Academic

Job Category
Faculty Bargaining

Job Title
Canada Impact+ Emerging Leader in the Chemistry of Wildfires - Assistant Professor

Department
UBCO | Faculty | Department of Chemistry | Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science (Kirsten Wolthers)

Posting End Date
November 5, 2026

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date
June 30, 2031

The anticipated salary range for the position is $115,000 - $125,000

University of British Columbia - Okanagan Campus Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science

Department of Chemistry

Assistant Professor (tenure track)- Canada Impact+ Emerging Leader in the Chemistry of Wildfires

Anticipated start date: No later than June 29th, 2027

Date posted: September 10, 2026

Closing date: November 5, 2026

The Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders program is a one-time federal initiative that supports the recruitment of internationally based early-career researchers to Canadian institutions. The program aims to drive innovation, strengthen strategic priorities, and promote Canada's long-term economic security and competitiveness. This Impact+ Emerging Leader position primarily aligns with Canada's strategic priorities in Environment, climate resilience, and the Arctic, with implications for Food and water security and Health priorities.

The Department of Chemistry in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science at the University of British Columbia (UBC) Okanagan campus invites applications for a full-time, tenure-stream position to advance an innovative and transformative research program on the chemistry of wildfire emissions and by-products. Research areas include, but are not restricted to: (i) the chemistry of smoke aerosols and other contaminants generated by wildland and wildland-urban interface fires; (ii) the design and synthesis of environmentally sustainable fire-suppression products or fire-resilient materials; (iii) the analysis and chemical fate of heavy metals and other contaminants originating from wildland fires and/or suppression activities in soil and water, including potential links to human and ecosystem health.

The position will join UBC's Centre for Wildfire Coexistence and build on UBC Okanagan's wildfire research cluster, led by the Eddie Goldenberg Research Chair of Canada in Wildfire Resilience and supported by research impact facilitators to mobilize knowledge and communicate research findings. The successful candidate will receive institutional support, in addition to $20,000/year for research expenses from the Emerging Leader award for up to six years, valued at $100,000 annually, with the possibility of extension for another six years. The successful candidate will be expected to begin a full-time tenure-track appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor no later than June 29, 2027.

Eligibility

In keeping with the requirements of the Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders program, applicants must be early-career researchers (international or expatriates) currently based outside Canada. Nominees must be working and residing outside Canada when the Eddie Goldenberg Research Chairs of Canada award (https://www.canada.ca/en/impact-plus-chairs.html) was formally accepted (July 1st 2026). Applicants may apply regardless of their current location; however, candidates selected for nomination must meet this eligibility requirement on the award acceptance date in order to proceed. Expatriate Canadians wishing to relocate to Canada are welcome to apply.

Candidates must be within five years (minus eligible delays) of the start date of their first independent research-related appointment by June 2027. UBC recognizes the legitimate impact that leaves (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) can have on research achievement and commits to ensuring that leaves are taken into careful consideration during the assessment process. Candidates are encouraged to highlight in their application how career interruptions and personal circumstances have affected their careers. All eligible research delays (e.g., maternity, parental, medical, bereavement) are credited at twice the time taken. Professional leaves (e.g., training, sabbatical, administrative) are not credited as eligible leaves. Postdoctoral fellows with strong research records are eligible and encouraged to apply.

Requirements and Qualifications

The successful candidate will hold a Ph.D., as part of the UBC requirement, in chemistry or a closely related discipline and have postdoctoral experience. They will have a strong record of research productivity and the demonstrated ability to establish an innovative, transformative, externally-funded research program. The appointee must show potential for exceptional communication and teaching skills. They are expected to supervise and mentor undergraduate and graduate students. The ability to teach existing courses in the department, enhance the chemistry curriculum, and collaborate with existing research programs is considered an asset. Active participation in departmental activities, service and initiatives is required.

The university has two distinct campuses, one in Vancouver and one in Kelowna. The position is based in Kelowna, a city of 170,000 that offers a rare combination of a thriving tech and research hub, world-class wineries, and year-round outdoor adventure. Kelowna is connected by direct flights to major Canadian and several international destinations. With 10,000 undergraduates and over 1,000 graduate students, UBC's Okanagan campus in Kelowna has grown to be a diverse and vibrant part of the Okanagan community. For more information about the Okanagan Campus, see https://ok.ubc.ca.

The Department of Chemistry is a highly collaborative, collegial, and supportive group with internationally recognized scholars. Our research spans photocatalysis, natural product biosynthesis, metabolomics, single-molecule biophysics, enzymology, glycoscience, low-valent main group chemistry, chemical biology and theoretical and computational chemistry. We pride ourselves on connecting researchers across disciplines, advancing knowledge through collaboration and multidisciplinary work. We offer majors in chemistry, environmental chemistry and biochemistry. Our students graduate with knowledge and skills for successful careers.

Application Process

Interested candidates are invited to submit an application package as a single pdf file and must include:

• A cover letter addressed to Dr.Kirsten Wolthers (Head,DepartmentofChemistry),describing career fit to a Canada Impact+ Emerging Leader position and the Department of Chemistry
• Curriculum vitae
• A five-page (maximum) research proposal. The proposal must be original; articulate a long-term vision that demonstrates impact; outline short-term objectives; define the methodologies to be employed.

• A 2-page statement that includes teaching philosophy and evidence of teaching and mentorship success.
• UBC aspires to promote inclusive excellence by supporting and recognizing efforts to advance equity, diversity and inclusion as well as decolonization. Please provide a one-page statement describingyourcommitments toequity,diversityandinclusionand/ordecolonization in teaching, research,orservice.Yourcommentsmayrelatetoyourlived/livingexperience,professionalwork, academic and research activities and/or community engagement.
• Names and contact details of three references who may be contacted to submit letters of reference.
• In alignment with UBC's commitment to creating an equitable and diverse environment that fosters academic excellence, candidates are encouraged to complete a self- identification survey: https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_exPuSwFzPyvB8Ee

Complete application packages are required by 11:59 pm PST, November 5, 2026. Direct questions about this position process to Kirsten Wolthers, Department Head, Chemistry, at [redacted]. The anticipated salary range for the position is $115,000 - $125,000.