Assistant Professor – Contractually Limited Term Appointment – Media History

Date Posted: 03/22/2024
Closing Date: 04/29/2024, 11:59PM ET
Req ID: 35739
Job Category: Faculty – Contractually Limited Term Appointment
Faculty/Division: Faculty of Arts & Science
Department: St. Michael’s College
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)

Description:

The Book and Media Studies program at St. Michael’s College in the Faculty of Arts and Science at the University of Toronto invites applications for a three-year contractually limited term appointment (CLTA) in the area of Media History. The appointment will be at the rank of Assistant Professor, with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2024, ending June 30, 2027.

Applicants must have earned a PhD degree in an area of media history 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 program strengths in media history and the cultural history of media; book history, print culture, and mass media; and the relationship between media and society.  The successful candidate will be expected to pursue innovative and independent research in the field of media history. 

The successful candidate will be expected to teach across a range of undergraduate years of study and to expose students both to historical breadth and specialist knowledge. They will also be expected to mentor and supervise students in advanced and independent research assignments. An expertise in one or more of the following research areas is considered an asset: the history of newspapers; magazines; radio; television; photography/photojournalism; letter-writing and reading practices; the telephone; media moguls throughout history and culture. 

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 provided through the teaching accomplishments, the teaching dossier (with required materials outlined below) submitted as part of the application, as well as strong letters of reference. 

Candidates are also expected to show evidence of a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and the promotion of a respectful and collegial learning and working environment demonstrated through the application materials.

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The Book & Media Studies program is open to undergraduate students in the Faculty of Arts and Science at the University of Toronto. The program is an interdisciplinary and historical investigation of the role of printing, visual culture, and various forms of media (including digital and electronic) in cultures and societies past and present. Subjects and topics covered include manuscript and printing history, advertising, censorship, histories and practices of reading, the development of mass media (radio, television, global telecommunications, social media, and the internet), and AI.

The Book & Media Studies program prepares students for potential graduate work in cultural and political history, in literary study, in cinema studies, and in the Book History and Print Culture and Information and Library Science programs at the University of Toronto. It also prepares them for potential vocations in journalism, publishing, editing, and communications.

The program is a participant in the Arts & Science Internship Program (ASIP) stream, which is available to students entering their second year of study and enrolled in the Book & Media Studies Major. 

All qualified candidates are invited to apply online by clicking the link below. Applicants must submit a cover letter; a current curriculum vitae; a research statement outlining current and future research interests; a recent writing sample; and a teaching dossier including a teaching statement, sample course materials, and teaching evaluations. Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. We seek candidates who value diversity and whose teaching and service bear out our commitment to equity. Candidates are therefore also asked to submit a 1-2 page statement of contributions to equity and diversity, which might cover topics such as (but not limited to): research or teaching that incorporates a focus on underrepresented communities, the development of inclusive pedagogies, or the mentoring of students from underrepresented groups.

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 the day after an application is submitted. Applicants remain responsible for ensuring that references submit recent letters (on letterhead, dated and signed) by the closing date. More details on the automatic reference 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 Professor Irene Morra at [email protected] .

All application materials, including recent reference letters, must be received by April 29, 2024.

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 [email protected] .