Retired astronaut Chris Hadfield will impart some of the wisdom he gleaned in more than 25 years as an air force pilot and astronaut to students at the University of Waterloo, where he will join the faculty as a professor of aviation next fall.

In a statement, the university said Hadfield will take on “some teaching and advising responsibilities in aviation and related programs” beginning in the fall of 2014.

Before that, he will complete his participation in a research study on why astronauts are prone to fainting spells when they return to earth with one of the school’s researchers, Prof. Richard Hughson.

Hadfield will also deliver a guest lecture at the university on Dec. 3.

“We are delighted to welcome Chris Hadfield to the University of Waterloo as a member of our faculty,” Feridun Hamdullahpur, president and vice-chancellor of Waterloo, said in a statement.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for our students and researchers to work with, and learn from, one of the greatest Canadians of recent times.”

Hadfield will be “cross-appointed” to the university’s faculties of science, environment and applied health sciences.

The university points out that Hadfield has a long-standing connection to the school, including postgraduate work in the faculty of engineering on aircraft fuel pump design. He was also the keynote speaker when the school launched its aviation program in June 2007.

Hadfield, 53, retired from the Canadian Space Agency in May after his most recent trip to space, which included a stint as the first Canadian commander of the International Space Station.

He went from tens of thousands of Twitter followers to more than one million by the end of his mission, after his tweets of photographs of space garnered worldwide attention.

Over the summer, it was announced that Hadfield will publish a book this fall entitled: “An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth.”

He also received a meritorious service medal for his accomplishments during his last mission, which marked his third time in space. It is the civilian version of the Meritorious Service Cross, which he also holds.