Director, Quantum Horizons Alberta – Calgary and Canada Research Chair Tier 1 Full Time

Quantum Horizons Alberta (QHA) was established in 2023 as an Alberta-wide initiative to expand foundational knowledge of quantum science, to pursue transformational research into the potential of quantum mechanics, and to enhance Alberta’s stature as a globally recognized centre for quantum research and innovation. Initiated by a $12-million gift from a group of visionary donors, QHA is currently a $25-million centre of excellence that will build on and increase Alberta’s considerable capacity in quantum research through a partnership of the University of Calgary, the University of Alberta, and the University of Lethbridge.

Funding through QHA is intended to build on existing expertise and attract new talent with the goal to recruit a minimum of eight new quantum research professors to Alberta over the next two years along with funding for many postdoctoral scholars and graduate students. Together, these initiatives will train the next generation of quantum scientists, including postdoctoral scholars and graduate students at each of the universities.

QHA will enable a long-term and sustainable path for Alberta’s leadership in foundational quantum research, creating impact that will reach far beyond Alberta.

The University of Calgary is actively seeking an established research leader to take on the pivotal role of Director, Quantum Horizons Alberta – Calgary and Canada Research Chair Tier 1. The Director will be tasked with guiding this initiative to new frontiers of knowledge in quantum science. This role requires a visionary leader, someone capable of inspiring a diverse team of researchers, graduate students, and stakeholders towards achieving ambitious goals that will accelerate foundational quantum research. The Director will oversee strategic planning, operational and research directions to ensure that the horizons of foundational quantum science are extended, all while establishing and promoting a culture of excellence and inclusion, and maintaining and continuing to grow their own international scientific stature.

The successful candidate for this prestigious position must have a Ph.D. or equivalent and will have qualifications commensurate with an appointment with tenure at the rank of Professor, or an equivalent level of seniority in the government or private sector. The ideal candidate is actively leading or previously led an innovative and externally funded research program in a frontier area of foundational theoretical or experimental quantum science. This individual will have a history of supervising graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and experience teaching quantum science at both undergraduate and graduate levels. A proven track record in securing funding, the ability to develop a coherent scientific vision and research plan, and experience engaging and building collaborations is essential. Additionally, the Director must possess outstanding communication skills, capable of articulating the vision and achievements of Quantum Horizons Alberta to a global audience.

The appointment as Director, Quantum Horizons Alberta – Calgary is for a five-year period with the possibility of renewal.

The successful candidate will be appointed at the rank of Full Professor (with Tenure) and nominated for a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair, with negotiable teaching, research and service duties. The applicant must meet the criteria for a Canada Research Chair at the Tier I level. Further information about the Canada Research Chairs Program, including eligibility criteria, can be found on the Government of Canada’s CRC website (http://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/program-programme/index-eng.aspx).

This role represents a rare opportunity to be at the forefront of a scientific revolution, shaping the direction of quantum research and education at the University of Calgary, coordinating with the University of Alberta, the University of Lethbridge and beyond. The Director will influence the trajectory of quantum science globally and will also play a crucial role in building a sustainable, innovative ecosystem that nurtures talent and propels Alberta to the forefront of the quantum age. If you are driven by the challenge of leading a world-renowned initiative extending the horizons of foundational quantum science, we invite you to apply for the role of Director at Quantum Horizons Alberta – Calgary and Canada Research Chair Tier 1.

To explore this opportunity further, please send your curriculum vitae and letter of interest in confidence, with the subject line “QHA Director Calgary” to [email protected].

The University of Calgary’s comprehensive benefits and pension program is designed to promote a productive level of health and well-being to staff members. To learn about our comprehensive benefits package for this Calgary-based, English-speaking position, please visit https://www.ucalgary.ca/hr/benefits-pension.

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 to, and be sensitive to the impact of career interruptions, when assessing the candidate’s research productivity.

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 equity-deserving 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 at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments ([email protected]) and requests for accommodation can be sent to People & Culture ([email protected]).

