Associate Professor/Full Professor in Freshwater Sustainability and Healthy Aquatic Ecosystems

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Canada Excellence Research Chair Opportunity
Associate Professor/Full Professor
in Freshwater Sustainability and Healthy Aquatic Ecosystems

Application Deadline: December 1, 2025
Department of Biology
Reference # SES-2026-27-02

The Department of Biology in the Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies at Lakehead University (Thunder Bay Campus) invites applications from exceptional candidates for a prestigious full time tenure track position in the area of Freshwater Sustainability and Healthy Aquatics Ecosystems. The appointment will be at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor, with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2026.

The successful candidate, upon formally accepting the offer of a full-time faculty position, will be nominated for a Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC). The Canada Excellence Research Chairs Program is intended to support world-class researchers and their teams in establishing ambitious research programs at Canadian universities. Nominees to the Canada Excellence Research Chairs opportunity will be internationally leading, interdisciplinary researchers whose proposed research program aligns with one or more of the Government of Canada’s Science, Technology and Innovation priority areas. At Lakehead University, successful Canada Excellence Research Chairs will be appointed for eight years, with an award value of $500,000 per year for eight years.
Salary and rank will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. The successful CERC nominee will be expected to lead innovative research tackling the complex interdependencies around freshwater sustainability, including the potential to co-develop aquatic resource research with local communities and First Nations. They will be given a reduced teaching load in order to dedicate the majority of their time to research, a significant annual research grant, and research space and equipment appropriate for the proposed CERC’s program of research. The successful candidate
will be appointed and governed by the provisions of the Lakehead University Faculty Association Collective Agreement. Lakehead University requires that applicants must have earned a PhD degree in
Biology, Limnology, Ecology or a related area, with a clearly demonstrated exceptional record of excellence in research, service, training, and teaching. We seek candidates whose research and teaching interests complement and enhance our existing research strengths. The successful candidate will be an internationally recognized research leader in the field of aquatic sciences. Candidates will be expected to sustain and lead innovative research that will advance the global frontiers of knowledge in sustainable aquatic ecosystems, and to maintain an outstanding, competitive, and externally funded research program, with a particular focus on the Canadian federal Tri-Agencies. Candidates must provide evidence of research excellence commensurate with the selection criteria of the CERC program, which can be demonstrated by a record of sustained high-impact contributions and publications in top-ranked and field relevant journals, the submitted research statement, presentations at significant conferences, distinguished awards and accolades, evidence of impact on multiple fields and/or societal impact, and other noteworthy activities that contribute to the visibility and
prominence of the related disciplines, as well as strong endorsements from referees of high standing.
Candidates must also possess a strong demonstrated record of service to the research community (e.g., service on peer review committees, faculty recruitment committees,
advisory committees) and a demonstrated record of attracting and mentoring a diverse group of students, trainees, and research personnel, and establishing an equitable and
inclusive research environment. Nominees to the Canada Excellence Research Chairs Program will be expected to develop and implement a plan for establishing and
maintaining a diverse team and an inclusive research and training environment that promotes co-creation with partners from all sectors (academic, public, private, not-for profit and philanthropic), in order to increase research knowledge mobilization and
translation for the benefit of all Canadians.
Evidence of excellence in teaching will be provided through teaching accomplishments,
a teaching dossier submitted as part of the application (with required materials outlined
below), as well as strong letters of reference. Experience with experiential learning and
online or alternative modes of delivery is highly desired.
Lakehead University recognizes the legitimate impact that leaves (e.g., parental leaves,
slowdowns due to illness or disability, impacts of COVID-19) can have on a nominee’s
record of research achievement. These leaves will be taken into careful consideration
during the review and assessment of application materials.
Lakehead University and our Community
Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for innovative programs and
cutting-edge research. Our campuses are located in Thunder Bay on the traditional
lands of the Fort William First Nation, Signatory to the Robinson Superior Treaty of 1850
and in Orillia on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg, and Rama First Nation.
Lakehead University acknowledges the history that many nations hold in the areas
around our campuses and is committed to a relationship with Métis and Inuit and First
Nations peoples. Lakehead has approximately 10,000 students and 2,160 faculty and
staff. With an emphasis on collaborative learning and independent critical thinking and a
multidisciplinary teaching approach, Lakehead offers a variety of degree and diploma programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels through its nine faculties,
including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Health and Behavioural
Sciences, Natural Resources Management, Science and Environmental Studies, Social
Sciences and Humanities, Graduate Studies, and Faculty of Law. For further
information, please visit: www.lakeheadu.ca.
Lakehead University is recognized as one of Canada’s top research-intensive
universities in its category for the last decade (Research Info$ource). Lakehead University’s achievements have been recognized nationally and internationally,
including being the highest ranked university in the world with fewer than 9,000 students
for its global impact according to the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings.
Lakehead placed in the top 70 in the world based on our efforts in advancing the
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), reflecting the University’s
commitment to social, cultural and environmental sustainability, and good health and
well-being. For the fourth year in a row, THE World University Rankings (2023) ranks
Lakehead in the top 800 globally out of more than 1,600 participating institutions from
99 countries. Aligned with our Strategic Plan, Research Plan, CRC Equity, Diversity and
Inclusion Action Plan, and Institutional EDI Action Plan, we are actively recruiting
outstanding scholars to enhance and grow our research and innovation capacity.
Situated in the diverse and multicultural communities of Thunder Bay and Orillia, our
unique campuses and their locations inspire us to discover and innovate in exciting and
non-traditional ways.

