Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Social Computing

Date Posted: June 3rd

Posting end date: July 2nd

The Department of Computer Science in the Faculty of Science at The University of British Columbia (UBC) invites applications for an NSERC Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (CRC) Social Computing. Applicants must hold a full-time, tenure-track or tenured appointment as Assistant or Associate Professor in the Faculty of Science at UBC as this is an internal search. 

The successful candidate will be an emerging scholar who has achieved public and academic recognition for their research in the field of computer-supported cooperative work & social computing as it applies to inclusivity and human resilience in socio-technical systems. The candidate must have a PhD in a relevant field. The candidate should work in an area that leverages participatory design methods and multimodal interaction techniques in creating social, ethical, and human-centered technologies. The scholarly profile and proposed research must meet the criteria of the CRC program and demonstrate an excellent fit with institutional goals and the aims of the position. Canada Research Chairs are expected to maintain an outstanding program of research; to teach at the undergraduate and graduate levels; to attract and supervise undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral trainees; and contribute to service at the University and to the broader scientific community. Tier 2 CRCs are tenable for five years and are renewable once. At the time of nomination, applicants should be no more than 10 years from their highest degree. Applicants who are more than 10 years from earning their highest degree, but who have had career breaks such as maternity, parental, or an extended sick leave, may have their eligibility for a Tier 2 CRC assessed through the program’s Tier 2 justification process. All CRC nominations are subject to review and final approval by the CRC Secretariate. Please consult the Canada Research Chairs website: (https://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/ ) for full program information, including details on eligibility criteria. 

The Department of Computer Science (www.cs.ubc.ca), located on the UBC Vancouver campus, is one of the top 25 Computer Science departments worldwide with 70 faculty, 3000 undergrads, 240 grads and 10 postdoctoral research fellows.  Faculty members excel in both theory and methods research as well as collaborative research with domain-area experts.  Our faculty include a Canada 150 Research Chair, CIFAR Chairs, and Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada, ACM, IEEE, SIAM and the Sloan Foundation. 

The Vancouver campus of UBC is situated on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəyəm (Musqueam). UBC is a global center for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world. As one of the world's leading universities, UBC creates an exceptional learning environment that fosters global citizenship, advances a civil and sustainable society, and supports outstanding research to serve the people of British Columbia, Canada, and the world. 

In accordance with the 2019 Addendum to the 2006 Canadian Human Rights Settlement Agreement, UBC’s CRC Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Action Plan [https://research.ubc.ca/federal-research-chair-programs/canada-research-chairs/ubcs-commitment-equity-diversity-and] and pursuant to Section 42 of the BC Human Rights code, the selection will be restricted to members of any of the following federally designated groups: Indigenous Peoples, racialized people, people with disabilities, and/or women and gender equity seeking groups. Applicants to CRC positions are asked to complete this equity survey [https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6WJHol7SfPxRMu9]; as part of the application, and candidates from these groups must self-identify as belonging to one or more of the federally designated groups to be considered for the position. Candidates must also provide their name in the survey to be considered. 

Personal information is collected under the authority of sections 26(a), 26(c) and 26(e) of the BC Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The information you provide will be used to determine whether you qualify for participation in this restricted process, and to advance accessibility, equity, and fair adjudication in this process. Data will be collected by the Equity & Inclusion Office and only the names of those eligible for the search process will be shared confidentially with the search committee. All responses will be stored in a secure database. 

The application package should include: 

1. Curriculum vitae. 

2. Letter of interest describing the proposed research program (maximum 6 pages): 

• Executive Summary (100 words max.) – objectives of the proposed research program

• Context 

• Methodology 

• Engagement with research users and communication of results 

• Description of proposed training strategies 

3. The names and addresses (e-mail included) of three referees, who can speak to your research, teaching, administrative abilities, and service activities. One needs to be arms-length. 

The application package must be submitted to crc-recruiting-chair@cs.ubc.ca with the email subject line: CRC Tier 2 in Social Computing. The deadline to receive applications is July 2^nd, 2025. Successful applicants are expected to submit an application to CRC national competition in October 2025. 

Questions about the job posting can be directed to the selection committee chair, Dr. Joanna McGrenere, Department of Computer Science at crc-recruiting-chair@cs.ubc.ca

In assessing applications, UBC recognizes the legitimate impact that leaves (e.g. parental leave, leave due to illness, bereavement) can have on a candidate’s record of research achievement. These leaves will be taken into careful consideration during the assessment process. 

The University is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and equitable work environment for all members of its workforce. An inclusive work environment presumes an environment where differences are appreciated, recognized, and integrated into current structures, planning, and decision- making modes. Within this hiring process, we are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable process for all candidates (including but not limited to people with disabilities). To make a confidential request for accommodations, please contact Jessica McKay, Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Science at recruit-admin@cs.ubc.ca. If you have any questions regarding accommodations or accessibility during the recruitment and hiring process or for more information and support, please visit UBC’s Centre for Workplace Accessibility website at https://hr.ubc.ca/health-and-wellbeing/workplace-accessibility/centre-workplace-accessibility or contact the Centre at workplace.accessibility@ubc.ca. 

To learn more about how the university is working to create a more inclusive working and learning environment, see the Strategic Equity & Anti-Racism (StEAR) Framework’s goals related to recruitment and retention: (https://equity.ubc.ca/stear-framework-and-roadmap-for-change/)

With gratitude, we acknowledge that The University of British Columbia Faculty of Science and its departments are located on traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of First Nations Peoples and communities around the province. 

UBC welcomes and encourages applications from persons with disabilities. Accommodations are available upon request for all candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. 

UBC hires on the basis of merit and is committed to employment equity All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.