Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Astrobiology Professor (02100.1)

About the Opportunity

Thompson Rivers University (TRU) invites applications from globally recognized researchers to be nominated for the prestigious Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Astrobiology centered on research related to hypersaline and phosphate-rich lakes located within Secwepemcúlecw. One such site Last Chance Lake (LCL) holds the highest recorded natural phosphate concentrations on Earth. This provides an unparalleled opportunity to investigate the origins of life and the environmental conditions that enable life across geological timescales. The successful nominee will be expected to lead a world-class research program that advances global understanding of astrobiology strengthens TRUs research culture and positions the University as an international hub for exploration of astrobiology. This work will proceed in close and respectful partnership with the Secwepemc Nation whose permission and agreement are essential and whose knowledge systems stewardship and ways of knowing are integral to shaping and guiding this research.

Launched in 2008 the CERC Program supports Canadian universities in their efforts to strengthen Canadas reputation as a global leader in research and innovation and to attract world-renowned researchers to Canada. The program is central to our national strategy to promote research excellence in Canada enhance knowledge and quality of life boost Canadas international competitiveness and help train the next generation of highly skilled individuals including members of the Secwépemc Nation. The award offers an opportunity for international researchers including Canadian expatriates wishing to relocate to Canada to lead a prestigious research program at TRU and contribute to Canadas excellence in research and program awards non-renewable chairs of two award values $8 million over eight years ($1 million per year); or $4 million over eight years ($500000 per year.)

The CERC nomination process involves two stages starting with applicants applying to this job posting. Those who succeed will work with our institution to submit a nomination for the 2026 CERC competition. The nomination is a two-step process: Registration (Jan 21 2026) and Application (March 18 2026). The university will support successful nominees throughout the application development process. The nomination will then be submitted to the Secretariat into the CERC competition. The appointment is conditional on the nomination being successfully approved by the Secretariat.


Research Focus

The successful nominee will be an expert and have a demonstrated research program within two or more of the following areas:
Emergence of complex organic molecules from simple precursors in carbonate- and phosphate-rich environments.
Geochemistry and microbial ecology of hypersaline lakes as analogs for extraterrestrial environments.
Interdisciplinary connections among field laboratory and theoretical approaches to astrobiology geoscience chemistry and data science.
Comparative studies linking Earth-based fieldwork with extraterrestrial samples such as asteroid materials returned by space missions.


Key Responsibilities

The successful nominee will be expected to:
Establish and lead a cutting-edge internationally recognized research program in astrobiology.
Recruit supervise and mentor highly qualified personnel (HQP) including graduate students postdoctoral fellows undergraduate researchers and members of the Secwépemc nation.
Build strong interdisciplinary collaborations across TRU faculties and with national and international partners (e.g. Canadian Astrobiology Network NASA Astrobiology Institute).
Engage respectfully and collaboratively with Secwépemc and other Indigenous communities in accordance with the Secwépemc Nation Research Ethics Guidelines.
Work collaboratively with the Secwépemc Nation seeking guidance for respectful research on their lands.
Translate knowledge through academic publications interdisciplinary synthesis public engagement and contributions to scientific literacy.
Secure significant external research funding and leverage opportunities for collaboration with government industry and international institutions.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will be a globally recognized researcher in astrobiology or a closely related field with a record of excellence in:
Conducting interdisciplinary research that spans geoscience chemistry biology planetary science or related domains.
Supervising and mentoring of students and trainees to achieve success in their research.
Securing and managing significant research funding.
Building collaborative networks across the Secwépemc Nation academia government and industry.
Engaging respectfully with Indigenous communities and integrating Secwépemc/Indigenous knowledges into research approaches.


