Canada Impact + Research Chair in Additive Manufacturing of Sustainable Materials

Position Title / Rank: Canada Impact + Research Chair in Additive Manufacturing of Sustainable Materials
Department: Department of Mechanical Engineering 

Position Description:
 

The University of Guelph invites applications for nomination to the prestigious Canada Impact+ Research Chair in Manufacturing and Advanced Materials. This opportunity will enable a world-class researcher to establish and lead an ambitious research program in advanced manufacturing systems and materials science relevant to Canada’s industrial, energy, and sustainability priorities, positioning Canada at the forefront of advanced manufacturing innovation. The successful candidate will strengthen the University of Guelph’s leadership in manufacturing, materials, and digital technologies, while fostering strong collaborations with industry, government, and international partners.

About the Canada Impact+ Research Program

The Canada Impact+ Research Chairs (Impact+) program is a one-time initiative designed to support institutions in attracting world-leading researchers whose work addresses critical national and global challenges. The program emphasizes both research excellence and tangible impact. Impact+ Chairs will receive long-term funding and institutional support to advance ambitious and transformative projects in Canada’s strategic priority areas, build and maintain exceptional research teams, and collaborate with partners across sectors and borders. Impact+ Chairholders are expected to drive the translation of discoveries into applications, commercialization, and social and economic benefits for Canada and the world, while also developing the next generation of highly qualified personnel.

The Impact+ program provides opportunities for internationally renowned scholars and scientists in areas of strategic importance to Canada. Only candidates who are internationally based (both working and residing outside of Canada) at the time of the intake’s application deadline are eligible to apply. Nominees must be full professors or associate professors or, if recruited from outside the academic sector, must possess the necessary qualifications to be appointed at these levels. A Ph.D. in a discipline relevant to manufacturing and advanced materials research and teaching is required by the University of Guelph.

Canada Impact+ Research Chair in Manufacturing and Advanced Materials

The College of Engineering is recruiting a Canada Impact+ Research Chair in Manufacturing and Advanced Materials, at an award value of $500,000 per year. The term is for 8 years, with the possibility for a four-year extension at 50% of the original award value. The Impact+ Chair in Manufacturing and Advanced Materials is aligned with the Impact+ strategic priority areas of clean technology, advanced manufacturing, sustainable materials, and resource value chains.

Program Evaluation Criteria

• Research/academic merit and leadership skills of the nominee
• Quality of the institutional support
• Quality of the research program
• Potential contribution to the excellence of the Canadian and international research ecosystem
• Potential for knowledge translation, mobilization, and application of research results

The Government of Canada values knowledge mobilization, translation, and commercialization as critical pathways to ensuring research delivers tangible benefits at both national and global levels. Impact+ Chairs are expected to move beyond discovery to generate social, economic, and policy impacts, working in close collaboration with partners across various sectors. Successful nominees will have the primary responsibility for directing the research program and all related activities, leading a team of personnel, and coordinating governance and administration with the host institution.

Targeted Research in Manufacturing and Advanced Materials

The successful candidate will be appointed as a Canada Impact+ Research Chair and will build an independent, world-class research program in manufacturing and advanced materials, aligned with the University of Guelph’s strengths in engineering, sustainability, and applied innovation. The research program is expected to address challenges across modern manufacturing systems and materials-enabled technologies, including but not limited to:

• Sustainable and circular manufacturing systems
• Next-generation metal additive manufacturing and hybrid processes
• Manufacturing of advanced materials for energy and infrastructure applications
• Digital and smart manufacturing (Industry 4.0/5.0)
• AI-enabled, physics-informed, and data-driven manufacturing
• Agentic systems, autonomous manufacturing, and resilient production systems
• Process–structure–performance relationships in advanced materials

Strategic Alignment with the University of Guelph

The University of Guelph’s Strategic Plan emphasizes creating solutions for a sustainable future and advancing collaborations with industry and government to address society’s most pressing challenges. A Canada Impact+ Research Chair in Manufacturing and Advanced Materials directly strengthens this vision by advancing innovation in sustainable production, advanced materials, and intelligent manufacturing systems that support Canada’s economic competitiveness, energy transition, and environmental stewardship.

Candidate Profile

We seek an exceptional scholar with an international reputation for research excellence, innovation, and leadership. The successful nominee will:

• Hold a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a closely related discipline. A Ph.D. degree is a requirement for faculty members at the University of Guelph. Suitably qualified candidates in industrial engineering, materials science, mechatronics, or related interdisciplinary fields will be considered. Industrial or national laboratory experience is an asset.
• Be internationally based at the time of application (any citizenship considered).
• Be qualified for appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or Full Professor.
• Demonstrate a record of outstanding and sustained research contributions, including high-impact publications, patents, technologies, and external research funding.
• Show a proven ability to lead large, interdisciplinary research teams and foster collaborations with academia, industry, and government.
• Demonstrate qualification to teach manufacturing, materials, or related engineering subjects at the undergraduate and graduate level.
• Exhibit a strong commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA).

