Canada Research Chairs (CRC)

• Tier 1 Chairs, tenable for seven years and renewable once, are for outstanding researchers acknowledged by their peers as world leaders in their fields. 
• Tier 2 Chairs, tenable for five years and renewable once, are for exceptional emerging researchers, acknowledged by their peers as having the potential to lead in their field.

• Tier 1 Chairs
  • Nominees for Tier 1 Chair positions must be full professors or associate professors who are expected to be promoted to the full professor level within one or two years of the nomination. Alternatively, if they come from outside the academic sector, nominees must possess the necessary qualifications to be appointed at these levels.
• Tier 2 Chairs
  • Nominees for Tier 2 Chair positions must be emerging scholars. They should, at a minimum, be assistant or associate professors, or possess the necessary qualifications to be appointed to these levels. See Tier 2 Justifications.

The recruitment and appointment process of Canada Research Chairs at Western University is governed by the University of Western Ontario Faculty Association (UWOFA) Collective Agreement where the appointee is a full-time Member with a Ph.D.  

More information on the recruitment process.

1. The academic unit should conduct an assessment of academic performance based on:
   *productivity and scientific achievements during the first term
   *a research plan for the second term which identifies how diversity within the research program will be achieved
   *evidence of research impact on the Unit’s Academic Plan and the University’s Strategic Research Plan
2. A recommendation should be submitted to Western’s CRC Steering Committee on the outcome of the assessment.
3. Western’s Steering Committee reviews the application on both the institutional and CRC criteria.
4. Request Letters of Reference, initiated after the Steering Committee's decision.
5. Submit the Final Package to Western Research.
6. Western Research forwards the completed application to the CRC program.

1. A 2-3 page letter signed by the Faculty Dean which outlines: the Faculty assessment process including committee members (if applicable), recommendations to strengthen the nomination, fit with academic plan and Western’s strategic research plan, scientific achievement and performance as a leader, impact of chair in the Faculty and at Western.
2. A Performance Report of the first term.
3. Proposed Research Program for second term.
4. Quality of the institutional environment, Institutional Commitment and fit of the proposed chair with the Institution’s strategic research plan.
5. A current CV.

Begin twelve months before the end of the first CRC term.

• Fall Deadline:
  • Early May: Faculty submit a renewal request 
  • Early June: Steering Committee decision.
  • Early August: First draft deadline to Western Research
  • Mid-August: Requests letters of reference
  • October: Final internal submission to Western Research
  • Mid-October: Western Research submits the application to CRC
  • April: Anticipated announcement of results
• Spring Deadline: 
  • Early October: Faculty submit a renewal request 
  • Early December: Steering Committee decision.
  • Early February: First draft deadline to Western Research
  • Mid-February: Requests letters of reference
  • April: Final internal submission to Western Research
  • Mid-April: Western Research submits the application to CRC
  • October: Anticipated announcement of results

Please note that the given deadline is based on the 2024-2025 timelines.

• Canada Research Chair
• Management of Canada Research Chair Allocations
• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: Canada Research Charis and Western's Broader Research Enterprise
• Instructions for submitting nominations and renewals on the Convergence platform
• Canada Research Chairs Positions
• Western Canada Research Chairs