nominations to assist institutions in meeting their equity targets.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

SFU is committed to ensuring that all CRC nominations and recruitment processes follow best practices and adhere to equity requirements.  Full details on SFU’s equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives are available here.

Overviews and Detailed Processes

*Please note: these pages are currently undergoing review and revision. Please contact isacrc@sfu.ca if you need assistance finding information.

Login with an SFU account is required for access to overviews and detailed processes of the CRC stages:

Affiliated CFI JELF

When a Chair is allocated to a specific Faculty or strategic research area, the Chair/Director/Dean or Search Committee Chair should discuss with the VPA and VPRI whether research infrastructure is required through an affiliated John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF) Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) application. If so, an internal JELF request form needs to completed within the faculty, signed-off by the Faculty Associate Dean, Research and approved by the AVPR. If approved internally, this infrastructure request (for the amount agreed upon) must be submitted simultaneously with the CRC nomination. If a CFI application is submitted before or after the CRC nomination, it must be submitted as an unaffiliated JELF.

Current Postings

EXTERNAL

Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Immunology

INTERNAL

Tier 1 Canada Research Chair Emergency Retention Statement

Checklists, Forms, Instructions & Templates

CHECKLISTS

• ISA Nomination review checklist
• The Appointment checklist for teaching - Research Faculty form found on the Faculty Relations website
• Checklist for Internal Approvals for Renewal Nominations

FORMS

• CRC Request Form
• JELF Allocation Request Form

INSTRUCTIONS

• Convergence Platform - Annotated Instructions
• Reference Letters - Annotated Instructions

TEMPLATES

• Tier 1 Advertising Template
• Tier 2 Advertising Template
• Dean's CRC Nomination Support Memo Template
• Dean's CRC Renewal Support Memo Template
• Search Committee Report Template
• Search Committee TPC Recommendation Memo Template (New Nominations)
• TPC Recommendation Memo Template (Renewals)

Links & Resources

SFU RESOURCES

• Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at SFU
• SFU CRC Public Accountability Page & Action Plan
• SFU Library: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Resource Guide
• SFU Faculty Relations: Appointments
• SFU Strategic Research Plan
• SFU Strategic Research Plan Summary (CRC and CFI)
• SFU's Canada Research Chairs

EXTERNAL CANADA RESEARCH CHAIR RESOURCES

• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Requirements and Practices
• Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion - A Best Practices Guide for Recruitment, Hiring, and Retention
• Requirements for Recruiting and Nominating Canada Research Chairs
• Unconscious Bias Training Module