"Assistant Professor in Indigenous Literatures"

The Department of English in the Faculty of Arts & Science at the University of Toronto invites applications for a full-time tenure stream position in the field of Indigenous Literatures. The appointment will be at the rank of Assistant Professor, with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2026.

Candidates must have earned a PhD in English or a closely comparable discipline with a specialization in Indigenous Literatures or a related area, by time of appointment or shortly thereafter. We seek candidates with working experience engaging with Indigenous communities, organizations, and/or institutions. Expertise in any of the following fields would also be advantageous: creative writing, critical race studies, diaspora and transnational studies, digital humanities, poetry. The successful candidate must have a demonstrated record of excellence in both teaching and research. Teaching and research skills will also need to be demonstrated in the context of interviews and during an on-campus scholarly presentation. The successful candidate will be expected pursue innovative, independent and/or collaborative research and to maintain an outstanding, competitive, supported and externally funded research program.

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.

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

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

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The Department of English offers the opportunity to teach and to pursue research at the highest level. We seek candidates whose research and teaching interests complement and enhance our existing strengths in the Department of English. The successful candidate will be joining a vibrant scholarly community at the University of Toronto committed to anti-racist and decolonizing research and pedagogy. For more information about the Department of English, please visit www.english.utoronto.ca.

All qualified applicants are invited to apply by clicking on the link below. Applications must include a cover letter, a current curriculum vitae, teaching dossier (including a statement of teaching philosophy, sample course materials, teaching evaluations, and evidence of support for Indigenous students), a research statement outlining current and future publication interests, and a recent substantial writing sample (e.g., article or book chapter).

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. A reference or references that can speak to the candidate’s involvement with Indigenous communities, organizations, and institutions would be an asset. The University of Toronto’s recruiting tool will automatically solicit and collect letters of reference from each referee within 48 hours after an application is submitted. Applicants remain responsible for ensuring that references submit letters (on letterhead, dated and signed) by the closing date. They should be addressed to Professor Naomi Morgenstern, Chair of the Department of English. 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 questions about this position, please contact Professor Naomi Morgenstern, Chair of the Department of English, at careers.english@utoronto.ca.

All application materials, including recent reference letters, must be received by the closing date of October 27, 2025.

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