Canada Research Chair, Tier 1

Professor

Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Critical Disability and Social Justice Studies

Date posted: August 30, 2023. Applications are closed.

Start date: January 1, 2025

We acknowledge and respect the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples on whose traditional territory the university stands and the Songhees, Esquimalt and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day. The University of Victoria is committed to the ongoing work of decolonizing and Indigenizing the campus community both inside and outside the classroom.

The Faculty of Humanities at the University of Victoria (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada), invites applications from external candidates for a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Critical Disability and Social Justice Studies.

The successful applicant will be nominated by the University for a CRC chair and, upon approval by the CRC Secretariat, will then be offered an appointment at the rank Full Professor. The anticipated start date is January 1, 2025. The home unit in the Faculty of Humanities will be determined based on best fit and consultation with the relevant unit. The CRC chair is tenable for seven years and is renewable once after successful performance review.

The successful candidate’s research program will contribute to the University of Victoria’s existing world-class interdisciplinary research and will expand expertise in the Faculty of Humanities relating to critical disability studies and social justice theories and praxis. Areas of particular interest to the Faculty include crip studies, queer theory and/or trans studies and disability, race studies and disability, disability arts and culture, and disability justice. Expertise in theoretical and applied aspects of the relevant field(s) is particularly welcome. The applicant is expected to maintain an active research program, to teach and supervise at the undergraduate and graduate levels and to build and expand the Faculty’s offerings on critical disability and social justice studies.

This individual will also be the inaugural Director of the Critical Humanities Commons, an interdisciplinary research and training hub. The successful applicant will foster interdisciplinary, collaborative and innovative links between Faculties, and they will mobilize their research networks to attract and build both local and international collaborations with the Commons and expand its reputation for excellence while continuing to pursue a vigorous and innovative program of research in the field of critical disability studies, with an emphasis on social justice.

In accordance with the University’s equity plan and pursuant to Section 42 of the BC Human Rights Code, preference will be given to members of the following groups: Indigenous peoples of Canada (defined as First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples), Black people, people with disabilities/disabled persons, racialized people or people of colour, and women and gender diverse peoples.

Candidates from these groups who wish to qualify for preferential consideration must self-identify in their cover letter.

The committee will review other applications if they do not find a suitable candidate in the preferential pool.

Requirements

Tier 1 CRCs are for exceptional researchers, already acknowledged by their peers as leaders in their field(s) of expertise. The successful candidate will have a completed PhD in disability studies or a closely related discipline. They will be an established, world-class researcher who has developed an original and innovative future research plan with the potential to attract external funding and international recognition. They will have the ability to attract and mentor graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. The candidate is expected to have a demonstrated record of excellence in teaching and student supervision, including efforts to create an inclusive learning environment for diverse students. Furthermore, the successful candidate will demonstrate the potential for collaboration with a diverse range of colleagues and will have strong national and international connections. Administrative experience is required, as is demonstrated capacity to bring in external grants. Finally, the successful candidate will provide evidence of knowledge mobilization and dissemination of their research to academic and community audiences.

Additionally, promotion and support of equity, diversity, inclusion and Indigenization are key requirements of the CRC program. The successful candidate is thus expected to have a demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and Indigenization.

Teaching duties will be negotiated with the home Unit within the Faculty. An interest in developing interdisciplinary courses on critical disability and its intersections with social justice is required. A track record of addressing equity, diversity and inclusion in the classroom or curriculum as well as demonstrated inclusive, non-discriminatory approaches to teaching, curriculum and assessment are essential. Also essential is the potential for excellence in teaching, mentoring and advising. The applicant will have demonstrated their ability to work collaboratively and collegially in an academic unit.

Additional information

The Faculty of Humanities

The Faculty of Humanities at UVic is home to vibrant disciplinary and interdisciplinary undergraduate, MA and PhD programs. The successful applicant will be appointed to a suitable academic Unit within the Faculty of Humanities (e.g., Gender Studies, English, History, Indigenous Studies, Philosophy). This applicant will be joining the Faculty of Humanities as the inaugural Director of the Critical Humanities Commons, an interdisciplinary research and training hub with a mandate to engage diversely and broadly with academic and public audiences. They will be expected to draw upon their established reputation and skill set to establish the Commons as a site of interdisciplinary research and public engagement excellence.

