Description
The Canada Impact+ Research Chairs program is a one-time initiative designed to support institutions in attracting world-leading researchers to address critical national and global challenges. The program emphasizes both research excellence and tangible impact. Impact+ Chairs will receive long-term funding and institutional supports that 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 will drive the translation of discoveries into applications, commercialization and social and economic benefits for Canada and the world and develop the next generation of highly qualified personnel.
The Bloorview Research Institute (BRI), located within the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, and recognized in Canada and around the world for its unique client population and leadership in the field of childhood disability. Dedicated to improving the lives of children with disabilities through client and family centered rehabilitation research, BRI is home to leading scientists whose expertise includes clinical trials, advanced computational methods, neuroimaging, brain stimulation, body-machine interfacing, gamification of therapy, assistive technology design, development and evaluation, outcome measure development and validation, health systems research, implementation science, and qualitative research.
The BRI at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital invites applications for a Canada Impact+ Research Chair: a full-time Senior Scientist position to advance transformational research programs that support the growth of the Canadian economy in the following priority areas:
Advanced digital technologies (AI, quantum, cybersecurity)
Health, including biotechnology.
Defence and dual-use technologies
Applicants are restricted to individuals who are internationally based. Only those applicants who are both working and residing outside of Canada at the time of the nomination deadline are eligible to apply: there are two Impact+ Research chair nomination deadlines: March 24, 2026 (intake one) & June 29, 2026 (intake two). Expatriate Canadians wishing to relocate to Canada are welcome to apply.
The nominee’s research area must demonstrably align with the priority category listed above and the BRI Strategic Priorities. The maximum award value is $4 million over eight years ($500k per year) – with a possibility for a four-year funded extension, at 50% of the original award value. Successful nominees are expected to start their position within 12 months of accepting the award and will be required to take up their appointment on a full-time basis.
Appointments will be at the rank of Senior Scientist at BRI (and Associate Professor or Full Professor at the University of Toronto) with an anticipated start date between September 2026 and October 2027. While the primary appointment will be held at BRI, candidates must be eligible for a cross-appointment in a cognate academic department/institute at the University of Toronto, with associate professor appointments requiring qualification for promotion to full professor within two years of starting their appointment.
The successful candidate will have an established, excellent, innovative and internationally recognized research trajectory and an outstanding, independent, externally funded research program. The candidate’s record of excellence in research should be demonstrated by a record of significant, sustained contributions and publications in top-ranked and field-relevant academic journals and internationally ranked presses, participation in professional associations through conference presentations and service work, obtaining competitive funding sources, and strong endorsements by referees of high standing. In keeping with the program’s objectives of research excellence and impact, the successful candidate will have a strong record of research impact, including research translation, mobilization, and application with concrete economic and/or social benefits for a range of end users and stakeholders. The candidate will have a demonstrated record of teaching excellence, with a teaching program at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and experience as an effective supervisor and mentor of graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. Evidence of excellence in teaching will be demonstrated through teaching accomplishments (including supervision of MA and PhD students), strong letters of reference and the teaching dossier and teaching statement submitted as part of the application. The University of Toronto requires that the successful candidate must have a PhD.
The successful candidate will lead a stellar program of research with a focus on optimizing outcomes for children and youth with neurodevelopmental conditions, brain injury, and /or pediatric disability, and their families. The call is broad and would welcome applications from scientists with expertise in a variety of fields focused on childhood onset disability (i.e. computational expertise, neuroimaging, brain stimulation, engineering innovations, wearables, critical disability studies, learning health system innovation, clinical trials, big data, etc.). The individual will be responsible for securing competitive research funding, attracting, and training top-notch graduate students, publishing high impact journal articles and leading knowledge translation activities. The scientist is expected to interface seamlessly with clinical and research teams at Holland Bloorview. Holland Bloorview and the University of Toronto offer a wide range of opportunities for collaborative and interdisciplinary research and teaching, the excitement of working with a highly diverse student population and actively encourages innovative scholarship. The Greater Toronto Area offers amazing cultural and demographic diversity and one of the highest standards of living in the world.
The rank and salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
To be considered for this position, all application materials must be submitted online at the link described below. Complete applications must include:
A two-page research proposal describing research plans for the position and highlighting the specific priority area(s) to which their research relates
a current curriculum vitae
a statement of teaching philosophy
the name and contact information of three references
Review of applications will begin on April 10, 2026, and applicants should endeavor to have all required materials, including names and contact information of references, by this date. Applications will continue to be accepted until the nomination is filled, but only complete applications will be considered.
All application materials must be submitted through Holland Bloorview’s online applicant portal system – use the Job Search tool found here: Current Job Opportunities
If you have questions about this opportunity, please contact Evdokia Anagnostou, Vice-President Research, eanagnostou@hollandbloorview.ca.
The University of Toronto and Holland Bloorview recognizes that scholars have varying career paths and that career interruptions due to personal circumstances can be part of an excellent academic record. Nomination committee members have been instructed to give careful consideration to, and be sensitive to the impact of, career interruptions in their assessments.
Holland Bloorview is committed to fostering a climate of inclusion, diversity, equity accessibility, and anti-racism (IDEAA). This commitment is central to, and mutually supportive of, our research excellence mandate. We welcome and respect the diversity of all members of our community and we seek to create an inclusive culture for our clients, families, research scientists, staff, participants, trainees, volunteers, trustees, and partners. To help in our journey towards fully reflecting the communities we partner with, we welcome and encourage applications from Black individuals and other racialized persons, Indigenous Peoples, women, persons with disabilities, LGBTQI2SA+ persons, and others who may contribute to further diversification of ideas within our community. Holland Bloorview is committed to fair assessment of a candidate's abilities, and consideration for diversity of thought, method, and experience, including non-traditional career paths.
In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, accommodation will be provided throughout the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Please notify us of any accommodations that you require by contacting Larissa Haluszka-Smith humanresources@hollandbloorview.ca or 416-425-6220.
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital is Canada's largest children's rehabilitation hospital, fully affiliated with the University of Toronto. Chosen as one of Greater Toronto's Top Employers by the Globe and Mail and listed among Canada's Top 40 Research Hospitals since 2013, Holland Bloorview is a unique and exceptional place to work. We pioneer treatments, technologies, therapies and real-world programs that give children with disabilities the tools to participate fully in life. The Bloorview Research Institute is Canada's only hospital-embedded childhood disability research institute. Client and family-centred care is among our core values. In fact, the Research Institute has established a system-leading family leadership program through which families are engaged as advisors, communicators, reviewers and research family engagement committee members. Our world-class scientists currently hold 6 hospital-university endowed research chairs and 2 Canada Research Chairs. Research is closely integrated with teaching and clinical practice via the Centre for Leadership.
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital creates a world of possibility by supporting children and youth with disabilities, medical complexity, illness and injury. All of our work is guided by our strategic plan, Transformative Care, Inclusive World: Holland Bloorview 2030. The plan: https://strategicplan.hollandbloorview.ca/
To get a glimpse as to who Holland Bloorview is, we invite you to watch the Dear Everybody, This is Holland Bloorview video. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbp-WhflXXo&feature=youtu.be