New Opportunities for Senior Research Chairs at UBC Mathematics

We are inviting expressions of interest from top-tier mathematical researchers currently working outside Canada, as the first step in applying to join our thriving research community. These are new, senior level positions, funded through the new Canada Impact+ Research Chairs program. We are very interested to hear from leading researchers who would be interested in joining us in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

The priority areas for the chairs program are as follows:

• advanced digital technologies (including artificial intelligence, quantum and cybersecurity);
• health, including biotechnology;
• clean technology and resource value chains;
• environment, climate resilience and the Arctic;
• food and water security;
• democratic and community resilience;
• manufacturing and advanced materials; and/or
• defence and dual-use technologies.

We believe that there are potential candidates doing important mathematical work in all these areas of research, and we encourage all qualified applicants to apply. Furthermore, we see particular potential for overlap with our Department’s growth strategy in the following areas:

• Artificial-intelligence-assisted proof and related areas of applied logic (advanced digital technologies)
• Quantum information and complex quantum systems (advanced digital technologies)
• Mathematics and modelling of large-scale systems related to climate (environment, climate resilience and Arctic)
• Simulation of complex materials (manufacturing and advanced materials)
• Mathematical approaches to social sciences (democratic and community resilience)

This list is not intended to be prescriptive. UBC Mathematics has a proud tradition of interdisciplinary research and appointments joint with other departments would be strongly supported.

These new chairs have maximum award values of either $1 million per year or $500,000 per year for eight years. The program provides for the possibility of a four-year renewal, funded at 50% of the original 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.

Full details and instructions on how to submit an expression of interest are available here:

https://research.ubc.ca/federal-research-chair-programs/canada-impact-research-chairs-program 

Expressions of interest must be made soon: the deadline is January 15th. This must be done following the instructions from the link above. It is not possible to do this through MathJobs, or by writing to the Department.

Informal enquiries are very welcome and can be made to any faculty member, or to the Department Head, Daniel Coombs, via head@math.ubc.ca .

This program will support new chairs to advance transformative research projects that build upon their demonstrated strengths and that have strong potential to support the growth of the Canadian economy in the strategic priority areas identified by the Government of Canada. Applicants must have a recent track record of research accomplishments and significant interest in making new contributions to Canada. Only candidates who are internationally based (both working and residing outside of Canada) are eligible to apply. Expatriate Canadian citizens wishing to relocate to Canada are welcome to apply.

The Mathematics Department at UBC (www.math.ubc.ca) is recognized as one of the largest and strongest in Canada, with research strengths across many fields of pure and applied mathematics. The Mathematics Department has close connections with many other units in the Faculties of Science, Engineering, Medicine, and others on campus, through its extensive teaching and research activities. UBC hosts the headquarters of the Pacific Institute for Mathematical Sciences (pims.math.ca) which supports mathematical research activities locally and across Western Canada.

UBC is a leading global research university where bold thinking, curiosity and initiative are changing the world. Our researchers and scholars are pushing the boundaries of knowledge in an amazing breadth of disciplines. The complex challenges facing society are also inspiring exciting new ways of thinking and collaborating. Coming together across disciplines and building partnerships with universities, industry, government and communities worldwide, researchers at our two campuses and affiliated teaching hospitals are generating ideas, discoveries and innovations that are improving lives in British Columbia, Canada and beyond.