Assistant Professor - Late Antiquity and/or Early Islam
Date Posted: 09/22/2020
Closing Date: 11/30/2020, 11:59PM EDT
Req ID: 437
Job Category: Faculty - Tenure Stream (continuing)
Faculty/Division: University of Toronto Scarborough
Department: Department of Historical and Cultural Studies
Campus:University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC)

Description:

The Department of Historical and Cultural Studies at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) invites applications for a full-time tenure-stream position in the area of Late Antiquity and/or Early Islam. The appointment will be at the rank of Assistant Professor, with an expected start date of July 1, 2021, or shortly thereafter. The successful candidate will be joining a vibrant, multi-disciplinary scholarly community at UTSC and in the tri-campus University of Toronto with related regional, temporal, and thematic foci.

Applicants must have a Ph.D. in Classics, Middle East Studies, History, Religion, Art History, Archeology, or another, closely related discipline by the time of appointment or shortly thereafter. They must demonstrate a record of excellence in research and teaching  in the field of Late Antique studies and/or the study of early Islam both conceptually and methodologically. We are particularly interested in scholars with active, interdisciplinary research agendas focusing on one or more of the following thematic areas: Religious history, transnational connections, race, ethnicity, and identity, as well as postcolonial or decolonial approaches to the field. A significant element of applicants’ current and future research must look at Late Antiquity and/or early Islam in any region in the wider area from North and East Africa to the Indian Subcontinent, with evident attention to relevant sources and languages. The successful candidate’s research and teaching interests must complement our department’s strength in the study of mobilities of people, objects, ideas, and practices within and across imperial formations, and will share our commitment to non-Eurocentric, decolonial pedagogy. Candidates must be prepared to teach undergraduate courses in both Classical Studies and at least one other HCS undergraduate program, based on their thematic and/or regional specialization. They also must be able to contribute to one or more of the University of Toronto’s graduate programs, where they will hold a graduate appointment.

The successful candidate must be engaged in innovative and independent research of a recognized international caliber and will be expected to establish an outstanding, competitive, and externally funded research program. Candidates must provide evidence of research excellence as demonstrated by a research statement, a record of publications in top-ranked and field relevant journals or forthcoming publications meeting high international standards, presentations at significant conferences, and awards and accolades and strong endorsements from referees of high standing.

Evidence of excellence in teaching will be provided through a teaching dossier consisting of a teaching statement, sample course syllabi, and the teaching evaluations 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.

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The multidisciplinary Department of Historical and Cultural Studies is located at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC), a comprehensive university and a fully integrated part of the tri-campus system of the University of Toronto, one of the world’s leading research universities. Building upon the expertise of our faculty and the extensive resources of the university, HCS is uniquely positioned to nurture interdisciplinary and critical scholarship and teaching, drawing students from across the world and situated in one of the most diverse metropolitan regions in North America.

For more information about the Department, please visit http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/hcs. The successful candidate will join a campus that fulfills the University’s priorities (https://threepriorities.utoronto.ca/) while centring Inclusive Excellence in its own strategic plan https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/principal/strategic-plan. 

Alongside an undergraduate appointment at UTSC, the successful candidate will be appointed to an appropriate graduate unit at the University of Toronto best suited to their area of scholarly focus, including but not limited to Religion, Classics, Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations, History, Anthropology, or Art History. The incumbent will teach and supervise both undergraduate and graduate students and develop courses at all levels.

All qualified candidates are invited to apply online by clicking the link below.  Applications must include a cover letter, current curriculum vitae, a research statement that explicitly situates the candidate’s scholarship in relation to the study of Late Antiquity and/or Early Islam, a writing sample (up to 25 pages, single spaced), and a teaching dossier (including a teaching statement, two sample syllabi of relevant courses, and teaching evaluations). 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 1‐2 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.

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 once an application is submitted. Applicants, however, remain responsible for ensuring that references submit letters (on letterhead, dated and signed) by the closing date.

Submission guidelines can be found at: http://uoft.me/how-to-apply. We recommend combining attached documents into one or two files in PDF/MS Word format. Further inquiries about the position can be directed to Prof. E. Natalie Rothman, Chair at hcschair@utsc.utoronto.ca.

All application materials, including reference letters, must be received by November 30th, 2020. 

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

Diversity Statement
The University of Toronto is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons / persons of colour, women, Indigenous / Aboriginal People of North America, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.

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.