Research Chairs

It takes the best to attract the best.

The Faculty of Engineering partners with government, industry, and other supporters to create faculty positions called research chairs. Research chair positions provide funding to attract and retain the best engineering researchers from around the world.

The Faculty of Engineering attracts more than $70 million in sponsored research funding from external sources annually, which directly impacts our more than 210 professors and 1,500 to 1,600 graduate students. The Faculty of Engineering is one of the most successful faculties across the ß÷ßäÉçÇø in attracting Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) funding and is a leader in securing partner-based NSERC programs nationally.

The Faculty of Engineering currently hosts:

  • 18 Canada Research Chairs (CRCs)
  • 3 NSERC Industrial Research Chairs (IRCs)
  • 21 ß÷ßäÉçÇø Engineering Research Chairs (UAERCs)
  • 12 Endowed Chairs and Professorships
  • 2 Foundation-Supported Chairs

Canada Research Chairs (CRC)

The aims to achieve research excellence in engineering and natural sciences, health sciences, humanities, and social sciences. They invest up to $311 million per year to attract and retain some of the world's most accomplished and promising minds.


  • Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
    Canada Research Chair in Laser-Plasma Based Diagnostics (Tier 2)

  • Professor, Mechanical Engineering
    Canada Research Chair in Assessment of Energy Systems (Tier 1)

  • Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
    Microbial Electrocatalysis for Energy and Environment (Tier 2)

  • Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
    Canada Research Chair in Quality Assurance of Intelligent Systems (Tier 2)

  • Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
    Intelligent Energy Systems (Tier 2)

  • Professor, Chemical and Materials Engineering
    Intermolecular Forces and Interfacial Science (Tier 1)
  • João Soares
    Professor, Chemical and Materials Engineering
    Advanced Polymer Reaction Engineering (Tier 1)

  • Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
    Canada Research Chair in Data Analytics in Subsurface Flow Systems (Tier 2)

  • Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
    Canada Research Chair in Sustainable and Resilient Wastewater Treatment for Reuse (Tier 1)

  • Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
    Fluids and Interfaces (Tier 2)

  • Professor, Mechanical Engineering
    Multiscale Modeling of Soft Materials and Interfaces (Tier 1)

  • Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
    Canada Research Chair in Intelligent Monitoring and Control (Tier 1)

  • Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
    Cooperative Transportation Systems (Tier 2)

  • Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
    Canada Research Chair in Digital Lean Construction (Tier 1)

  • Associate Professor, Chemical and Materials Engineering
    Canada Research Chair in Batteries for Sustainability (Tier 2)

NSERC Industrial Research Chairs (IRC)

The  aims to create collaborations between universities and partners in industry and the public sector. These grants are funded jointly by the IRC program and the partner organization.


  • Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
    Urban Drainage
    Partners: City of Edmonton, City of Calgary, Stantec Consulting Ltd.

  • Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
    Railway Engineering
    Partners: Canadian National Railway Company, Transport Canada, National Research Council Canada

  • Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
    Intelligent Transportation Systems
    Partners: TELUS, Stantec, IBI Group, ATS Traffic, City of Edmonton

university of ß÷ßäÉçÇø engineering research chairs (uaerc)

The ß÷ßäÉçÇø Engineering Research Chair (UAERC) Program is a competitive program within the Faculty of Engineering, aiming to foster collaborative partnerships with industry.


  • Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
    Emissions Reduction Technologies in Energy Transportation

  • Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
    Advanced Manufacturing Processes and Automation

  • Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
    Underground Infrastructure

  • Professor, Chemical and Materials Engineering
    Smart Automation

  • Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
    Environmental Biotechnology

  • Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
    Robotic Wall Construction Using Innovative Building Blocks and Processes for Enhanced Productivity, Safety, and Sustainability

  • Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
    Rock Fluid Interactions in Subsurface Energy Systems

  • Professor, Chemical and Materials Engineering
    Sustainable Oilsands Engineering

  • Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
    Neurorehabilitation

  • Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
    Development and Advanced Manufacturing of Next-Generation Materials

  • Associate Professor, Chemical and Materials Engineering
    Materials Innovation for Energy Infrastructure Transformation

  • Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
    Healthcare Robotics

  • Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
    Industrialization and Decarbonization of the Construction Process

  • Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
    Community-Based Wastewater Management Towards a Circular Economy

  • Professor, Mechanical Engineering
    Water and Energy Resilience Technologies

  • Professor, Chemical and Materials Engineering
    Pipeline Transport Processes

  • Assistant Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
    Intelligent Wireless Communication and Sensing

  • Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
    Smart Grids Automation

  • Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
    Energy Systems

  • Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
    Advanced Wood Construction

  • Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
    Resource-Efficient Buildings for Cold Climates

Endowed Chairs and Professorships

Endowed chairs and professorships are the most prestigious positions offered by the university and ensure the ß÷ßäÉçÇø continues to successfully compete for exceptional educators and researchers who bring a wealth of expertise. The Faculty of Engineering is currently home to chairs in a variety of fields of engineering research.


  • Chemical and Materials Engineering
    Mancal Professorship in Coal Technologies

  • Civil and Environmental Engineering
    MCAA Northern Region Chair in Masonry Systems

  • Civil and Environmental Engineering
    ß÷ßäÉçÇø Chamber of Resources Industry Chair in Mining Engineering

  • Civil and Environmental Engineering
    Ledcor Professor in Construction Engineering

  • Chemical and Materials Engineering
    Teck Cominco Chair in Mineral Process Systems

  • Mechanical Engineering
    George Ford Chair in Materials Engineering

  • Civil and Environmental Engineering
    City of Edmonton Chair in Urban Traffic Safety

  • Chemical and Materials Engineering
    Risk, Innovation, and Sustainability Chair

  • Mechanical Engineering
    Ernest and Gertrude Poole Chair in Management for Engineers

  • Mechanical Engineering
    Engineered Air Chair in HVAC Engineering

  • Chemical and Materials Engineering
    Glencore Chair in Mining and Mineral Process Engineering

  • Civil and Environmental Engineering
    Supreme Steel Professorship in Structural Engineering
  • Vacant
    Chemical and Materials Engineering
    William G. Magee Chair in Process Design

Foundation-Supported Chairs


  • Chemical and  Materials Engineering
    Campus ß÷ßäÉçÇø Innovates Program Chair in Interfacial Polymer Engineering for Oilsands Processing

  • Civil and Environmental Engineering
    Nanofibre Chair in Forest Products