Assistant Professor - Indigenous Health & Indigenous Ecology

Date Posted: 12/04/2024
Closing Date: 01/14/2025, 11:59PM ET
Req ID: 39988
Job Category: Faculty - Tenure Stream (continuing)
Faculty/Division: Faculty of Arts & Science
Department: Centre for Indigenous Studies
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)

Description:

The Centre for Indigenous Studies in the Faculty of Arts & Science at the University of Toronto invites applications for a full-time tenure stream position in the area of Indigenous Health and Indigenous Ecology. The appointment will be at the rank of Assistant Professor, with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2025. 

Preference will be given to candidates who self-identify as Indigenous. Recognizing that there are a variety of terms that potential candidates may use to self-identify, the University uses the term “Indigenous” in this search, which forms part of the U of T Response to Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, to encompass the people of Turtle Island, including those who identify as First Nations, Métis, Inuk (Inuit), Alaska Native, Native American, and Native Hawaiian people.

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.

Candidates must have earned a Ph.D. in Indigenous Studies, Health Studies, Environmental Studies or a related field by the time of appointment, or shortly thereafter, with a demonstrated record of excellence in research and teaching. We seek candidates whose research and teaching interests complement and enhance our existing departmental strengths and speak to the health and wellbeing of Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island with a particular focus on the relationship between health and ecology and how knowledge of both areas connects with the broad themes of Indigenous Studies. The successful candidate will be expected to pursue innovative and independent research, and to establish an outstanding, competitive, and externally funded research program.

Candidates must provide evidence of research excellence which can be demonstrated by a record of publications in top-ranked and field relevant journals or forthcoming publications meeting high international standards, the submitted research statement, presentations at significant conferences, awards and accolades, a strong record in Indigenous research methodologies and ethical engagement and collaboration with Indigenous communities, organizations, and institutions and strong endorsements from referees. 

Candidates should have teaching experience in a degree-granting program, including lecture preparation and delivery, curriculum development, and development of online material/lectures. A demonstrated record of experience and engagement, including relationship-building, long-standing relationships, and work with community leaders and Elders/Knowledge Keepers, is required. Candidates must also demonstrate long-term experience and ethical engagement with Indigenous organizations and institutions and evidence of understanding the importance of consensus-building relationships. Engagement with Indigenous communities will be demonstrated through reference letters and other application materials. Responsibilities include teaching large and small undergraduate courses in Indigenous Studies including the department's science credit course which is framed around the ecology of the Eastern Great Lakes region. The Centre for Indigenous Studies is in the process of developing a graduate program and the successful candidate will have the opportunity to be fully engaged in the development and implementation of the program. 

Evidence of excellence in teaching will be provided through teaching accomplishments, the teaching dossier submitted as part of the application (with required materials outlined below), as well as strong letters of reference. 

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Building upon the expertise of our faculty and the extensive resources of the University, the Centre for Indigenous Studies houses an interdisciplinary program within the Faculty of Arts & Science and is uniquely positioned to nurture critical scholarship and teaching. We draw faculty members and students from across the world and are situated in one of the most diverse metropolitan regions in North America, on the traditional land of many Indigenous nations, including the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca (Haudenosaunee), and the Mississaugas of the Credit.  

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 writing sample; and a teaching dossier including a teaching statement, sample course materials, and teaching evaluations.

Equity, diversity and inclusion are essential to academic excellence as articulated in University of Toronto’s Statement on Equity, Diversity and Excellence. We seek candidates who share these values and who demonstrate throughout the application materials their commitment and efforts to advance equity, diversity, inclusion, and the promotion of a respectful and collegial learning and working environment

Applicants must provide the name and contact information of three references, including at least one who can address the candidate’s direct Indigenous community engagement. Applicants must arrange to have three letters of reference (on letterhead, dated and signed) sent directly by the referee via email to indigenousstudies.admin@utoronto.ca by the closing date. Reference letters should be addressed to Professor Susan Hill, Director, Centre for Indigenous Studies.

PLEASE NOTE: This search is not using the University's automatic solicitation and collection functionality for reference letters. 

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 indigenousstudies.admin@utoronto.ca. 

All application materials, including recent reference letters, must be received by January 14th, 2025.

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.