2025 CERC Competition
The CERC program aims to attract leading scientists and scholars who can contribute to Canada's global competitiveness and well-being, and to help Canadian institutions compete in the global market for research talent
Institutional Quota
Researchers cannot apply directly. The CERC program limits institutional applications. As with previous competitions, institutional application limits are abased on the average value of grants received by the University from the three federal granting agencies in the three years preceding the launch of the competition.
To provide more flexibility in choosing the value and number of applications universities can submit, the institutional application limit is expressed in dollar values. The University's application limit is $1M/year. Thus, the University may submit two applications requesting $500,000/year each or one application requesting $1M/year.
Application Process
The CERC program requires a two-staged application process where interested applicants must first apply to an open job posting at the University. Applicants who are successful through the internal selection process will be nominated to the CERC program. ORIS will provide substantial support in the preparation and development of the chair nomination including budget planning, proposal development, and editing.
Given the University's application quota, up to 2 candidates will be selected to be nominated for CERC positions.
Key dates
- Call for theme areas: January 2025
- Theme submission deadline: March 3, 2025
- Theme decisions announced: March 31, 2025
- CERC Job ad posted: April 1, 2025
- Review of applications begins: June 2025 (confirmation of CERC eligibility)
- Faculty search process: July to October 2025
- Candidate(s) selected: by October 31, 2025
- CERC registration deadline: January 2026
- CERC full application deadline: March 2026
- Results announced: December 2026.
Departments, Faculties, and Schools are invited to submit proposals for CERC theme areas. The ideal thematic area supports a broad, ambitious, institutional strategy that focuses on an area where the University of Lethbridge can realistically achieve global leadership. Interdisciplinarity is key. In developing CERC theme area proposals, please consider the following:
- All CERCs must be aligned with the Government of Canada's Science, Technology, and Innovation priority research areas.
- Proposals will only be considered in areas of established research strength at the University of Lethbridge, with recognized international excellence.
- CERC nominees will have a strong track record of graduate, post-graduate, technician (or equivalent), and/or research associate supervision and mentorship; and thus, the Univeristy of Lethbridge nomination theme areas should reflect strength in studenet research experience and training.
- CERC theme areas must enhance interdisciplinarity and collaborative research and build upon already successful research initiatives.
- CERCs are investments by Departments, Faculties, and Schools; proposals must demonstrate a commitment to supporting the recruitment and retention of the CERC.
- All CERC positions will be advertised openly and internationally. To ensure a faire and transparent recruitment process, theme areas must be broad enough to attract a large candidate pool, especially from equity deserving groups.
If there are multiple submissions within a Faculty, Deans will be asked to review and rank all proposals and provide a rationale for the ranking.
Key dates
- Call for theme areas: January 2025
- Theme submission deadline: March 3, 2025
- Theme decisions announced. Successful proposal teams notified: March 31, 2025.
CERC positions were not assigned to specific academic units in order to encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates. Candidates who are successful through the internal process will be appointed to an appropriate academic department/faculty/school.
Key dates
- CERC job ad posted: April 1, 2025
- Review of applications begins: June 2, 2025 (confirmation of CERC eligibility)
- Faculty search process: July to October 2025
- Candidate(s) selected: by October 31, 2025
Applicants who are successful through the internal process will be nominated to the CERC program. ORIS will provide substantial support in the preparation and development of the chair nomination including proposal development, budget preparation, and editing.
Key dates:
- CERC registration deadline: January 2026
- CERC full application deadline: March 2026
- Results announced: December 2026