History – Canada Research Chair (Tier I) in Pluralistic Societies: Epistemic Pluralism and Ecologies of Knowledges

We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the traditional territories of the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta. The City of Calgary is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III.

The Department of History in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Calgary invites applications for a Canada Research Chair (CRC) Tier I in Pluralistic Societies: Epistemic Pluralism and Ecologies of Knowledges. The successful candidate will be appointed at the rank of Professor (with tenure) and will be nominated for a CRC Tier I. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2024, or a mutual agreed upon date.

The University of Calgary has been laying the groundwork for a Pluralism Strategy for several years and is currently seeking to recruit a global leader in Epistemic Pluralism and Ecologies of Knowledges. The knowledge domain has become a site of struggle and increasing demands for epistemic pluralism. At the centre of the struggles are calls for institutional transformation, recognition of diverse ways of knowing and redefinition of social relations. There is a resurgent and insurgent epistemological decolonization targeting intersectional inequalities concerning race, class, gender and other vectors of social exclusion; advocating the reclaiming of worldviews and epistemologies that have been pushed to the margins of modern societies; cultivation of new consciousness predicated on decoloniality and humanity in all of its diversity. The Chair will be a recognized leader with an active research program that:

• Addresses questions of epistemological decolonization, epistemic pluralism and a future underpinned by ecologies of knowledges. These issues have implications for structural, institutional, relational and personal aspects of societal change necessary for the 21st century.
• Examines the structural, epistemological, relational, and personal dimensions of the social that are shaping the ways in which scholars engage with diverse communities and their knowledges, and worldviews and cosmologies.
• Enables community participation in research and epistemic initiatives and the co-production of relevant knowledge.

Additionally, the Chair will play an important role in teaching and research supervision of students in the Department of History undergraduate and graduate programs. Service to the department, faculty, University, and community is also expected.

The Chair will have the opportunity to be part of a prolific and diverse research environment in the Department of History, with access to state-of-the-art core infrastructure.

The successful candidate is a full professor and an outstanding and innovative world-class researcher who has made a major impact in their field. They must show evidence of a well-established research program as demonstrated by a sustained record of high-quality peer-reviewed publications, peer-reviewed funding, distinguished invited presentations, and a superior track record in attracting and supervising graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. They should also demonstrate a strong service and/or leadership record and show evidence of excellent teaching. Qualifications required include a Ph.Din History or equivalent. The applicant must meet the criteria for a Canada Research Chair at the Tier I level. Further information about the Canada Research Chairs Program, including eligibility criteria, can be found on the Government of Canada’s CRC website.

Interested individuals are encouraged to submit an application online via the UCalgary Careers site. A complete application includes:

• Cover letter and curriculum vitae, including the name and contact information of three referees
• Brief description of the candidate’s research plan, including a description of how equity, diversity and inclusion has been incorporated into research design and research team (maximum three pages)

For more information and to apply: https://careers.ucalgary.ca/jobs/13186615-canada-research-chair-tier-i-pluralistic-societies-epistemic-pluralism-and-ecologies-of-knowledges

Questions may be addressed to:
Dr. Jewel Spangler
Department of History
Email: spangler@ucalgary.ca

Applications are accepted until September 8, 2023

The University of Calgary recognizes that candidates have varying career paths and that career interruptions can be part of an excellent academic record. Candidates are encouraged but not required to provide any relevant information about their experience and/or career interruptions to allow for a fair assessment of their application. Selection committees have been instructed to give careful consideration to, and be sensitive to the impact of career interruptions, when assessing the candidate’s research productivity.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy in line with the foundational goals of Eyes High, committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (equity@ucalgary.ca) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources (hrhire@ucalgary.ca).

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. In this connection, at the time of your application, please answer the following question: Are you a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada? (Yes/No)