Description
The Faculty of Science at the University of Calgary invites applications for a Canada Research Chair (Tier I) in Computer Science position at either the rank of associate professor (with Tenure) or full professor (with Tenure) level with a focus on Applied Cybersecurity and Privacy.
UCalgary is a national leader in the area of cybersecurity and we are punching well above our weight as a result of exceptionally strong scholars who have been hired in related areas. The Institute for Security, Privacy and Information Assurance (ISPIA) has successfully engaged its existing scholars in collaborative efforts since 2007 and this has given rise to exceptional international impacts on areas as diverse as number theory and cryptography, network security, access control, post-quantum cryptography, privacy and privacy-enhancing technologies, public policy and legal scholarship across most faculties at the University. Recent recruitments in several faculties have attracted expertise on fundamental challenges such as from quantum computation and artificial intelligence both as an attack source and as mechanism to defend. In addition, the establishment of the Canadian Cyber Assessment, Training and Experimentation Centre (CATE) have brought world-class cyber facilities capable of undertaking state-of-the-art research and training.
Our primary strengths in technological aspects of cybersecurity/privacy have been primarily scholarly, and we have recruited accordingly. We wish to expand our impact by developing strength in applied cybersecurity/privacy that will directly serve the private and public sectors. This is an exciting opportunity for the right individual to extend their impact beyond pure scholarship as they work with those who will benefit directly from innovations developed.
Alberta has made significant investments in cybersecurity and its investment in the post-secondary system has allowed the province to take on a key role in the country, and indeed the world, in this critical area. The demand for the University of Calgary's cybersecurity/privacy expertise continues to intensify, and opportunities for both research and industrial collaborations based on it is substantial. However, to take full advantage of these opportunities requires us to build capacity further. If we are to continue to help fill the expertise gap, amplify our leading role in the country, and take advantage of the collaboration opportunities with both government and private sector stakeholders, it is essential that the University continue to invest in critical areas applied areas of cybersecurity/privacy.
Canada Research Chairs Program
The Canada Research Chairs Program stands at the centre of a national strategy to make Canada one of the world's top countries in research and development. It invests approximately $311 million per year to attract and retain a diverse cadre of world-class researchers, to reinforce academic research and training excellence in Canadian postsecondary institutions.
Tier I Chairs are tenable for seven years and renewable once. Tier I Chairs are intended for outstanding and innovative world-class researchers whose accomplishments have made a major impact in their fields and who are recognized internationally as leaders in their fields.
Further information about the Canada Research Chairs Program can be found on the Government of Canada's CRC website (https://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/home-accueil-eng.aspx), including eligibility criteria.
The position provides 60% protected time for research with the expectation that the candidate establish a vigorous, sustainable, externally funded research program. The successful candidate will contribute to teaching and graduate student supervision within a dynamic and collaborative environment. Service to the Department, Faculty, University, and community is also expected.
Description of Expectations
Applicants must have a PhD (or equivalent) and be either at the rank of full professor or at the associate professor level nearing eligibility for promotion to full professor in the field of Computer Science or a closely-related field.
Appointment at the rank of Associate Professor requires evidence of an established academic program, with the individual being an internationally recognized scholar and senior associate professor, expected to be promoted to full professor within one to two years. It is expected that a record of high-quality research and scholarship suitable to the discipline or field has been achieved.
Appointment at the rank of Full Professor is reserved for those whose academic achievements would normally be recognized by their peers within the University and beyond to be of a calibre equivalent to international standing and as outstanding in their community, discipline, or field.
Preference will be given to candidates who are involved in (based on specific expertise):
- Addressing challenges faced by our critical infrastructure across the ten areas of key importance to Canada (i.e. energy, financial, health, etc.);
- Undertaking novel ways to create privacy-enhancing technologies that limit or reduce unwanted tracking or marketing;
- Applying novel secure software development processes to real-world systems; or
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Deploying cybersafe systems in environments where autonomy is the primary modus-operandi such as in operational technology and its interface to information technologies.
The successful applicant can be drawn from a number of different areas of expertise, but their research focus will be on how to apply their findings directly into the larger cyber ecosystem. Particular areas of expertise include:
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Systems security
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Software security
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Digital forensics
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Network security
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Critical infrastructure protection
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Military and policing environments
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Penetration testing / ethical hacking
The candidate must have strong interests in supporting the Department of Computer Science's research initiatives and training programs. The candidate is expected to contribute to the University of Calgary's Ahead of Tomorrow strategic plan (https://ucalgary.ca/about/ahead-of-tomorrow) to promote transdisciplinary scholarship and innovation and empower our students and communities to tackle society's big problems.
The successful candidate must provide evidence of a continuous, externally funded and well-established research program, outstanding publication record, demonstrated ability to lead research teams, outstanding teaching and graduate supervision record, and evidence of academic engagement in professional and other communities.
The University of Calgary adheres to the principles of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) and strives to evaluate research impact responsibly and inclusively by explicitly considering discipline-appropriate methods for demonstrating the quality, significance, and societal impact of a broad range of research contributions.
Description of Work Environment
Successful applicants will become faculty members in the Department of Computer Science. The Department offers a variety of programs:
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BSc in Computer Science
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BSc in Data Science
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MSc and PhD in Computer Science
- MSc and PhD in Computational Media Design
- Professional certificates and Master's in Data Science and Analytics
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Professional certificates and Master's in Information Security and Privacy.
The Department of Computer Science is in the Faculty of Science. The Department and Faculty are committed to supporting interdisciplinary research and teaching and we offer and support opportunities to improve research and teaching practice by working with people in other disciplines. The Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning also offers professional development and additional resources for those who are developing new ways to teach.
The Department of Computer Science is continuously improving our environment and culture to foster an inclusive environment where all department members can participate and collaborate to their full potential.
Janet Soles and Associates executive search has been retained to support this prominent recruitment. To explore this opportunity further or to apply, please send an email to [email protected] and include 'Cybersecurity' in the subject line of your email. Applications should include a cover letter and curriculum vitae.
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.
As an equitable and inclusive employer, 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 the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments ([email protected]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to People & Culture ([email protected]).
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. In this connection, at the time of your application, please answer the following question: Are you a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada? (Yes/No)
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 ii' taa'poh'to'p 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.
The university's commitment to the Indigenous Strategy is evident through the oversight of 18 Elders serving on the Circle of Advisors and the many unit-based circles working towards implementation of the strategy including the Faculty Advisory Circle and teams such as the Office of Indigenous Engagement, the Writing Symbols Lodge, and the Indigenous Research Support Team. Many Indigenous-based events and processes are impacting curriculum, programming and polices at the University of Calgary.
Entering 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 38,000 students, 600 postdoctoral fellows, and 1,860 faculty actively engaged in transdisciplinary discovery, creativity, and innovation across 13 faculties and schools, and supported by 4,700 staff, we deliver over 250 degree programs (undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees) and an additional 80 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 134 countries.
With over $589M 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 $1.8B. 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.
Posting Date: January 14, 2026
Closing Date: Posted for a minimum of 60 days with the possibility of extension until position is filled.
