Assistant Professor - Game Studies

The Department of English and Drama at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) invites applications for a full-time tenure stream position in the field of Game Studies. The appointment will be at the rank of Assistant Professor, with an anticipated start date of July 1st, 2027.

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.

Requirements and Qualifications

Candidates must have earned a PhD degree in English, Media Studies, Comparative Literature, Cinema Studies, or a related area by the time of appointment, or shortly thereafter, with a demonstrated record of excellence in research and teaching in Game Studies. We seek candidates whose research and teaching interests complement and enhance our existing departmental strengths.

Candidates will have a dynamic humanities-based approach to research and teaching that focuses on storytelling and world-making in digital and analog games and virtual environments. We seek applicants whose work connects the critical analysis of games with the theory and practice of game design. We welcome applicants whose work engages games from critical perspectives including narrative theory, game history, literary studies, media studies, cultural studies, critical race studies, gender and sexuality studies, disability studies, critical technology studies, or related fields. A creative practice in narrative design would also be of value.

Candidates must provide evidence of research excellence which can be demonstrated through a record of publications in top-ranked and field-relevant journals or forthcoming publications that meet high international standards; the submitted research statement; presentations at significant conferences; awards and accolades; and strong endorsements from referees. Candidates are also welcome to submit relevant samples of creative work.

Evidence of excellence in teaching will be demonstrated through teaching accomplishments, the teaching dossier (including the required materials outlined below), and strong letters of reference.

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be expected to pursue innovative and independent research, and to establish an outstanding, competitive, and externally funded research program. In addition, the successful candidate will be assigned a teaching and service load.

The successful candidate will hold an undergraduate appointment at UTM and will also become a full member of the graduate faculty of the Graduate Department of English, housed on the St. George campus, which consists of colleagues from the University’s three campuses (UTM, U of T Scarborough, and U of T St. George). Duties will consist of research; teaching undergraduate courses at the Mississauga campus and graduate courses at the St. George campus; the supervision of PhD dissertations; and service contributions at both the undergraduate and graduate level. The successful candidate will also be expected to play a significant role in the development and administration of our Game Studies programs in future years.

Hiring Salary Range

The expected salary range is $120,000 to $140,000 CAD per annum, depending on experience. Negotiations beyond this salary range will be considered for exceptionally qualified candidates.

About Us

The successful candidate will join a vibrant intellectual community of world-class scholars at Canada’s leading university. UTM is part of the tri-campus University of Toronto, which actively encourages innovative scholarship, and offers a vibrant research community in Game Studies, a wide range of opportunities for collaborative and interdisciplinary research and teaching, and the excitement of working with a highly diverse student population. UTM is the home of the Syd Bolton Collection, one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of gaming-related research materials.

The Greater Toronto Area offers amazing cultural and demographic diversity, one of the highest standards of living in the world, and access to one of the world’s most innovative and dynamic game development industries. For further information on the UTM Department of English and Drama and on the tri-campus Graduate Program in English, see http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/english-drama/ and https://www.english.utoronto.ca/graduate.

For more information on working at the University of Toronto, please visit https://www.utoronto.ca/research-innovation/working-at-uoft.

At UTM we are committed to fostering an environment of diversity and inclusion. With an enviably diverse student body, we especially welcome applications from candidates who identify as Indigenous, Black, or racially visible (persons of colour), and who have experience working with, teaching or mentoring diverse groups or students. Candidates must demonstrate, in their application materials, an ability to foster diversity on campus and within the curriculum or discipline, and must show evidence of a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and the promotion of a respectful and collegial environment. Candidates must submit a statement describing their contributions to equity, diversity, and inclusion, which might cover topics such as (but not limited to): teaching that incorporates a focus on underrepresented communities; efforts undertaken to develop inclusive pedagogies, collaboration, and engagement with underrepresented communities; and mentoring of students from underrepresented groups. If you have questions about this statement, please contact Professor Jacob Gallagher-Ross, Chair of the Department of English and Drama, at edassist.utm@utoronto.ca.

Application Process

All application materials, including recent reference letters, must be received by November 2nd, 2026.

All qualified candidates are invited to apply online by clicking the link below. 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. Applicants must submit the following materials:

• a cover letter;
• a current curriculum vitae;
• a research statement outlining current and future research interests;
• a recent writing sample;
• statement describing contributions to equity, diversity, and inclusion
• a teaching dossier, including
  • a teaching statement,
  • sample course materials and teaching evaluations
• 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 within 48 hours of an application being submitted. Applicants remain responsible for ensuring that referees submit recent letters (on letterhead, dated and signed) by the closing date. Submission guidelines and details on the automatic reference letter collection, including timelines, are available in the candidate FAQ.

If you have any questions about this position, please contact Professor Jacob Gallagher-Ross, Chair of the Department of English and Drama, at edassist.utm@utoronto.ca.

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.

Apply now!