"Assistant Professor in Global Humanities"

The Department of Global Humanities at Simon Fraser University invites applications for a full-time tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor. The expected start date is July 15, 2026.

Qualifications

We seek a candidate for this appointment with expertise in the ancient and/or medieval religious traditions of East and/or South Asia, with research competence in at least one ancient language, and the demonstrated capacity to teach across cultural milieus, engage a diverse student body, and bring ancient thought into contemporary relevance.

Excellence in research and teaching are the primary criteria for this position. Candidates must have completed their PhD in Asian Studies, Religious Studies or a closely related humanistic discipline by the employment start date.

The candidate must demonstrate the following:

• A strong record of research productivity commensurate with their experience
• Establishment of, or potential for, a successful research program
• Potential for excellence in teaching at all levels of the undergraduate curriculum
• Potential supervision of graduate students in our MA program
• Potential for contributing to the Department, Faculty, University and the academic community, or demonstrated contributions to the academic community

Duties

The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to the University’s research excellence through a rigorous research program. The candidate will be expected to teach across the undergraduate curriculum (in person and online), including introductory courses in global humanities and religious studies and upper-division offerings in Asian religious texts and traditions, and to supervise MA students. A normal teaching load for a tenure-track faculty member is an equivalent of four courses per year over two 13-week semesters. Finally, it is expected that the successful candidate will contribute to the Department, Faculty, University, and the academic community through service.

Application Requirements

Applicants will submit electronically the following materials:

• A cover letter
• A full curriculum vitae
• A research statement
• A writing sample
• A statement of teaching philosophy that reflects on both undergraduate teaching and graduate mentorship
• One full syllabus from a previously taught course or a course that the candidate would like to teach

In addition, please arrange for three referees to submit confidential letters of reference to be sent to humusec@sfu.ca.

Application materials should be sent as separate PDF documents via e-mail to Dr. Paul Garfinkel, Chair of the Department of Global Humanities, c/o the Chair’s Secretary (humusec@sfu.ca). Inquiries about the search may be directed to Dr. Garfinkel (humchair@sfu.ca).

Review of complete applications will begin on November 23, 2025 and continue until the position is filled.

About the Department

The Department of Global Humanities is an interdisciplinary unit that includes specialists in Classics; Archaeology; Art History; Byzantine, Hellenic, Renaissance and Italian Studies; Religious Studies; Environmental Humanities; Asian, European and transnational literature and film; and Critical Theory. The Department is increasingly interested in non-Western traditions of thought and culture.

Faculty salaries at SFU are based on the salary scales bargained between the University and the SFU Faculty Association. The current salary ranges are based on the 2022-2025 SFU/SFUFA Collective Agreement. A reasonable estimate of the salary range for an Assistant Professor position is $104,700 – $133,322.

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