Assistant Professor - Health Education and Promotion

Date Posted: 07/03/2024
Closing Date: 08/07/2024, 11:59PM ET
Req ID: 37515
Job Category: Faculty - Tenure Stream (continuing)
Faculty/Division: University of Toronto Scarborough
Department: UTSC:Department of Health & Society
Campus: University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC)

Description:

The Department of Health and Society (DHS) at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) invites applications for a full-time tenure stream position in the interdisciplinary area of Health Promotion and Health Education. The appointment will be at the rank of Assistant Professor, with an expected start date of September 1 or shortly thereafter.

This search aligns with the University’s commitment to strategically and proactively promote diversity among our community members (Statement on Equity, Diversity & Excellence). Recognizing that Black, Indigenous, and other Racialized communities have experienced inequities that have developed historically and are ongoing, we strongly welcome and encourage candidates from those communities to apply.

In addition, the University of Toronto Scarborough, campus home to the Department of Health and Society, is implementing its Strategic Plan: Inspiring Inclusive Excellence. Consistent with the values and objectives in that plan, we especially welcome candidates who self-identify as Indigenous or those who have lived experience in Black or other racialized (persons of colour) communities. This position is part of a cohort of similar faculty searches in Biological Sciences, Computer & Mathematical Sciences, and Management. New colleagues will have the opportunity to be connected with previous cohorts of faculty from under-represented groups, including those hired in the last four years in departments spanning the Humanities, Sciences, and Social Sciences.

Applicants must have a terminal PhD degree in a relevant discipline by the time of appointment, or shortly thereafter. Applicants must have a demonstrated record of excellence in interdisciplinary health-related research as well as excellence in teaching (both large lecture-style and smaller seminar settings). The successful candidate’s appointment will be to the Department of Health and Society, and a graduate appointment in a disciplinary unit will be arranged based on the candidate’s background and expertise as they are immediately relevant to health-related promotion and education, such as Geography and Planning, Information Science,  Public Health, or a related discipline.

We seek candidates whose research and teaching interests complement and broaden our existing departmental strengths in health equity. Areas of substantive specialization within health promotion and education must include one or more of the following: community mobilization, particularly with historically hard-to-reach populations; health care access and utilization of health services, especially among marginalized and structurally exposed populations in the Global South and North; health outcomes of racialized populations and immigrants; and health and disease, including pandemics. Preference will be given to those candidates whose research and teaching interests are grounded in methodological innovation, which may include participatory approaches to study design and implementation of research activities.

The successful candidate will be expected to pursue innovative and independent interdisciplinary research at the highest international level and to establish an outstanding, competitive, and externally funded research program. 

Candidates must provide evidence of research excellence as demonstrated by a record of publications in top-ranked and field relevant journals or forthcoming publications meeting high international standards, communication strategies that are accessible to the populations whom the research is intended to benefit, presentations at significant conferences, awards and accolades, the submitted research statement, and strong endorsements from referees of high standing.

The successful candidate will teach undergraduate and graduate courses in their area of expertise. Excellence in teaching will be provided through teaching accomplishments, the teaching dossier (with required materials outlined below) submitted as part of the application, as well as strong letters of reference.

Candidates must also show evidence of a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and the promotion of a respectful and collegial learning and working environment demonstrated through the application materials. Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. We seek candidates who value diversity and whose research, teaching and service bear out our commitment to equity. Candidates are therefore also asked to submit a 1‐ to 2-page statement of contributions to equity and diversity, which might cover topics such as (but not limited to): research or teaching that incorporates a focus on underrepresented communities, the development of inclusive pedagogies, or the mentoring of students from underrepresented groups.

The Department of Health and Society is home to a diverse community of students, teachers, and researchers. Members of our growing department ask cutting-edge questions about health, disability, illness, and disease for locally and globally and from a range of disciplinary perspectives. DHS faculty have affiliations and research collaborations with many units at the University of Toronto, including the Centre for Global Disability Studies, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Institute for Life Course and Aging, Mark Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies, and the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute.

The appointment is at University of Toronto Scarborough, which is a research-intensive campus with an interdisciplinary commitment, a multicultural student body, and a modern campus. The University of Toronto is ranked first in Canada and 21th in the world. As a growing three-campus university, we attract a diverse scholarly and collegial group of faculty from top universities around the world. The Greater Toronto Area offers exceptional cultural and demographic diversity. The University offers the opportunity to conduct research, teach, and live in one of the most diverse cities in the world.

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

All qualified candidates are invited to apply online by clicking the link below. Applicants must submit a cover letter; a current curriculum vitae; a research statement outlining current and future research interests; a recent article-length publication; a diversity statement; a teaching dossier including a teaching statement, sample course materials, and teaching evaluations.

Applicants must provide the name and contact information of three references. The University of Toronto’s recruiting tool will automatically solicit and collect letters of reference from each referee the day after an application is submitted. Applicants remain responsible for ensuring that referees submit recent letters (on letterhead, dated and signed) by the closing date. More details on the automatic reference letter collection, including timelines, are available in the candidate FAQ.

Submission guidelines can be found at http://uoft.me/how-to-apply. Your CV and cover letter should be uploaded into the dedicated fields. Please combine additional application materials into one or two files in PDF/MS Word format. If you have any questions about this position, please contact the Department Chair, Professor Michelle Silver at dhs-chair@utsc.utoronto.ca.

All application materials, including reference letters, must be received by August 7, 2024.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Diversity Statement
The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see http://uoft.me/UP.

Accessibility Statement
The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.

The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.

If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact uoft.careers@utoronto.ca.