Canada Impact+ Emerging Leader Professor - Health equity, disability and aging in Québec

Université Laval, the first French-language university in North America, is seeking applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position through the Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders program. The successful candidate will hold a regular faculty appointment within the School of Rehabilitation Sciences of the Faculty of Medicine, which includes a team of 52 faculty members teaching across four professional programs and one research program. This team supervises more than 130 graduate students. The Faculty of Medicine includes approximately 400 professors whose research activities are organized around eight major themes, including 'Loss of Autonomy and Rehabilitation.' Building on a strong tradition of interdisciplinary research in disability and rehabilitation, Université Laval is recognized nationally and internationally for its contributions to advancing knowledge on social participation, accessibility, inclusion, and human development among persons with disabilities.

Within this rich environment, the successful candidate will contribute to the development of a world-class research ecosystem addressing disability, functional limitations, aging, social participation, and health equity. This position is part of the establishment of the Eddie Goldenberg Research Chairs of Canada in Health Equity and Economic Well-Being at Université Laval, launching in January 2027. The successful candidate will be expected to develop an independent and original research program while benefiting from an outstanding scientific environment that fosters interdisciplinary and intersectoral collaboration, knowledge mobilization, and societal impact.

The successful candidate will become a regular member of the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration (Cirris) of Santé Québec Capitale-Nationale – Universitaire, a health and social services institution affiliated with Université Laval. Cirris is distinguished by its interdisciplinary nature, strong integration with clinical, community, and policy environments, and recognized leadership at national and international levels in disability, social participation, accessibility, and inclusive public policy. With 93 researchers from eight faculties across the University and approximately 250 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, Cirris offers a unique research environment that promotes partnership-based approaches, co-construction of knowledge, and knowledge mobilization 'by, for, and with' people living with disabilities.

The successful candidate will receive:

• A tenured faculty position in the School of Rehabilitation Sciences;
• Funding of $600,000 over six years, with the possibility of renewal for an additional six years, through the Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders Program, distributed between salary support and research funds;
• Competitive and attractive start-up funds;
• Competitive salary and benefits.

The successful candidate will develop an innovative, independent, and internationally competitive research program aimed at generating knowledge that improves the health, well-being, social participation, and inclusion of people living with disabilities or at risk of developing disabilities throughout their life course. Their work should contribute to both the advancement of knowledge and the transformation of practices, services, programs, or policies. Consideration will be given, within the priority research areas, to research that is likely to generate concrete and sustainable benefits for individuals, communities, practice settings (including community organizations), and health and social service systems.

Priority Research Areas

• Prevention of disability, health promotion, and reduction of social and health inequities, particularly among aging populations and those experiencing disability or marginalization;
• Transformation of practices, care and service trajectories, programs, and health and social service systems, particularly to improve equity, access, quality, and outcomes related to social participation;
• Data science, artificial intelligence, advanced quantitative methods, or health economics;
• Population data analysis applied to disability, aging, rehabilitation, health equity, or social participation;
• Evaluation and implementation of interventions, programs, or public policies that promote health, equity, autonomy, inclusion, and social participation.

Expected Contributions

• Develop and lead an original, independent, and internationally competitive research program;
• Secure funding from granting agencies and other partners to support the development and sustainability of the research program;
• Contribute to teaching or curriculum development in one or more programs within the School of Rehabilitation Sciences, particularly in the master's and doctoral programs in rehabilitation sciences;
• Recruit, supervise, and mentor graduate students and highly qualified personnel;
• Establish interdisciplinary collaborations with members of the School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Cirris, and other research units at Université Laval;
• Develop and maintain innovative partnerships that foster tangible impacts of the research program on practices, services, public policy and the living conditions of the populations concerned;
• Contribute to knowledge mobilization, knowledge transfer, and knowledge application.

Workplace: Faculty of Medicine, School of Rehabilitation Sciences