The University of Victoria (UVic) invites applications for a Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Mental Health. CERCs are prestigious awards globally, providing chairholders with eight years of support for their research programs and teams, and contribute to Canada’s national strategy to foster research excellence by attracting top-tier global researchers to lead world-class research programs at Canadian universities. We invite applications from researchers working across all areas of mental health research, including neuroscience, clinical psychology, public health, and intersecting disciplines, with particular emphasis on the thematic nodes outlined below.

In 2024, globally, approximately one in eight people, nearly 1 billion people, live with a mental health disorder. UVic is deeply committed to understanding the complex biological, psychological, social, and cultural dimensions of mental health and to producing research that drives equitable, transformative impact. This CERC will contribute to UVic’s growing and vibrant ecosystem of interdisciplinary health research, particularly in the newly launched Faculty of Health (May 2025), the Faculty of Social Sciences, active participation in the Island Medical Program, the Mental Health Research Cluster, the as well as research centres, hubs, and infrastructure.

While the scope of UVic’s research is wide, the CERC in mental health will focus on our institutional strength concentrated around three primary disciplinary approaches: Neuroscience, Clinical Psychology and Public Health. The CERC is expected to work across these domains with an intersectional lens that spans the lifespan and breaks through disciplinary silos – producing research with real-world impact to advance equity and innovation in mental health care and policy. The successful candidate will provide visionary leadership in one or more key research themes:

NEUROSCIENCE

The School of Medical Sciences has significant research strengths in neuroscience and brain health. Researchers here explore neuroinflammation, the development of biomarkers for mood, psychotic, and cognitive disorders, mental health alterations associated with neurologic disorders such as traumatic brain injury and stroke, neurodevelopmental studies, and drug discovery for psychiatric disorders. UVic has secured more than $21 million since 2016 for neuroscientific research, with expertise housed across the Faculties of Health and Social Sciences, as well as the Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health (IALH).

UVic is seeking applications from world-class neuroscientists committed to advancing our understanding of the basic mechanisms of mental health disorders, especially with respect to research that has emphasis on translational potential and real-world impact.

CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY

UVic’s Department of Psychology includes a CPA-accredited clinical psychology graduate program with specializations in clinical lifespan and neuropsychology and a psychology clinic that functions both as an outpatient service and teaching site. Clinical researchers investigate the assessment and treatment of neurocognitive disorders—including traumatic and anoxic brain injury—as well as mood and anxiety disorders across diverse populations such as Indigenous communities, immigrants, older adults, survivors of intimate partner violence, and at-risk youth. They collaborate with local hospitals, schools, government agencies, and research centres such as IALH and the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR).

UVic is seeking applications from leading scholars in clinical psychology who are advancing innovative research aligned with the CERC’s intersectional and lifespan-oriented mission.

PUBLIC HEALTH

UVic’s public health researchers adopt interdisciplinary, inter-professional, and community-engaged approaches to address the social determinants of mental health, health behaviours and mental health, and mental health within chronic health conditions. Topics of strength include health promotion, social policy, digital health, disability, Indigenous health, sexual health, LGBTQ2S+ mental health, HIV prevention and care; aging and public health palliative care, and substance use and addictions. These efforts are supported by robust partnerships with CISUR and IALH, around expertise in public health interventions for mental wellness. Public Health faculty members also pursue mental health strategies embedded in systems design, collaborative care models and policy advocacy.

UVic is seeking applications from exceptional public health scholars who are developing innovative mental health strategies, including mental illness prevention, e-health initiatives, cross-sectoral frameworks (e.g., mental health in all policies) and targeted interventions for equity-deserving populations.

Selection Criteria

Applicants must be:

1. Full professors or equivalent who can be hired at UVic at the full professor level.
2. Recognized internationally as world leaders in their field, with a proven record of high-impact research, successful research funding, and leadership of interdisciplinary teams.

The successful applicant will demonstrate:

1. Proven track record of outstanding, original, and innovative research that has made a significant societal impact and advanced the frontiers of knowledge in their area of expertise.
2. Evidence of high-impact research outputs, such as publications in top-tier peer-reviewed research in their fields, as well as broader knowledge mobilization and translation activities.
3. Demonstrated ability to lead and build multidisciplinary research teams and foster collaborative, cross-sectoral partnerships, for example with government, clinical, community, Indigenous, and industry partners.
4. Demonstrated ability to attract, retain, mentor and provide leadership opportunities to a diverse group of students, trainees and research personnel.
5. Strong demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) and to Indigenization in teaching, research, and leadership practices.
6. Track record of knowledge mobilization and engagement with non-academic audiences, including policy-makers, health practitioners, and the public.

How to Apply

Applications need to be submitted through our search partner Perrett Laver’s Vacancies page quoting reference 7903. Please consult the full job description for details on the required application package.

Application packages must be received by 12:00 pm PDT (noon) on Friday August 29, 2025. Review committees will begin the shortlisting process 4 weeks into the advertisement period.

This position is contingent upon the applicant receiving a Canada Excellence Research Chair. The position is subject to the availability of funding and to final approval by the Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat (TIPS).

UVic is committed to upholding the values of equity, diversity, inclusion and human rights in our living, learning and work environments. In pursuit of our values, we seek members who are eager to actively participate in that shared responsibility. We actively encourage applications from members of historically and systemically marginalized groups. Read our full equity statement.

Please consult the CERC Program page for more information. Any general inquiries regarding this posting may be directed to Benjamin Crase.