Canada Research Chairs

The Canada Research Chairs Program (CRCP) enables Canadian universities to achieve the highest levels of research excellence and become world-class research centres.

Chairholders improve our depth of knowledge and quality of life, strengthen Canada's international competitiveness, and help train the next generation of highly skilled people through student supervision, teaching and the coordination of other researchers' work. Established by the Government of Canada in 2000, the CRCP is committed to excellence in research and research training, and to ensuring equal access to opportunities for all qualified candidates.

UBC has a current allocation of 194 chairs; 84 Tier 1 chairs and 110 Tier 2 chairs.  UBC’s current utilization is 199 chairs; 79 Tier 1 chairs and 120 Tier 2 chairs. Tier I Chairs are seven-year positions, renewable once, targeted at experienced researchers who are world leaders in their fields. Tier II Chairs are five-year appointments, renewable once. They are targeted at exceptional emerging scholars who have the potential to lead in their fields.

UBC has 20 flexible Chairs. Flexible chairs allow the university to change the tier or research area of a limited number of chair allocations. Ten moves are currently in use with another ten earmarked for future use in upcoming CRC round.

Chairholders must be employed full-time at the host institution to be eligible. Visit the Canada Research Chairs site for more information. 

CRC applicants can reference the Summary of Research Excellence Strategies document which has information on the impact of the University's research on local, national and global communities.

See the Canada Research Chair program statistics information.

Deadlines for submissions

The Canada Research Chairs program is temporarily reverting back to a two-cycle model. The nomination deadline for the April intake has been postponed to June 8, 2020, and results will be available in December 2020. The September and December intake cycles will be combined and will have a deadline of November 9, 2020, with results available in April 2021.

The program has decided to remain at two cycles for 2021 and for future years (April and October intakes), and to continue accepting off-cycle nominations for nominees that help the institution reach their EDI targets, and for international nominations. Updates to the deadlines on our website will be made shortly, in order to reflect these changes.

Nominations may be submitted at the recommendation of the dean. See the schedule below for upcoming deadlines, decisions and announcements.

UBC's commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion within the CRCP

UBC has a robust strategy for raising awareness of our commitment to and the benefits of equity, diversity and inclusion within the Canada Research Chair Program (CRCP) and our broader research enterprise. These strategies aim to increase transparency within the program which also requires firm targets to increase nationally the number of chair holders from the federally designated groups (FDG) – women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities and visible minorities/members that are racially categorized.

Learn More

Contact

For further information, instructions for nominated Tier I and II Chairs and renewal processes, contact Linda Leathley, the CRC Secretariat, at:
Tel: 604.827.1877
Email ubc.crc@ubc.ca