The Faculty of Humanities at UVic is concerned with the complex, ever-evolving questions of what it means to be human and what responsibilities we hold to the world and its future. We speak to issues of justice, creativity, thought and values across diverse peoples, places and times. We confront how we engage with our natural and constructed environments, both real and imagined. Our faculty uphold justice and diversity, and cultivate intercultural acumen. We foster an ethic of social engagement, intellectual openness, incisive critique and moral courage, leading us to recognize and challenge things we take for granted. We develop awareness, compassion, curiosity and courage. In so doing, we equip ourselves and our students to differentiate between what is right and what is easy. UVic Humanities aims to confront critical and difficult choices and to take responsibility for them. As a Faculty, we dedicate ourselves to excellence in research and teaching as well as to social, environmental and community responsibility. We collaborate in the spirit of innovation, collegiality and respect. We work towards decolonization and Indigenous, racial, gender and disability justice.

The Faculty of Humanities is home to the Humanities Computing and Media Centre, an internationally-recognized nexus of digital humanities excellence, and The Malahat Review, one of Canada’s leading literary journals. The Faculty has strong teaching and research relationships with the University Library and other Faculties across campus (e.g., Social Sciences, Science, Business, Law, Fine Arts, Engineering), as well as with many of the University’s research centers, such as the Centre for Global Studies, the Centre for Studies in Religion and Society, the Centre for Asia-Pacific Initiatives, and the Centre for Indigenous Research and Community-Led Engagements. Applicants are encouraged to consult the Faculty website for more information about programs, people and opportunities.

The Canada Research Chair Program

Additional information on the Canada Research Chair Program can be found on the program website. In accordance with the Tier 1 CRC regulations, Tier 1 CRCs are intended for ‘outstanding researchers acknowledged by their peers as world leaders in their field’. Nominees for Tier 1 Chair positions must be full professors or associate professors who are expected to be promoted to the full professor level within one or two years of the nomination.  

The CRC program does not place restrictions with respect to nationality or country of residence, but applicants are asked to indicate current citizenship status.

Faculty and Librarians at the University of Victoria are governed by the provisions of the Collective Agreement. Members are represented by the University of Victoria Faculty Association.

Contact information

Please include the following in your application package:

• A cover letter (2 pages max) outlining (i) your interest in and anticipated contributions to the position and (ii) the way(s) in which your lived experience as a member of (a) preferential equity group(s) shapes your work;
• An up-to-date curriculum vitae (20 pages max, shorter is welcomed);
• A description (2 pages max) explaining your research; this should make clear (i) the nature and substance of your international network, (ii) your experience leading large projects, and (iii) the ways in which this research experience intersects with your administrative experience;
• A description (1 page max) of your three most important research contributions to date (e.g., books, articles, poems, websites, podcasts, anthologies, public lectures, policy documents, etc.), outlining why you feel each is important (please include links, if relevant and/or possible);
• A description of your proposed CRC research program (4 pages max);
• A teaching statement (2 pages max), plus 2 course syllabi and evidence of teaching excellence and engagement with diverse students (10 pages max);
• The names of and contact information for three academic references; one additional community reference is optional, if relevant.

The University acknowledges the potential impact that career interruptions can have on a candidate’s record of scholarly achievement. We encourage applicants to explain in their application the impact that career interruptions have had on their record.

Please note that references will be obtained for long-listed candidates and that reference checks will be done, and background checks, including credential and degree verification, may be undertaken as part of this recruitment process.

Long-listed candidates will be contacted regarding any accessibility needs they may have for the interview process, which will proceed remotely, via Zoom.

Application deadline

Applications are closed.

Equity statement

UVic is committed to upholding the values of equity, diversity and inclusion in our living, learning and work environments. In pursuit of our values, we seek members who will work respectfully and constructively with differences and across levels of power. We actively encourage applications from members of groups experiencing barriers to equity. Read our full equity statement.

Persons with disabilities, who anticipate needing accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, may contact Faculty Relations and Academic Administration in the Office of the VP Academic and Provost at FRrecruit@uvic.ca. Any personal information provided will be maintained in confidence.