Canada Excellence Research Chair in Foundations of Efficient Artificial Intelligence

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The McGill University School of Computer Science and Department of Mathematics and Statistics are seeking applicants for a nomination to a Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in the area of the Foundations of Efficient Artificial Intelligence. The CERC program supports Canadian universities in their efforts to build on Canada's growing reputation as a global leader in research and innovation. The program supports world-renowned researchers and their teams to establish ambitious research programs at Canadian universities. These awards are among the most prestigious and generous available globally.

Following a highly competitive and rigorous selection process involving peer review, CERCs are appointed for a period of eight years in values of $8 million or $4 million (over the entire award period).  These awards are not renewable.  The two award values recognize the varying costs of research within different research disciplines and aims to be inclusive of all areas of research.

Conditional on the approval of the nominee by CERC, the CERC Chairholder will be appointed as Associate or Full Professor at the School of Computer Science, the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, or both. The Chairholder will also be nominated to become a core member of Mila – the Quebec Institute for Artificial Intelligence. McGill and Mila offer opportunities for interaction with world-class researchers in machine learning, statistics, and mathematics. Application areas include robotics, social data science, bioinformatics, natural language processing, climate change, big data systems, communications, microelectronics and computer systems. Montreal is home to a very active AI community including industry-led AI research groups (Google, Meta, DeepMind, Microsoft, Samsung, ServiceNow, Borealis) as well as a thriving start-up community.

The CERC nominee will be an internationally recognized leader working on the foundations of AI, whose work has or could have an impact on the data or computational efficiency of machine learning approaches. The ultimate objective is to develop a next generation of AI approaches that are more sustainable and accessible. Relevant domains include mathematical and computational optimization, learning algorithms, statistical learning, brain-inspired learning paradigms, etc.

Applicants from the academic sector must currently be at the rank of Full Professor or be an Associate Professor who is expected to be promoted to Full Professor within 2 years. Applicants from outside academia should have qualifications and a track record that will enable them to be appointed at the level of Full Professor within 2 years. As per McGill University requirements, successful applicants will have a doctoral degree (or equivalent) in the relevant discipline.

Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) is a foundational principle in the CERC program. To achieve its research excellence-based objectives and outcomes, the program requires the participation and contributions of students, trainees and researchers from underrepresented groups. These groups include, but are not limited to, racialized minorities, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, women, and individuals from LGBTQ2+ communities.

The CERC nominee will thus be expected to possess the skills needed to recruit, teach, and mentor a diverse group of researchers and trainees, reflecting McGill’s commitments to equity and diversity as set out in core institutional documents including McGill’s Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Strategic Plan, Taskforce on Indigenous Studies and Indigenous Education,  Action Plan to Address Anti-Black Racism, and McGill Accessibility Strategy.  We welcome and encourage applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to engage productively with diverse communities.

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. CERC guidelines state that a researcher who is currently at another Canadian institution is an eligible candidate only if there is a demonstrable net benefit gained by moving the researcher from one Canadian institution to another.

Enquiries from potential applicants are welcome and will be treated in strict confidence. Enquiries can be directed to Prof. Mathieu Blanchette (Mathieu.blanchette@mcgill.ca).

Applications must be submitted on-line through Workday. Use a personal email address when creating an account in Workday. Applications should include (i) a cover letter describing their research program, (ii) a curriculum vitae, (iii) a teaching statement, (iv) names and contact information of 3 references.

Please submit your application within 30 days of this publication date (June 13, 2025).

McGill University is committed to equity and diversity within its community and values academic rigour and excellence. We welcome and encourage applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to engage productively with diverse communities.

At McGill, research that reflects diverse intellectual traditions, methodologies, and modes of dissemination and translation is valued and encouraged. Candidates are invited to demonstrate their research impact both within and across academic disciplines and in other sectors, such as government, communities, or industry.

McGill further recognizes and fairly considers the impact of leaves (e.g., family care or health-related) that may contribute to career interruptions or slowdowns. Candidates are encouraged to signal any leave that affected productivity, or that may have had an effect on their career path. This information will be considered to ensure the equitable assessment of the candidate’s record.

McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated equity groups to self-identify. It further seeks to ensure the equitable treatment and full inclusion of persons with disabilities by striving for the implementation of universal design principles transversally, across all facets of the University community, and through accommodation policies and procedures. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, Diti Anastasopoulos (diti.anastasopoulos@mcgill.ca).