Canada Impact+ Emerging Leader in Advanced Manufacturing

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver campus, invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position, “Canada Impact+ Emerging Leader in Advanced Manufacturing,” through the Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders program. We seek candidates with expertise in one or more areas of autonomous and smart manufacturing or materials processing, including in-process sensing and control; in situ characterization of material transformation; physics-based modelling and digital twins; ultra-precision and nanoscale manufacturing; robotic autonomy; and production system optimization. Application areas of interest include the integration of microelectronic, photonic and quantum devices; biomanufacturing; sustainable energy; and mobility, marine and dual-use production, all sectors in which British Columbia has established industrial strength, but we welcome candidates working in other areas.

The Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders program is a one-time initiative designed to support institutions in attracting internationally based Early Career Researchers to Canada. Emerging Leaders () will receive research funding and institutional supports to advance transformative research in Canada’s strategic priority areas, build partnerships across sectors and borders, and translate their research into applications and impacts that benefit Canadians and the world. Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders are six-year awards of $100,000 per year, renewable once for an additional six years, intended for exceptional emerging scholars who have the potential to become leaders in their fields. Applicants must be an early career researcher and be eligible to hold a full-time, tenure-track appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor at UBC.  In order for Emerging Leader awards to be successfully renewed for an additional six years following their initial six-year term, candidates will need to demonstrate not only their research excellence, but also the impact of their research outside the academy with effective partnerships, knowledge translation and/ or commercialization that provide social or economic benefits to Canada. 

Under the Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders program, nominees must be working and residing outside Canada when the associated Eddie Goldenberg Research Chairs of Canada award () was formally accepted (August 6th, 2026).

Applicants should hold a PhD in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field, as part of the UBC requirement, and either be registered, or be eligible to register as a Professional Engineer (PEng) with Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia (see ). They should have demonstrated ability to establish a successful research program, exceptional communication skills and evidence of or demonstrated potential for excellence in teaching.

The successful applicant will be expected to lead an independent research program, teach at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, supervise graduate students ( Masters and PhD), and provide service to the University and broader academic and professional community.

All of our work is shaped by our values: professionalism and integrity; scholarship and teaching excellence; commitment to students; partnerships and collegiality; initiative, innovation, and willingness to change; community, the environment, and sustainability.  We hold these values as an integral frame of reference to inform our decisions and actions at every level and in every situation.  The successful candidate will share these values.

The expected salary range for this position is $125,000 - $150,000 annually. This position is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package. For details, see . The successful candidate will be part of the Faculty Association collective bargaining unit.

The University of British Columbia's primary language of instruction and research is English. Accordingly, individuals are required to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.

We invite interested applicants to submit their cover letter, CV, research, teaching and diversity statements, and a list of 3 to 5 referees through the UBC HR portal by November 15, 2026 to ensure full consideration. Acceptance and review of applications will continue until the position is filled.  The successful candidate must start by August 1, 2027. For questions about the position, please contact Jen Pelletier via email at View email address on nature.com.

Details on Research Statement: Please include both information about your research experience and expertise and about your research plan as a new faculty member, including as appropriate current and potential collaborators (at UBC and elsewhere) and sources of funding. (Up to two pages).

Details on Teaching Statement: Your teaching statement should describe your teaching experience at any and all scales from one-on-one tutoring to small group tutorials to teaching large section courses. Also explain your teaching philosophy, including specific examples that have informed the evolution of that teaching philosophy. (Up to two pages).

Details on Diversity Statement: UBC's strategic plan identifies inclusive excellence as one of our key priorities. We welcome colleagues with the experiences and competencies that can contribute to our principles of inclusion, equity, and diversity throughout campus life. In your application, please include a statement describing your experience working with a diverse student body and your contributions to creating/advancing a culture of equity and inclusion on campus or within your discipline. (Up to two pages).

In alignment with UBC’s commitment to creating an equitable and diverse environment that fosters academic excellence, candidates are encouraged to complete a self-identification survey: .

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence

UBC’s Vancouver campus is situated at the tip of Point Grey on the unceded lands of the Musqueam people, surrounded by forest, ocean and mountains.  Vancouver is consistently ranked as one of the most diverse cities in Canada, and one of the most livable cities in the world.  UBC seeks to recruit and retain a workforce that is representative of Vancouver's diversity, to maintain the excellence of the University, and to offer students richly varied disciplines, perspectives and ways of knowing and learning.

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 accepted, recognized, and integrated into current structures, planning, and decision-making modes. Within this hiring process we will make efforts to create an inclusive and equitable process for all candidates (including but not limited to people with disabilities). 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 Center for Workplace Accessibility website at or contact the Centre at  View email address on nature.com . Job applicants requiring confidential accommodation or accessibility, or requests for adaptive measures to participate in the hiring process, please contact Sisi Zhou via email at View email address on nature.com.

UBC hires based on merit and is committed to employment equity . Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority.

UBC recognizes the legitimate impact that leaves (e.g., maternity leave, parental leave, leaves due to illness, leaves due to caring for family members, slowdowns due to chronic illness or disability, or COVID-19 impacts) can have on research achievement and commits to ensuring that leaves are taken into careful consideration during the assessment process. Candidates are encouraged to highlight in their application how career interruptions and personal circumstances have affected their careers.

Nominations are subject to review by the Tri-agency Institutional Programs (TIPS) Secretariat, and appointment as a Canada Impact+ Emerging Leader is conditional upon their approval. Consult the Canada Impact+ Emerging Leader recruitment  website for further details