Description
JARISLOWSKY CHAIR IN NATURAL SYSTEMS AGRICULTURE FOR CLIMATE SOLUTIONS
Posting Title: Jarislowsky Chair in Natural Systems Agriculture for Climate Solutions Position number: 32721 and 37717
Type: Chair and Associate Professor or Professor
Department of Plant Science
Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences Posting Start Date: June 6, 2026 Posting Close Date: July 6, 2026
For more information please contact: Dr. Rob Duncan, Search Committee Chair [email protected]
The University of Manitoba invites applications for a Jarislowsky Chair in Natural Systems Agriculture for Climate Solutions, a probationary (tenure track) or tenured position at the rank of Associate or Full Professor. Salary and rank will be commensurate of qualifications and experience. The Chair’s program, which will be funded from a base capital endowment investment, was created by the Jarislowsky Foundation and the UM, and is for a 5-year term (renewable in accordance with the Chairs and Professorships policy and procedure). The tenure-track or tenured position will continue after the Chair term(s) without it being designated as a Chair. The position is expected to commence September 1, 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. The Chair’s base salary and benefits will be covered by the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences. The annual allocation from the Fund will be used to support the Chair stipend, teaching release costs, and research and knowledge extension expenses.
The Jarislowsky Chair in Natural Systems Agriculture for Climate Solutions will join a Department in the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences (FAFS). The Chair will be a leader who delivers excellence in scholarship, innovation, and knowledge translation in the area of climate-smart agriculture. The University of Manitoba’s decades-long research in this area has already developed significant knowledge on natural systems agriculture, 4R nutrient management, perennial crops breeding, crop-livestock integration, organic agriculture, conservation agriculture, crop rotation, intercropping, cover crops, and soil health that will all play a role in the development of climate-smart and regenerative agriculture. The Chair will empower the units in the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences to undertake original research in climate-smart agricultural systems and translate new and current knowledge into action by farmers and policy makers. The Chair will have full access to FAFS’ extensive research infrastructure and facilities, including the Ian N. Morrison Research Farm, a 406-acre facility located in Carman (70 km southwest of Winnipeg) and the Glenlea Research Station, a 1,000-acre facility (20 km south of Winnipeg), home to the National Center for Livestock and the Environment. The Chair will also have access to the Faculty’s extensive network of long term agronomic studies including Canada’s longest running organic cropping systems study (est. 1992) and to the world’s longest continuous monitoring study of N2O and CO2 emissions from an agricultural field at the Trace Gas Manitoba GHG research station (est. 2005). The candidate would also have the opportunity to collaborate with other Jarislowsky Chairs in Regenerative Agriculture.
Responsibilities:
The successful candidate will be expected to enhance their innovative and well-respected research program to develop climate-smart agricultural systems. The Chair will lead and facilitate original research and partnership efforts to help achieve the following goals: 1) foster knowledge translation initiatives that accelerate direct adoption of climate-smart agricultural best practices; 2) design and test more ambitious, transformative “Next generation” climate-smart agricultural practices; 3) advance plant and soil management practices that result in higher soil carbon use efficiency and superior long-term soil carbon storage; 4) enhance carbon sequestration through breeding and utilization of diverse cropping systems; and 5) develop and implement a functional, low energy use, circular bioeconomy through recycling and reusing of nutrients, and crop-livestock integration. The Chair will be expected to contribute to provincial and national strategies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Canadian agriculture. In addition to funding available from the endowment, the Chair will be expected to secure funding from provincial, national and international sources. The Chair will have reduced teaching and service loads in order to target these activities to areas related to climate-smart agriculture. This will involve targeted teaching and guest lectures and delivery of integrated systems themed courses at the graduate level. The chair will be expected to effectively engage with a range of stakeholders through community engagement and extension activities to mobilize knowledge, enable adoption, and drive change. The Chair’s distribution of work duties will include research (55%), extension and sector engagement (25%), and teaching (20%).
Qualifications:
The successful candidate must be a recognized leader in their field with a Ph.D. in agronomy, plant science, soil science, environmental sciences or related fields, and a proven track record demonstrating their capacity to lead an externally-funded research program to drive change in the area of natural agricultural systems with a strong knowledge-translation component. The successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to lead and collaborate in the design and testing of transformative climate-smart agricultural practices. The candidate will have a highly productive track record of published peer-reviewed articles, a strong record of knowledgetranslation, and effective mentoring and training of highly qualified personnel (undergraduate, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and research associates). The candidate will provide evidence of their teaching and mentorship excellence. The candidate will have a proven track record of extensive producer and industry consultation, engagement and knowledge extension. The Chair will be expected to have a demonstrated commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) as it applies to high quality research output, student training and collegiality.
The University acknowledges the potential impact that career interruptions and personal circumstances can have on an applicant’s record of research achievement. We encourage applicants to explain the impact of any such interruption(s) in their submission. These interruptions will be taken into consideration during the evaluation process.
The University of Manitoba is a driving force of innovation, discovery and advancement. Our momentum is propelled by our campus community – UM faculty, staff and students whose determination and curiosity shape our world for the better. Our teaching, learning and work environment is uniquely strengthened and enriched by Indigenous perspectives. With two main campuses in Winnipeg, satellite campuses throughout Manitoba, and world-wide research, UM’s impact is global.
Discover outstanding employee benefits, experience world-class facilities and join a dynamic community that values reconciliation, sustainability, diversity, and inclusion. We are one of Manitoba’s Top Employers and one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers. At the University of Manitoba, what inspires you can change everything.
The University of Manitoba is committed to the principles of equity, diversity & inclusion and to promoting opportunities in hiring, promotion and tenure (where applicable) for systemically marginalized groups who have been excluded from full participation at the University and the larger community including Indigenous Peoples, women, racialized persons, persons with disabilities and those who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, questioning, intersex, asexual and other diverse sexual identities).
If you require accommodation supports during the recruitment process, please contact
[email protected] or 204-474-7195. Please note this contact information is for accommodation reasons only.
Application materials, including letters of reference, will be handled in accordance with the protection of privacy provisions of "The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act" (Manitoba). Please note that curriculum vitae will be provided to participating members of the search process.
Applicants must apply to this University of Manitoba advertisement through the UM Careers portal for review and endorsement and clearly state the application position number in the cover letter. Applicants should upload their cover letter separately, their curriculum vitae separately, and then combine their research plan, teaching statement, personal statement and a list of three referees into a single PDF file and upload it under ‘Additional Documentation’ when applying in UM Careers. If you experience any difficulties accessing UM Careers, please contact Heather Wiebe, [email protected] for assistance.
Application materials should include:
- a cover letter outlining the candidate’s qualification and how they fulfill the above-listed qualifications
- a curriculum vitae (including evidence of significant research contributions to the area and description of impact)
- a two-page statement outlining the innovative five-year research and knowledge translation envisioned for the Chair program
- a statement on the candidate’s strengths and experiences in fostering Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
- a maximum two-page teaching statement that documents the candidate’s experience in and approach to training and mentoring diverse students and the candidate’s teaching philosophy including evidence of teaching excellence
- names and contact information of three referees (will only be contacted with permission of candidate)