The Faculty
The Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies at Lakehead University hosts the
Department of Biology along with 9 other departments. Within the Faculty, The
Department of Biology at Lakehead University has one of the largest undergraduate
enrolments on campus, with a dynamic group of interdisciplinary researchers with active
field and laboratory research programs in ecology, evolution and molecular biology.
Biology hosts several undergraduate degree programs and an MSc program in Biology.
Supervision of PhD students will be facilitated through the Environmental Biotechnology
program in the Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies.
Lakehead University has several centralized labs to support research, including the
Lakehead University Animal Care Facility, Lakehead University Environmental
Laboratory, Lakehead University Instrumentation Lab, Paleo DNA Laboratory for
molecular-based research, and aquatic-based research through the Biology Aquatic
Facility and Aquatic Toxicology Research Centre. Lakehead University is also a
member of the Ontario Universities Program in Field Biology (www.oupfb.ca) which
provides exceptional opportunities for field-based instruction.
For further information about the Department, please contact Dr. Michael Rennie, Chair of Biology (mrennie@lakeheadu.ca). Detailed information on the Department is available through
the website of the Department of Biology (https://www.lakeheadu.ca/biology).
Several government and not-for-profit organizations located in or near Thunder Bay
offer significant opportunities for collaborative research, including the Centre for
Northern Forest Ecosystem Research of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and the Wildlife Conservation Society of Canada. Lakehead University is the closest Ontario
University to the IISD Experimental Lakes Area (www.iisd.org/ela) and a collaborative
MOU exists between the organizations to promote research and collaboration between
institutions. The Large Lakes Observatory at the University of Minnesota Duluth is also
in close proximity and supports ongoing collaborations with the Department.
To meet the Canada Excellence Research Chairs Program timelines, Lakehead
University must select and confirm the nominee prior to the CERC registration deadline
of January 21, 2026, and submit a full nomination package to the Program by March 18,
2026.

To apply for the position, submit an electronic application (in the form of one PDF
document) by e-mail and quote Reference # SES-2026-27-02 in both the letter of
interest and subject header of the e-mail. For full consideration, the application must
include: (a) a letter of interest; (b) curriculum vitae; (c) a 2-page statement of research
interests outlining activities the candidate would undertake; (d) a teaching dossier
outlining the candidate’s teaching philosophy, evidence of teaching effectiveness and
teaching experience highlighting experiential learning and online or alternative modes of
course delivery, as well as course outlines and teaching evaluations for previously
taught courses if available; (e) a one-page statement outlining the candidate’s
understanding and commitment to developing an equitable, diverse and inclusive
research and teaching environment; (f) the names and contact information of three
references.

All application materials, including recent reference letters, must be received
by December 1, 2025. Applicants should submit their electronic application quoting the
above reference number to:

Dr. Todd Randall, Dean
Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies
Lakehead University
955 Oliver Road
Thunder Bay, ON P7B 5E1
Email to: applications.ses@lakeheadu.ca

The Canada Excellence Research Chairs Program does not impose any restrictions
regarding nationality or country of residence of the nominee. However, given the
Program’s focus on the attraction of outstanding researchers to Canada, the
Department of Biology will prioritize the nomination of those candidates who currently
hold an academic appointment outside of Canada.
As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This
survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be
accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated
for institutional planning purposes.

Equity Statement
Lakehead University has an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan 2019-2024 witha goal to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as measured by increasing
representation of under-represented groups among applicants, candidates and hires.
We encourage candidates to self-identify, if you are from an under-represented group,
and prefer candidates with the knowledge, competencies and relationships derived from
lived experience. Experience working with Indigenous or racialized communities, and/or
members of other equity-deserving groups is a strong asset. A lived experience or
worked experience of any of these issues is preferred.
Lakehead University recognizes that alternative career paths and/or career interruptions
(e.g., maternity leave, parental leave, leave due to illness, leaves due to caring for
family members, or slowdowns due to chronic illness or disability) can impact research
achievements and commits to ensuring that leaves are taken into careful consideration
in the assessment of the candidate. Candidates are encouraged to highlight how
alternative paths and/or interruptions have impacted their research in their
application. Lakehead also recognizes the value of mentoring and research training,
outreach, professional service, community-based research, other forms of scholarly
expression, and/or research outputs; demonstrated experience in increasing diversity in
the previous institutional environment, and in curriculum, is also an asset.
Lakehead University is committed to supporting an accessible environment. Applicants
requiring accommodation during the interview process should contact the Office of
Human Resources at (807) 343.8010 ext. 8334 or human.resources@lakeheadu.ca to
make appropriate arrangements.
Please visit our Office of Human Rights and Equity
website: https://www.lakeheadu.ca/faculty-and-staff/departments/services/human-rightsand-equity and our Human Resources policies related to accommodations and
supports: https://www.lakeheadu.ca/faculty-and-staff/policies/human-resources to
explore all of the supports our organization provides to enable a strong and connected
employment experience. Should an applicant require accommodations for interviews or
other meetings, please contact Human Resources at (807) 343-8334 or by
emailing human.resources@lakeheadu.ca.
For further information on the Canada Excellence Research Chairs Program, including
eligibility criteria, please consult the Program website.
We appreciate your interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be
notified. Lakehead University is committed to supporting an accessible environment.
Applicants requiring accommodation during the interview process should contact the
Office of Human Resources at (807) 343.8010 ext. 8334 or
human.resources@lakeheadu.ca to make appropriate arrangements.
The CERC appointment is subject to approval by the Tri-agency Institutional Programs
Secretariat.

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