Canada Excellence Research Chair in Micropollutant Control in Water

Call for Applications 

CANADA EXCELLENCE RESEARCH CHAIR (CERC) 
IN MICROPOLLUTANT CONTROL IN WATER

Université Laval is seeking applications for a Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Micropollutant Control in Water. This is a position at the Department of Civil and Water Engineering, and the successful candidate will be a member of Université Laval’s Water Research Centre (c-Eau). 

A privileged living environment in the heart of Quebec City, Université Laval is a large, comprehensive university recognized for its culture of excellence in teaching and research. Université Laval was recently ranked first on the Forbes list of Canada's Best Employers for Company Culture 2025.

c-Eau is distinguished by its strong intersectoral dimension and was officially recognized by Université Laval in January 2016, bringing together some forty researchers from 11 faculties. c-Eau’s research aims to strengthen water governance by studying the interactions between water uses and water demand. The ambitious but long-term scientific program is based on five interrelated, non-exclusive research themes: observation & modelling, protection & management, adaptation, decision-making, and governance.

The Department is composed of a team of 25 professors who supervise 600 students enrolled in the undergraduate and graduate programs of civil engineering and water engineering, with 125 graduate students. The Department has technical and administrative support and multiple teaching and research laboratories that are ready to host a Canada Excellence Chair in Micropollutant Control in Water.

As the holder of the CERC in Micropollutant Control, the selected person will be responsible for developing a large-scale research program aimed at increasing the impact and influence of research carried out within c-Eau in the field of micropollutant control. The CERC will have to propose a vision for the future based on the holder's expertise and in synergy with the strengths of the research centre.

The person selected by the Nomination Committee must successfully pass an internal selection at Université Laval as well as the national selection as part of the Canada Excellence Research Chair competition. For more information on the program and eligibility criteria, please visit the Canada Excellence Research Chair website.

The successful candidate will receive: 

• A full professor position; 

• $8 million over 8 years ($1 million/year, including salary) in funding from the CERC Program; 

• An allocation of $800,000 from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to equip its laboratory ($2M worth of equipment); 

• Competitive and attractive start-up funds; 

• High-quality laboratory space; 

• Support from expert technicians; 

• Partial teaching leave for the duration of the Chair, and full leave for the first year.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Statement

Université Laval rejects all forms of discrimination, promotes excellence in research and research training, and guarantees equal opportunity for all candidates. We support the principle that excellence and equity are compatible and complementary. We welcome and encourage applications from racialized people, visible minorities, women, Indigenous Peoples (in Canada), people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, 2SLGBTQ+ communities, and all qualified individuals with the skills and knowledge to engage productively with diverse communities.

By choosing Université Laval, you will benefit from the following integration measures: 

• welcome days for new professors; 

• peer mentoring; 

• free French courses for you and your spouse; 

• support for settling in Quebec City and job search assistance for your spouse

Career Interruption and Special Circumstances

Université Laval acknowledges that career interruption and special circumstances (e.g., maternity or parental leave, leave for prolonged illness, clinical training, care for a family member, the COVID-19 pandemic) as well as a disability may influence productivity and contributions in research. Applicants are invited to explain, as appropriate and if they wish so, these effects, so that they are considered in the assessment of their applications. 

Accommodation

In complete confidentiality, accommodation can be offered to candidates according to their needs in this competition, including accessibility. If you need accommodation, we invite you to contact the equity officer using contact information below. 

Marie-José Naud
Advisor, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Research
marie-jose.naud@vrr.ulaval.ca 

Job Description

The CERC holder is expected to develop a large-scale research program on micropollutant control in line with the priorities set out for the CERC program. For example, and in a non-exclusive manner, the CERC may integrate research on the optimal chains of new physico-chemical and biological treatment technologies capable of eliminating these pollutants (end-of-pipe) and evaluations of a variety of source control approaches. The development of indicators of the presence of micropollutants and the continuous monitoring of micropollutants with sensors based on specific detection methods are other examples. The implementation of the research program more specifically includes:

• Develop a major research program in the field of micropollutant control in water;

• Generate research results with major societal or scientific impact; 

• Recruit and supervise staff; 

• Recruit and mentor master's and doctoral students; 

• Secure funding and establish research infrastructure; 

• Establish partnerships and collaborations that demonstrate a leadership role at the national and international levels.