Join Us in Shaping our Community

The University of Guelph recognizes that an inclusive campus and a culture of inclusion is an institutional and social imperative. Acknowledging the University's diverse population and ensuring that every member of an inclusive campus is a valued contributor is a foundational pillar of a successful post-secondary institution. The University of Guelph is committed to fostering an inclusive, innovative, and collaborative environment. In the Department of Chemistry, we value diversity and inclusivity because we know that diversity in experiences and perspectives is vital to advancing innovation, critical thinking, complex problem solving, and the creation of a modern, representative academic community. The University of Guelph resides on the traditional lands and territory of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee and Huron Wendat. These lands are now home to a rich diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people. We offer our respect and gratitude to our Indigenous neighbours and affirm our responsibility to realize our commitments to reconciliation through ongoing action. We are guided in this work by Bi-Naagward | It Comes into View, the Indigenous Initiatives Strategy. The Impact+ program reflects the Canadian federal government's commitment to equity and diversity in employment. It aims to ensure the appropriate representation of women and gender minorities, persons with disabilities, indigenous people, and racialized people.

Application Process

The Impact+ nomination process consists of two stages. First, candidates apply to an open job posting at the University of Guelph. The U of G will then support the successful candidate in the development of an application for the federal funding program. Appointment to an Impact+ Chair position is contingent upon receiving an Impact+ Chair award. Awardees must begin their appointment within 12 months of accepting the award.

Assessment of applications will begin on January 23, 2026.

Candidate interviews will be hosted during the week of February 2nd - 6th, 2026.

Interested external applicants should create an account on https://careers.uoguelph.ca/ and apply for the advertised faculty position (Requisition ID#2061) by submitting the following materials (in one merged PDF file uploaded to cv):

1. A cover letter describing their vision for a research program in Manufacturing and Advanced Materials and how it aligns with the goals of the Canada Impact+ Research Chair program.
2. Curriculum vitae.
3. Brief description of the proposed research program, including a description of how equity, diversity and inclusion has been incorporated into research design and research team, and how your research will contribute to knowledge translation, mobilization and application of research results (maximum four pages).
4. Career highlights describing your most significant contributions to your field, including how they have led to societal benefits, and how they connect with your research plan (maximum two pages).
5. Statement of teaching and mentorship philosophy (maximum one page).
6. The names and email addresses of three references, at least two of which are at arm's length (not in conflict of interest).

Questions regarding the Impact+ program may be directed to the Manager, Strategic Programs, ailsakay@uoguelph.ca The University of Guelph recognizes that 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 aoften an expected part of life and are likely to have an impact on a nominee’s record of research achievement, and that these impacts will be taken into careful consideration during the assessment process. The University of Guelph is committed to ensuring all applicants have fair and equitable participation in the hiring process. If you anticipate needing medical accommodations during the recruitment or selection processes, confidential assistance is available on request by contacting Ms. Jackèe Colquhoun at chemadmin@uoguelph.ca or +1-519-824-4120 x53905.

Deadline for application: January 22, 2026

Applications and inquiries should be directed to:

Prof. Marwan Hasan

Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Guelph

Email: mechchair@uoguelph.ca

Why Join the University of Guelph?

At the University of Guelph, you will join a vibrant, research-intensive institution with a strong reputation for innovation, sustainability, and societal impact. Located in Ontario’s innovation corridor, the University of Guelph offers unparalleled opportunities to collaborate with leading universities, research institutes, and industry partners in Canada and globally. This position is contingent upon a successful institutional nomination and subsequent approval by the Canada Impact+ Research Chair 2026 competition.

Date Posted: 12/23/2025
Deadline: 01/22/2026 or until a suitable candidate is found.

This position is represented by the University of Guelph Faculty Association (UGFA). 

The University of Guelph commits to fostering inclusive excellence through promoting Indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. Inclusion is a core pillar of Our Time, our strategic plan, which pledges to “transform our human resources, governance and student services and practices across the University to enable us to recruit a diverse student, faculty and staff body and support them in achieving their personal, professional and scholarly goals.” The University commits to creating and maintaining “equitable work environments that empower us in our pursuit of student, faculty and staff success, research excellence, innovation and impact.” 

The University of Guelph invites applications from all qualified individuals. We strongly welcome and encourage applications from members of designated groups in employment, including Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, racialized persons, women, and 2SLGBTQIA+ persons. 

The University of Guelph recognizes that career paths can be diverse and career interruptions may occur. We encourage applicants to note in their applications whether they would like considerations given to the impact of any circumstances, such as (but not limited to) those due to health and/or family reasons, that may have affected an applicant’s record of achievement. You are not required to disclose these circumstances in the hiring process. If you choose to do so, the University will ensure that these circumstances do not negatively impact the assessment of your qualifications for the position. 

The University of Guelph is committed to ensuring all applicants have fair and equitable participation in the hiring process. If you anticipate needing medical accommodations during the recruitment or selection processes, confidential assistance is available on request by contacting The University of Guelph is committed to ensuring all applicants have fair and equitable participation in the hiring process. If you anticipate needing medical accommodations during the recruitment or selection processes, confidential assistance is available on request by contacting Occupational Health and Wellness at 519-824-4120 x52674. If you have any questions regarding accommodations or accessibility during the hiring process or for more information and support, please visit the University’s Occupational Health and Wellness or contact OHW at ohw@uoguelph.ca.