Canada's former national science advisor is returning to the University of Waterloo to become the first executive director of the new Waterloo Institute of Nanotechnology, effective May 1.

His priorities include establishing a vision and research directions, identifying funding opportunities, setting priorities for the hiring of faculty and endowed chairs, developing cross-disciplinary linkages internally and with external partners, and overseeing construction of nanotechnology space within a $120-million quantum-nano centre.

Carty was national science advisor to the government and prime minister of Canada from April 2004 until last month. Prior to that he spent a decade as president of the National Research Council of Canada.