Institutional Context & Resources

Location advantage: TRU is situated in Kamloops BC surrounded by the unique biophysical region of the provinces Interioran ideal setting for environmental and planetary analog research.
Research environment: Strong disciplinary capacity in chemistry geoscience biology ecology data science and engineering; access to field stations laboratories TRUs Wells Gray Education and Research Centre and the TRU Observatory.
Support: Competitive salary; substantially reduced teaching load (1 course annually); dedicated office and lab space; professional development support; and research facilitation from TRUs Research Office.


Eligibility

In line with the CERC program candidates should be top-tier researchers whose achievements have a significant societal impact and who are recognised internationally as leaders. Societal impact may include translating and mobilizing the candidates research to knowledge users publishing for non-academic audiences community outreach policy consultations gaining media coverage and forming collaborative partnerships. When the nominee is an Indigenous (First Nations Inuit or Métis) researcher based in Canada the impact can be at the international level and/or within the community regional or national contexts.

Nominees must be a Professor or Associate Professor who is expected to be promoted to Professor within one or two years of the nomination. Alternatively if they come from outside the academic sector nominees must possess the qualifications necessary to be appointed at these ranks. The program imposes no restrictions on nominees regarding nationality or country of residence.

Researchers who hold a full-time academic appointment at a Canadian institution are eligible to be nominated; however they may not be nominated by the institution at which they currently hold their appointment. If an institution nominates a researcher who is currently affiliated with a Canadian institution the institution must demonstrate the net benefit to the country in relocating the researcher from one Canadian institution to another.


Qualifications

The successful candidate must have:
A Ph.D. in a discipline appropriate to the field of research. (Please note that this is a TRU requirement not a requirement of the CERC program.)
A proven track record in research teaching training and mentoring students.
Experience in developing a successful independent research program.
Potential to secure significant external funding.
A proven track record of working with Indigenous communities.
A commitment to including and embracing Secwépemc/Indigenous knowledge.
A commitment to diversity equity and inclusion. The requisites to qualify for the CERC program.

TRU acknowledges the potential impact that career interruptions and personal circumstances can have on an applicants record of research achievement. We encourage applicants to explain the impact of any such interruption in their submission. Measures including equity training on recognizing and combating unconscious implicit overt prejudicial and other kinds of bias are in place to ensure these interruptions are considered carefully during the evaluation process.


Selection Criteria

Assessment of candidates will be based primarily on research excellence as reflected in the quality of peer-reviewed publications success in securing research support and other evidence of knowledge mobilization and impact. The assessment will also include how the candidate embeds equity diversity and inclusion principles in their research and the candidates teaching and mentoring record and philosophy. TRU recognizes that its commitment to equity diversity and inclusion is central to the universitys mandate as an institution of higher learning and a community leader. Life circumstances such as illness disability family and community responsibilities (e.g. maternity leave parental leave leaves due to illness leaves due to caring for family members slowdowns due to chronic illness or disability or COVID 19 impacts) are often an expected part of life and are likely to have an impact on a nominees record of research achievement and that these impacts will be taken into careful consideration during the assessment process.

The criterion for nomination is available on the CERC website.

The successful candidate will be appointed as a faculty member at the Faculty of Science if the nomination is successful. Chairholders are required to take up their appointment at their host institution within 12 months of accepting the award.


Application process for the position

Application packages should include:
A cover letter with an overview of the applicants credentials qualifications and research strengths including an explanation of how they satisfy the CERC nomination criteria and a paragraph on experience related to partnering with Indigenous communities and helping to facilitate Indigenous led research.
Detailed curriculum vitae.
A statement of research accomplishments and future research program (5 pages max).
Highlights of the applicants most significant contributions to their field including how those have led to societal benefits and how they connect with the research plan (2 pages max).
A one-page statement identifying strengths and experiences in promoting equity diversity and inclusion.
Names and contact information for three referees.

Please submit your application through TRUs careers portal The search and hiring of this position are governed by LOU#3 in the TRU-TRUFA Collective Agreement.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the nomination is filled.

