CIHR Canada Research Chair, Tier 2

Deadline: July 18th, 2025 

Posted on May 26, 2025

In line with the purpose and goals outlined in our Research Strategic Plan 2021-2026, Unity Health Toronto (Unity Health) announces an internal call for a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (CRC) position to support a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)-eligible research program that aligns with one or more of our four established pillars of world-class research and innovation. This CRC is open to any appointed Scientist or Clinician Scientist at Unity Health Toronto who meets the eligibility criteria listed below.

Eligibility:

• Tier 2 Chairs are intended for exceptional emerging scholars (i.e. candidates must have been an active researcher in their field for fewer than 10 years at the time of nomination). Tier 2 Chairs should, at a minimum, be assistant or associate professors, or possess the necessary qualifications to be appointed to these levels. 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 for eligibility through the program’s Tier 2 Justification Process. Research interruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., closures) are recognized as, and may be counted as, an eligible delay (credited at twice the amount of time) beginning March 1, 2020.

• 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 nominee’s research area must align with the subject matter eligibility of CIHR.

• In order to address the underrepresentation of members of the four designated groups (women/gender minorities, members of visible minorities, persons with disabilities, and Indigenous peoples) in the CRC Program (as identified by the Tri-Agency Institutional Programs Secretariat)¹, all institutions are required to meet equity targets by 2029. In order for Unity Health to maintain these targets, this special call is open only to individuals who self-identify as a person with a disability.

• A person with a disability is a person who has a long-term or recurring physical, mental, sensory, psychiatric, or learning impairment, and who considers themselves to be disadvantaged in employment by reason of that impairment, or who believes that an employer or potential employer is likely to consider them to be disadvantaged in employment by reason of that impairment. This definition also includes persons whose functional limitations owing to their impairment may have been accommodated in their current job or workplace.

  • Some examples of disabilities are noted below. Please note that these examples follow medical definitions of disability.

    • Acquired brain injury

    • ADHD

    • Autism spectrum disorder

    • Chronic health disability (e.g., Crohn’s disease, hemophilia, epilepsy, asthma, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, cancer, etc.)

    • Co-ordination/dexterity disability (e.g., arthritis, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, multiple sclerosis)

    • Deaf, deafened, hard of hearing

    • Learning disability

    • Mental health disability (e.g., schizophrenia, chronic depression, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, etc.)

    • Mobility disability (e.g., amputations, paraplegia, reliance on walker/ scooter/ or mobility aid due to disability)

    • Speech impairment (e.g., aphasia, stuttering, cluttering, etc.)

    • Vision loss or impairment/legally blind (not correctable by glasses or contact lenses)

• This initiative follows the provisions for special programs as described by the Ontario Human Rights Commission. The identification of outstanding candidates from the four designated groups supports Unity Health’s commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion as a core value outlined with our Research Strategic Plan: 2021-2026, as well as the institutional capacity to fulfill the objectives of our Canada Research Chairs Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan.

In cases where nominees have non-research commitments at Unity Health and/or at the University level (e.g. clinical or administrative), these commitments should be limited in order for nominees to undertake their program of research at the level expected of a CRC holder. In addition, the nominee should not currently hold a major salary award, or the award should end before January 1, 2026.

Internal Nomination Submission: Applications should include:

1. A letter of interest (max 3 pages) describing your qualifications, research plans and alignment with both CIHR and Unity Health priorities.

2. A complete curriculum vitae (not an abbreviated one)

3. If more than 10 years from earning your highest degree, explanation why you feel you qualify for a justification as described in the link above.

All materials should be submitted to VPRI@unityhealth.to by July 18th, 2025.

Unity Health recognizes that scholars have varying career paths and that career interruptions due to personal circumstances can be part of an excellent academic record. Search committee members have been instructed to give careful consideration to, and be sensitive to the impact of, career interruptions in their assessments. Moreover, Unity Health has endorsed the principles and committed the institution to comply with the recommendations of the DORA declaration (the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment). This entails that researchers’ research results are assessed and evaluated for content and quality.

Statement of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: Unity Health is committed to creating a workplace culture where everyone feels valued and welcome to be themselves, and where they are empowered to share different perspectives to inspire creativity and innovation. Unity Health encourages applications from qualified candidates and we especially welcome applicants who are Indigenous, Black or Racialized, persons with disabilities, people who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+, and all others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.

Accommodation Policy: Accommodations for disabilities will be provided, on request, to support participation in all aspects of the recruitment process. If you require accommodation at any point of the application process, please contact Erica Conte, Director Funding Strategy and Stewardship (Erica.Conte@unityhealth.to).

Collection of Equity Data: CRC requires the collection of self-identification data related to the four designated groups from all applicants to CRC opportunities. As part of your application, you must complete the brief self-identification form. Please request this form from Erica Conte, Director Funding Strategy and Stewardship and return it directly to Erica.Conte@unityhealth.to. This form should not be included with the internal nomination submission sent to VPRI@unityhealth.to. The submission of this form is mandatory, but responses to all questions are voluntary, and you may decline to answer any questions. Any information directly related to you is strictly confidential and cannot be accessed by the search committee. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes as part of Unity Health’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan (EDIAP).

For more information about this specific CRC opportunity, and/or if you are unsure of your eligibility, please contact Erica Conte, Director Funding Strategy and Stewardship (Erica.Conte@unityhealth.to).

Profiles of our Chairs are listed here.