As a professor at Université Laval, the selected person will also:

• Contribute to the activities of the c-Eau Water Research Centre;

• Teach at the three university levels (an initial teaching release is planned) in the Department of Civil and Water Engineering. If applicable, French courses will be offered by Université Laval to enable the candidate to acquire the skills necessary to teach in French; 

• Participate in internal and external academic activities that promote the reputation of the departments, the faculty, and the University. 

Requirements

Applicants must meet the CERC eligibility requirements. They must be full professors or associate professors who are close to obtaining tenure. Applicants from outside academia must have the necessary qualifications to be nominated as full professors.

The full application package includes:

• A two-page cover letter;

• A three- to five-page research program outlining the long-term objectives and vision (eight years), as well as the short-term milestones (four years). The research program must discuss the interdisciplinary aspect of the research, its importance to the field of micropollutant control in water, and its connection to the CERC program priorities; 

• The UL self-identification form; 

• A curriculum vitae that includes the names of three people who can provide written references. Applicants are encouraged to include, if applicable, explanations regarding career interruptions, making sure to indicate the duration; 

• The complete application must be sent by email, no later than September 15, 2025, to the Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSG), Stéphane Boudreau, by email atdoyen@fsg.ulaval.ca.

Competition Stages and Evaluation Criteria

1. Competition Stages and Submission Deadlines:

2. Évaluation #1:

A Nomination Committee, at the faculty and department level, selects one application based on the following criteria and sub-criteria:

• PhD in water engineering, civil engineering, or a discipline relevant to the position;

• Relevance of acquired experience in relation to the job description; 

• Demonstrated ability to maintain an independent and innovative research program in the field of micropollutant control in water; 

• Demonstrated ability to support research networks and engage within the scientific community; 

• Quality, impact, and outcomes of scientific output: publications, (invited) conference presentations at in the identified field;

• Demonstrated aptitude or potential for university teaching, student supervision, and pedagogical innovation, at all three teaching levels;

• Adequacy of professional potential with the key skills required for a professorship: 1) analysis, synthesis, and judgment, 2) creativity and innovation, 3) communication, 4) interpersonal relations and openness, 5) ability to work in a team and with partners, 6) autonomy and sense of responsibility, 7) sense of ethics and duty, and 8) supervision of human resources; 

• Demonstrated aptitude for community service; 

• Ability to communicate and integrate into the institution's French-speaking context, or a commitment to acquire it within a reasonable time frame.

The Nomination Committee is composed of professors Céline Vaneeckhaute (chemical engineering, GCH, director c-Eau), François Anctil (director of the department of civil and water engineering, GCI), Ahmed El Refai (GCI) and Peter Vanrolleghem (GCI). In addition, an equity officer will take part in the committee meetings to ensure the conformity of the evaluation process. All committee members receive clear instructions on their role, the expected definition of excellence as well as on the impact of career interruptions and special circumstances in the evaluation of applications. Members must also complete unconscious bias training in peer review.

3. Évaluation #2 at Vice-President Research (VPR) Office:

The application of the selected candidate will be sent to the VPR Office for a final internal selection according tothe selection criteria of the CERC Program. The final decision will be made by a committee chaired by the Vice-Rector, Research, Creation and Innovation, who will also consult with senior management at Université Laval. 

Starting Date: up to 12 months following the CERC Program results announcement.

Contacts

Application call process

François Anctil

Director Departement of civil and water engineering

directeur@gci.ulaval.ca

Questions related to EDI principles

Marie-José Naud

Advisor Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Research

Office of the Vice Rector, Research and Innovation

marie-jose.naud@vrr.ulaval.ca