Tenure-Track Assistant Professor in Child Studies

The Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition at the University of Guelph invites applications for a tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor level.

Responsibilities of this position will include:

• Teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels, largely within our Child Studies undergraduate major and within our graduate programs;
• Participating in undergraduate and graduate curriculum development; and
• Establishing, maintaining, and funding an innovative and productive research program with a focus on children, including graduate and undergraduate student mentorship and supervision.
• Service contributions to the department, the university, and the broader community that may include academic advising, participation in student and departmental, college, or University committees, and engagement in community outreach and professional service activities.

Required Qualifications:

• Completed PhD (or ABD) in education, child development, psychology, social work, sociology, or other family-related/human development-related field; candidates who are all-but-dissertation (ABD) and are close to completion of their terminal degree may be considered.
• Applied work experience in early years settings (ages 0-6 years).
• A strong record of research with professional or post-graduate experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE) who must meet the eligibility criteria for registration with the Ontario College of Early Childhood Educators (n.b., the successful applicant will be required to attain this designation to teach within the program);
• The ability to teach required courses within the Child Studies major including those that require RECE qualifications to teach (in particular, child practicum courses);
• Demonstrated strengths in teaching, advising, and/or mentorship at the undergraduate/graduate level;
• A demonstrated commitment to accessible and inclusive teaching for all students;
• A clearly articulated plan for an independent research program related to children; and
• A strong record of advancing Indigenization, equity, diversity, and inclusion in teaching, research, and/or creative activities related to working with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds (e.g., Black, Indigenous and/or people of colour, immigrant, refugee and precarious legal status, disabled, 2SLGBTQIA+, low socioeconomic).

This tenure-track faculty position is part of the University of Guelph’s Black and Indigenous Hiring Initiative. The University of Guelph seeks qualified individuals who identify as Black and/or Indigenous (First Nation, Inuit, Métis, Native American, Alaskan Native, or Native Hawaiian).

The Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition is a strongly interdisciplinary department that is housed in the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences. More information about the Department can be found at the website: www.uoguelph.ca/family/

Application Process
Interested applicants must create an account on https://careers.uoguelph.ca/ and apply for the advertised faculty position (Requisition ID #2295) by submitting the following materials (in an integrated Single PDF file):

1. a cover letter;
2. a curriculum vitae;
3. a brief statement of research (2 pages maximum);
4. a teaching dossier, which must include a brief statement of teaching philosophy (1 page maximum) and evidence of teaching effectiveness (e.g., sample course outlines and assessments, mentoring experiences, student and/or peer evaluations);
5. an Indigenization, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion statement that outlines any past service work, teaching, mentorship, or community engagement relating to these topics (2 pages maximum); and
6. the names and email addresses of three referees.

Please ensure that your cover letter directly addresses every required and preferred qualification listed in this job posting, including how you currently meet the RECE requirement or can in the future.

Applications should be sent to the attention of:

Dr. Tricia van Rhijn, Chair
Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition
University of Guelph
Guelph, ON N1G 2W1
frandept@uoguelph.ca

Date Posted: 03/27/2026
Deadline: 05/27/2026 or until a suitable candidate is found.