"Assistant Professor in Sound in Cinema and Media / Experiential Learning"

The Cinema Studies Institute and Innis College in the Faculty of Arts and Science at the University of Toronto invite applications for a full-time tenure stream position in Sound in/on Cinema and Media / Experiential Learning. This will be a joint appointment between the Cinema Studies Institute (75%) and Innis College (25%) at the rank of Assistant Professor, with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2026.

This search aligns with the University’s commitment to strategically and proactively promote diversity among our community members. 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 PhD degree in Cinema and Media Studies or a related area by the time of appointment, 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. The successful candidate will be expected to pursue innovative and independent research in sound in cinema and media, tackling questions related to sound, aurality, vocality, noise, speech, and music to advance discussions of film and media aesthetics, performance, infrastructure, technology, and accessibility across various national and transnational contexts. We especially welcome candidates researching sound cultures from diverse geographical, cultural, and historical perspectives. The successful candidate will also demonstrate a commitment to experiential pedagogical practices, which might include: technical and/or aesthetic instruction in sound practice; hands-on work with local cultural institutions; sound-based exploration of local environments; critical making of many varieties; digital humanities or research creation methods. The candidate will design and teach courses that integrate historical and contemporary approaches to sound in film and media, as well as enhance student learning and develop innovative curricular models that respond to the evolving nature of media studies.

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; and strong endorsements from referees.

Evidence of excellence in teaching will be demonstrated by teaching accomplishments, and the teaching dossier, including a teaching statement, sample course materials, and teaching evaluations or other evidence of superior performance in teaching-related activities submitted as part of the application, as well as strong letters of reference. Other teaching-related activities can include performance as a teaching assistant or course instructor, experience leading successful workshops or seminars, student mentorship, or excellent conference presentations or posters.

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The University of Toronto is one of the world’s top research-intensive universities and, with its multicultural student body and cosmopolitan setting, it offers the opportunity to teach, conduct research, and live in one of the world’s most diverse and dynamic cities. The Cinema Studies Institute is one of the largest and oldest units offering cinema studies courses in Canada (celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025). Innis College was founded in 1964 and is just about the smallest of the seven colleges affiliated with the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Arts & Science; it is known for its inclusive, friendly, active, tight-knit, and diverse atmosphere.

All qualified candidates are invited to apply online. Applicants must submit: a cover letter; a current curriculum vitae; a research statement outlining current and future research interests; a recent writing sample of no more than 10,000 words; and a teaching dossier including a teaching statement, sample course materials, and teaching evaluations or evidence of superior performance in other teaching-related activities.

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. 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 referees submit recent letters (on letterhead, dated and signed) by the closing date. 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 any questions about this position, please contact Denise Ing at cinema.studies@utoronto.ca.

All application materials, including recent reference letters, must be received by Monday, October 13, 2025.

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