About the University of Calgary
Calgary is a global intellectual hub located in Canada’s most enterprising city. UCalgary is a bold and spirited institution, recognized as one of Canada’s top research universities, grounded in innovative teaching and learning, and fully engaged with the community it serves and leads.

“Great cities are built around great research universities, and cities that successfully reinvent themselves do so in partnerships with focused, world-class institutions. The fate of Calgary and UCalgary are inextricably tied. Our community has supported us and now is the time to show returns on those investments for the benefit of our community. Our ambition is nothing short of UCalgary being a catalyst of economic growth and quality-of-life improvements in this city and beyond.”
– Dr. Ed McCauley, President & Vice-Chancellor, University of Calgary

UCalgary recently unveiled its Ahead of Tomorrow strategic plan, which articulates a 7-year vision out to 2030. It’s a bold vision that reflects our ambition to increase access to future-focused education, to maximize the impact of our research and innovation, to put the community at the centre of all that we do, and to make our operational processes clearer, simpler and better than any other university. To learn more about UCalgary’s strategic plan, visit ucalgary.ca/about/ahead-of-tomorrow.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy in line with the foundational goals of Ahead of Tomorrow, 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.

In its 60th year, UCalgary is already one of the nation’s leading research universities. It has five campuses in Calgary, a University Innovation Quarter in Calgary, and five research stations in Alberta, BC, and the Yukon. UCalgary is a global intellectual hub for high-quality research and scholarship, one where students thrive in programs made rich by research, hands-on experiences, and entrepreneurial thinking, grounded in innovative learning and teaching; it is fully integrated with the community it both serves and leads. As a Comprehensive Academic and Research University, we aim to produce the next generation of leaders who experience the best possible training in acquiring and creating new knowledge.

These foundational values and commitments enable excellence, discovery, creativity, and innovation across the research ecosystem. With over 30,400 undergraduate students, 7,700 graduate students, 575 postdoctoral fellows/associates, and 1,862 faculty actively engaged in transdisciplinary discovery, creativity, and innovation across 14 faculties and schools, and supported by over 4,700 staff, we deliver over 250 degree and non-credit programs – undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees, postdoctoral training, and continuing and professional education programs. We increasingly attract domestic students from within Alberta and across Canada, and our knowledge and experience are enriched by international students from over 119 countries.

With over $588.5M in annual research revenue and more than 50 research institutes and centres, UCalgary has become known as a research powerhouse in Canada. The scholarly environment at UCalgary encourages our students, faculty, and staff to take on the tough challenges facing our society and to draw expertise from across all our domains to develop evidence-based solutions. We integrate research into graduate and undergraduate curricula, equipping students with transferable problem-solving skills tested in experiential and work-integrated learning scenarios to increase employability and opportunities for professional advancement.

UCalgary benefits from the ongoing support of our community, which rallies behind the University, recently completing the third-largest fundraising campaign in Canadian history, surpassing $1.4B.

UCalgary is a large and complex institution that drives tremendous value with an annual consolidated budget of more than $1.6B, it is among Calgary’s largest employers and generates over $16B annually in economic impact to the province. Two-thirds of the University’s 220,000 alumni live and work in the Calgary area, effectively building a city of leaders and those dedicated to improving quality of life and prosperity.

UCalgary has been recognized for eight consecutive years as one of Alberta’s Top 75 Employers (2017–2025) and Canada’s best diversity employer (2017–2025).

To learn more, visit ucalgary.ca. You can also view the academic and research & innovation plans, as well as the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility, Indigenous, mental health and sustainability strategies.

About Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Recently ranked the most liveable city in North America and 5th in the world (2024) by The Economist Intelligence Unit, 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 (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnh-WugziiiHwMT44-sVwrA). Situated where the Canadian plains reach the sunny foothills of Canada’s majestic Rocky Mountains, Calgary is a major urban center surrounded by an area of profound beauty with an awe-inspiring mountains, lakes, rivers and open prairie. Calgary is the third most diverse major city in Canada, home to over 240 different ethnic origins, and there are 165 languages spoken here.

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. Canada ranks among the highest in international measurements of government transparency, civil liberties, quality of life, economic freedom, and education.