Description
Canada Research Chair (Tier II), School-Based Mental Health
The Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary invites applications for a Tier II Canada Research Chair (CRC) in School-Based Mental Health. The successful candidate will be appointed at the rank of Assistant Professor (tenure-track) or Associate Professor (with tenure) and will be nominated for a CRC Tier II position.
The successful candidate will hold a completed doctorate in counselling psychology, school and/or applied child psychology, or educational psychology or related discipline in an area of specialization relevant to the Chair. While not a requirement, preference will be given to candidates who received their PhD from a CPA and/or APA accredited program. It is also an asset to have completed a CPA/APA accredited residency. Preference will be given to candidates whose research focuses on bridging and connecting mental health and wellbeing supports in schools including systems level practice, policy, and systemic change. The CRC will bring additional knowledge and solutions to upstream systemic challenges that children and youth face in schools and in their communities. The complex nature of student mental health, sustainable capacity building, and school-based service delivery demands a transdisciplinary approach, and this Chair will have substantive opportunities for collaboration between the Werklund School of Education, Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Owerko, Azreili, and Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, and the across the multiple faculties of social work, nursing, psychology, and public health. Moreover, the Chair's research has opportunities to contribute to the institutional research priority of One Child Every Child. Drawing upon the strength across Canada. Together with the two nationally accredited educational psychology programs at Werklund School of Education, the Chair will have opportunities to collaborate with world-class talent, secure large-scale team grants, and establish an ecosystem for implementation science, positioning University of Calgary as the definitive leader in this field in Canada. Finally, the CRC Tier II candidate will be a member of the Centre for Wellbeing in Education, and will collaborate and partner with the Centre's mission to provide evidence-based research in school-based mental health, and support the professional outreach in knowledge translation and dissemination for educators and psychologists who work across the educational landscape.
The proposed Chair in School-Based Mental Health and Well-Being is a direct activation of the University's Ahead of Tomorrow strategic plan. It confronts one of society's most pressing issues (i.e., child and youth well-being) by placing the University of Calgary at the forefront of a critical national conversation. This Chair will provide institutional leadership by moving beyond isolated research projects to build a transdisciplinary hub for systems-level implementation and knowledge mobilization. The Chair's mandate is to generate new knowledge, scale up evidence-based practices, and translate research into policy that school systems can realistically implement and maintain.
Specifically, Werklund School welcomes candidates who are interested conducting research related to issues including: 1) examining mental health supports that are equitable and contextually responsive to educational systems; 2) translating evidence-based mental health supports into the complex, real-world context of schools; 3) examining systems and organizational structures that support mental health and wellbeing in educational systems to inform policy and practice; and/or 4) providing scholarly support for teaching and learning and building capacity for educators and schools.
In addition to maintaining an active funded research program, the Chair also will be expected to supervise graduate students, teach undergraduate and/or graduate courses in their areas of specialization, and demonstrate leadership in service, collaboration and mentorship within the University and the community. As well, the Chair will be expected to engage actively with the public, schools, government and the media in matters related to the Chair's expertise. The individual will also be a member of the Centre of Wellbeing in Education.
Tier II Chairs are intended for exceptional emerging scholars who, at the time of nomination, have been active researchers in their field for fewer than 10 years. In accordance with the Canada Research Chairs Program's eligibility criteria, candidates are expected to be within 10 years of either earning their highest degree or holding their first independent academic research-related appointment. Candidates who exceed the 10-year eligibility window but have experienced eligible career interruptions, such as maternity, parental, or extended sick leave, clinical training, or other recognized delays, may have their eligibility assessed through the program’s Tier II justification process. Research interruptions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., laboratory or institutional closures) are recognized as eligible delays and may be credited at twice the amount of time beginning March 1, 2020. For more information, please contact UCalgary's Office of Research Services at crc@ucalgary.ca. Additional details about the Canada Research Chairs Program, including eligibility criteria, are available on the Government of Canada's Canada Research Chairs website.
The successful candidate at the Assistant Professor level must demonstrate evidence of a track record of publications in high quality journals, securing external research funding, and effectiveness in teaching at the university level.
The successful candidate at the Associate Professor level must demonstrate evidence of a strong track record of publications in high quality journals, evidence of securing ongoing external research funding, effectiveness in teaching at the university level, and evidence of effective graduate student supervision.
The University of Calgary is a global intellectual hub located in Canada's most enterprising city. In this spirited, high-quality learning environment, students will thrive in programs made rich by research, hands-on experiences, and entrepreneurial thinking. The University of Calgary is Canada's leading next-generation university, and as a top 5 research faculty in Canada, the Werklund School of Education is committed to helping achieve the University of Calgary's ambitious Ahead of Tomorrow strategy.
