The University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI), which is located on the unceded land of the Mi’kmaq Nation, of the Wabanaki Confederacy, in the traditional district of Epekwitk, welcomes applications from emerging leaders for a Tier II Canada Research Chair in Climate Change and Adaptation. This will be a tenure track appointment at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor at UPEI in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, conditional on the successful applicant being approved as a Tier II Canada Research Chair by the CRC Secretariat. Tier II Research Chairs are intended for exceptional emerging scholars (i.e., candidates must have been an active researcher in the field of Climate Change and Adaptation for fewer than 10 years at the time of nomination).  Applicants who are more than 10 years from having earned their highest degree (and where career breaks exist, such as maternity, parental or extended sick leave, clinical training, etc.) may have their eligibility for a Tier 2 Chair assessed through the program’s Tier 2 justification process. Please contact the UPEI Research Services Office for more information (mlsteele@upei.ca). Further information about the CRC program and nominee eligibility is available at http://www.chairs.gc.ca.

The University acknowledges the potential impact that Career Interruptions and Personal Circumstances can have on an applicant’s record of research achievement. We encourage applicants to explain the impact of any such interruption(s) in their submission. Measures will be taken to ensure that these interruptions will be taken into careful consideration during the evaluation process.

Our Vision

We seek a dynamic researcher who engages in independent and collaborative multidisciplinary research, who is recognized by their peers as a potential leader in areas of increasing national and international significance and of emerging importance at UPEI. This position is situated within the innovative new School of Climate Change and Adaptation, which offers a Bachelor of Science in Applied Climate Change and Adaptation and plans to develop a Master of Science in Climate Change and Adaptation. The UPEI Faculty of Science has Masters and Doctoral degrees in Environmental Sciences that involve graduate research students in the area of climate change. The strategic areas of research for the School of Climate Change and Adaptation include the impacts of climate change on coastal erosion; food production and sustainability; and human and animal health, and adaptation to these impacts.  

This research chair will focus on hydrology and its application in the three strategic areas of research noted above including research interests in (i) sustainable water resource management; (ii) community adaptation and resilience; (iii) hydroclimate modelling; (iv) drone applications in precision agriculture especially drainage and drought management;  and/or (v) climate data analysis of extreme events and their impacts, would complement existing research interests and expertise. 

A CRC with research interests in these areas will be in a strong position to contribute to the advancement of knowledge, products, and services to better inform decision makers about climate change related risks and optimal adaptation approaches. Through an integrated approach to climate change and adaptation research, the Chair will contribute to an interactive environment that will foster new knowledge and R&D for climate change innovation and adaptive solutions.

The research chair will be housed in the recently announced Canadian Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI), a 45,000 square foot research facility to be built in the town of St. Peter’s Bay, PEI. The facility will house state-of-the-art research centres, including the internationally recognized UPEI Climate Research Lab. It will also serve as a living laboratory that allows for unlimited access to nearby wetlands, forests and coastal habitats directly affected by climate change. See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-climate-change-research-centre-1.5463834

The vision of the University of Prince Edward Island is to “be a leader in delivering outstanding experiential learning opportunities that encourage our students to develop to their full potential in both the classroom and the community. Driven by discovery, UPEI will be a destination for those eager to advance our world by creating new knowledge. Together, we will foster the development of tomorrow’s leaders who will emerge from their studies ready to excel and contribute to the betterment of our local and global communities.”

Position Requirements

Institutional requirements: To be successful, a candidate must have a PhD and have developed a strong, original and innovative research program in the interdisciplinary fields of Climate Change and Adaptation with a focus on hydrology across one or more of the strategic research areas including the impacts of climate change on coastal erosion; food production and sustainability; and human and animal health, and adaptation to these impacts.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the potential to achieve international recognition in their field in the next five to ten years, and have the potential to attract, develop and retain excellent trainees, students and future researchers. They will have had success attracting competitive research funding and working with industry or climate-focused organizations.

Experience and understanding of how indigenous knowledge is incorporated into research and teaching, and a demonstrated commitment to reconciliation will be considered a strong asset.

To meet the criteria of the CRC program nominees must:

• be excellent emerging world-class researchers who have demonstrated particular research creativity;
• have demonstrated the potential to achieve international recognition in their fields in the next five to ten years;
• as chairholders, have the potential to attract, develop and retain excellent trainees, students and future researchers; and
• be proposing an original, innovative research program of high quality.

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• collaborate with other UPEI faculty, and develop an international network of university collaborations;
• further develop and maintain relationships with business and industry in Atlantic Canada;
• meet eligibility criteria for receiving a Tier 2 CRC, described at http://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/program-programme/nomination-mise_en_can...; and
• complete the nomination documents necessary for submission to the CRC program by required deadlines.

The salary range is commensurate with credentials and experience and in compliance with the UPEI Faculty Association collective agreement. Full-time, permanent faculty members receive a comprehensive fringe benefit package, with benefit details provided at time of offer in accordance with the collective agreement. This position is subject to budget approval and approval from the Canada Research Chair Program Secretariat.

Find out more about Prince Edward Island, the University of Prince Edward Island, the UPEI School of Climate Change and Adaptation and research at the UPEI Climate Lab by visiting these websites: www.gov.pe.ca/, www.upei.ca , www.upei.ca/school-of-climate-change-and-adaptation , and http://projects.upei.ca/climate/.

Application and Inquiry Instructions: Inquiries can be sent to the Dean of Science Dr. Nola Etkin (netkin@upei.ca or 902-566-0320). Applicants should submit a cover letter that includes past areas of research focus and accomplishments; a statement of teaching experience and philosophy (maximum 1 page), an Equity Diversity, Inclusion and Reconciliation statement (maximum 1 page); a description of the proposed research program that complements existing research strength within the School of Climate Change and Adaptation (maximum 2 pages); a current curriculum vitae; and the names and contact information (including e-mail addresses) of three (3) referees. Please send as a single PDF with your name in the file name to.:

  Maria Steele, Manager Research Services,  University of Prince Edward Island
  550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, CANADA, C1A 4P3
  Telephone: (902) 566-0637   E-mail address: mlsteele@upei.ca

UPEI is committed to equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation, and believes in providing a positive learning and working environment where every person feels empowered to contribute. Please visit our Chairs web page to learn more about our commitment and resources. In accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply, however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. UPEI is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from under represented groups and the four designated groups, which includes women, Indigenous peoples, visible minorities, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity, and others with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities.

We encourage members of equity-seeking and under-represented groups to self-identify within their application. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application and hiring process may contact, in confidence, Ms. Jackie Podger, Vice-President Administration and Finance. Ms. Podger can also answer questions related to equity, diversity and inclusion, or privacy concerns the applicant may have related to self-identifying. Ms. Podger can be reached at 902-566-0623 or by writing vpaf@upei.ca.

The CRC Nomination Selection Committee has received equity training that includes instruction on how to recognize and combat unconscious, implicit, overt, prejudicial and other kinds of bias.

Review of applications will begin on June 1, 2021 and will continue until a suitable candidate is identified. Starting date is flexible depending on availability of the successful candidate, but would likely be the summer of 2022.