For inquiries please contact: Office of the Vice-President Research Thompson Rivers University () alternatively Dr. Greg Anderson Dean of Science Thompson Rivers University ()


About Thompson Rivers University

TRU offers numerous pathways for learning to regional national and international students. Research creation and innovation are integrated into teaching and learning across more than 140 on-campus programs and 60 programs in our Open Learning Division. TRU is one of six research universities in British Columbia (Research Universities Council of BC). Over the past decade TRU has experienced significant growth in research capacity funding and graduate programs earning a spot among Canadas top 50 research universities in 2023. TRUs strategic focus is on developing world-class research teams and supporting them with cutting-edge research equipment including federally funded labs such as TRU-Gen: Applied Genomics Lab Wildlab: Wildfire and Landscape Dynamics Lab Brain and Behaviour Lab the Precision Management of Rangeland Systems for a Sustainable Future (Geox Lab) the Multidisciplinary Microanalysis and Micro-imaging Lab the Children and the Law Lab and the Rural Livelihood and Sustainable Communities Lab. Supported by the Province of BC TRUs Institute for Wildfire Science Adaptation and Resiliency and TRU Wildfire provide a solutions-oriented and comprehensive approach to current and future wildfire challenges bringing together research education training and innovation under one umbrella.

TRU is also a member of the Interior Universities Research Coalition (IURC) which was established with two regional universities (the University of Northern British Columbia and the University of BC Okanagan). The coalition aims to strengthen research environments across the Interior through shared resources faculty and student exchanges and community partnerships. As supported by BCs Ministry of Health the IURC continues to promote regional collaboration and innovation.

TRU is dedicated to ensuring student access to a research-informed university education that offers a variety of opportunities for both students and faculty to achieve and surpass their potential.
Thompson Rivers Universitys spectacular main campus is at the heart of Kamloops British Columbia a small city of over 100000 in BCs sunny interior where we enjoy four seasons of outdoor adventures a rich cultural scene and a vibrant diverse campus community. We recognize that our Kamloops campus is situated on the traditional and unceded territory of Tkemlúps te Secwépemc.

We are committed to respecting these lands and the ongoing relationships with Secwépemc /Indigenous peoples in our academic and community endeavors. TRU supports the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) through the Coyote Project a roadmap to achieving the TRCs Calls to Action.


Equity Statement

The CERC program is consistent with the CRC Programs equity diversity and inclusion requirements and is aligned with TRUs official policy and plans. Through TRU Policy ADM 04-1 and TRUs CRC Equity Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan TRU is firmly committed to the principles of employment equity employing people without regard to ancestry including colour and perceived race; nationality or national origin religion or creed or religious belief religious association or activity; age; sex including pregnancy; gender identity sexual orientation political belief physical or mental disability or social disadvantage. While remaining alert and sensitive to the issue of fair and equitable treatment for all TRU has a special concern with the participation and advancement of members from designated groups identified by the CRC program as having been previously disadvantaged in employment: women racialized communities Indigenous/Aboriginal peoples LGBTQ2S and persons with disabilities. We believe that ensuring equity diversity and inclusion in the CRC the Canada Excellence Research Chairs Program and the broader research enterprise will lead to the creation of an innovative and impactful research environment that will seize opportunities and respond to global challenges.

TRU encourages applications from those who would contribute to the further diversification of our faculty and its scholarship including but not limited to women visible minorities Indigenous persons and persons with disabilities. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.

The search interview and selection process will be informed by the CRC programs Equity Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan and Creating an Equitable Diverse and Inclusive Research Environment: A Best Practices Guide for Recruitment Hiring and Retention

If candidates require accommodation supports during the search process please contact Theron Reed at TRU People and Culture:

The Canada Excellence Research Chairs Program requires institutions to collect self-identification data from all applicants following the programs best practices. This data is important to the Universitys ability to ensure that researchers from diverse groups are able to benefit from participation in the program. All applicants to this CERC opportunity are required to complete TRUs Diversity and Inclusion survey.