Ranked as one of the most liveable cities in the world by The Economist, and possessing one of the youngest populations of major cities in Canada, Calgary is home to world-class attractions, sporting amenities and public infrastructure that supports a healthy lifestyle, making it a great place to raise a family. Calgary is a city of leaders - in business, community, philanthropy and volunteerism with the highest concentration of entrepreneurs and Canadian head offices in Canada.
Situated in the sunny foothills of Canada's majestic Rocky Mountains, Calgary is a major urban centre surrounded by a natural area of profound beauty. Consistently rated by the United Nations as the world's best country to live in, Canada is the world's second largest country by total area and is one of the most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations. The 10th largest advanced economy in the world, relying upon its abundant natural resources and sophisticated international trade networks, Canada ranks among the highest in international measurements of government transparency, civil liberties, quality of life, economic freedom, and education.
For more information and to apply: https://careers.ucalgary.ca/jobs/18125344-canada-research-chair-tier-ii-school-based-mental-health
Interested individuals are encouraged to apply online via the UCalgary Careers site. Please be aware the application process allows for only four attachments. Your four attachments should be organized to contain the following (which may require you to merge documents such as publications):
Cover letter, curriculum vitae and names and contact information of three (3) references
Statement of research interests and a description of a proposed 5-year research plan for the Chair
Copies of two representative peer reviewed, published scholarly articles
Statement of teaching philosophy/teaching dossier
Closing date: October 16, 2026
For more information about the Werklund School of Education visit their website.
For more information on the Canada Research Chair program and eligibility requirements for Chairs, visit this link. All Chairs are subject to review and final approval by the CRC Secretariat.
Questions about this position may be directed to:
Dr. Dianne Gereluk, Dean and Chair of the CRC Search Committee Werklund School of Education
Email: d.gereluk@ucalgary.ca
The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy ii' taa'poh'to'p committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.
The University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here; in particular, we encourage members of the four designated groups (women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding diversity or requests for accommodation can be sent to the People and Culture Team (hrhire@ucalgary.ca).
The terms and conditions of this appointment, including salary, are governed by the collective agreement between the Faculty Association of the University of Calgary and the Governors of the University of Calgary. Detailed information is available here.
Additional Information
For a listing of all academic opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Academic Careers website.
Institutional Commitments
The University of Calgary recognizes that candidates have varying career paths and that career interruptions can be part of an excellent academic record. Candidates are encouraged but not required to provide any relevant information about their experience and/or career interruptions to allow for a fair assessment of their application. Selection committees have been instructed to give careful consideration, and be sensitive to, the impact of career interruptions, when assessing the candidate's research productivity.
The diversity of our scholars and staff is reflective of UCalgary's commitment to ensure that all have a rightful place to learn and to grow. Our values underpin this commitment, through our teaching, research and community outreach, to serve individuals and communities to flourish and thrive. Calgary resides in the vast Blackfoot territory in treaty 7 territory of Southern Alberta alongside Métis districts 5 and 6 in the city of Calgary who have shared these lands. The University of Calgary, situated near Nose Hill (a protected park), is near the nose of the buffalo (the breath of life) and the head (the intelligence) of the buffalo. Together, we share this land, strive to live together, learn together, walk together, and grow together 'in a good way.' In the spring of 2016, The University of Calgary (UCalgary) set out to build the Indigenous Strategy (ii'taa'poh'to'p) by gathering stories and perspectives from Traditional Knowledge Keepers, cultural advisors, agencies, and communities. The strategy was adopted in November 2017 with a foundation in transformation, renewal, and shared ethical space. It includes 27 recommendations that address ways of knowing, doing, connecting and being, touching on all aspects of the university. The strategy is and will remain a living document within the institution, whereby progress will be monitored, and content and direction will be renewed through a process of evaluation and evolution. https://www.ucalgary.ca/indigenous/ii taapohtop
Walking together in parallel paths, there is a respect and honour for our Indigenous guardians who have protected the lands and peoples and the wisdom that they bring, and together with the youthful vibrancy fand energy toward a path for a prosperous and better future for all. In this way, The University of Calgary is Canada's leading next-generation university - a living, growing and youthful institution that embraces change and opportunity with a can-do attitude.
Located in the nation's most enterprising city, the university is recognized as one of Canada's top five research universities, grounded in innovative learning and teaching and fully integrated with the community it both serves and leads. The University of Calgary inspires and supports discovery, creativity and innovation across all disciplines. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.
About Calgary, Alberta
Calgary is one of the world's cleanest cities and has been named one of the world's most livable cities for years. Calgary is a city of leaders - in business, community, philanthropy and volunteerism. Calgarians benefit from a growing number of world-class dining and cultural events and enjoy more days of sunshine per year than any other major Canadian city. Calgary is less than an hour's drive from the majestic Rocky Mountains and boasts the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway network in North America.
With a growing urban Indigenous population of approximately 50,000 people, there are several Indigenous organizations and many events and ceremonies taking place in the city throughout the year.
