Gyan and Kanchan Jain Chair in Jain Studies – Associate Professor / Professor

Closing Date: 03/11/2024, 11:59PM ET
Req ID: 32995
Job Category: Faculty – Tenure Stream (continuing)
Faculty/Division: University of Toronto Mississauga
Department: UTM: Department of Historical Studies
Campus: University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM)

Description:
The Department of Historical Studies at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) invites applications for a full-time tenure stream position in Jain Studies. The appointment will be at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor and the successful candidate will also hold the position of Gyan and Kanchan Jain Chair in Jain Studies for a five-year term, renewable following a favourable review. This appointment will have an anticipated start date of July 1, 2024, or shortly thereafter.

Candidates must have earned a PhD in Religious Studies or a closely related area, with a clearly demonstrated record of excellence in research and teaching. The successful candidate must be recognized internationally as an outstanding and innovative world-class researcher whose accomplishments have made a major impact in the field of Jain studies, as commensurate with career stage. The Chairholder is expected to attract, develop and retain excellent trainees, students and future researchers; and have established a research program of the highest quality. The successful candidate’s research should complement the expertise already present in the History of Religions Program in the Department of Historical Studies (https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/historical-studies/programs/history-religions). Their research must focus on the study of Jainism and demonstrate engagement with the cultural, historical, and social contexts of the religious tradition, reflecting the breadth of Jain history and culture. We invite candidates to articulate how they incorporate and interpret recent methodologies in their research and teaching statements, as outlined below.

The successful candidate must provide evidence of excellence in both research and teaching. Evidence of excellence in research will be demonstrated by a record of sustained high-impact contributions and publications in top-ranked and field-relevant journals, presentations at significant conferences, and other noteworthy activities that contribute to the visibility and prominence of the discipline, as well awards, accolades and strong endorsements by renowned referees in the field. The successful candidate must demonstrate linguistic mastery in relevant languages of research.

Evidence of excellence in teaching will be demonstrated through teaching accomplishments, the teaching dossier submitted as part of the application, including a statement describing pedagogic strategies, sample course materials, and teaching evaluations.

The successful applicant must have the ability to teach a broad range of existing and new courses from the introductory to the advanced level as part of the undergraduate curriculum in the History of Religions Program at the University of Toronto Mississauga. The successful candidate will also teach graduate courses in the tri-campus graduate Department for the Study of Religion. Further information about the departments is available at https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/historical-studies/ and https://www.religion.utoronto.ca/.

As the inaugural holder of the Gyan and Kanchan Jain Chair in Jain Studies, the successful candidate will be expected to further a deeper understanding of Jainism at the University of Toronto Mississauga, in the community within the university, the Peel Region, and Canada more broadly, through teaching, outreach, and research activities. Support for outreach activities will be provided enabling the successful candidate to host events as well as research and teaching activities.

Salary and rank will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

At UTM we are committed to fostering an environment of diversity and inclusion. With an enviable diverse student body, we especially welcome applications from candidates who identify as Indigenous, Black, or racially visible (persons of colour), and who have experience working with, teaching or mentoring diverse groups or students. Candidates must demonstrate, in their application materials, an ability to foster diversity on campus and within the curriculum or discipline, and must show evidence of a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and the promotion of a respectful and collegial environment. Candidates must submit a statement describing their contributions to equity, diversity, and inclusion, which might cover topics such as (but not limited to): teaching that incorporates a focus on underrepresented communities; efforts undertaken to develop inclusive pedagogies, collaboration, and engagement with underrepresented communities; and mentoring of students from underrepresented groups. If you have questions about this statement, please contact the Department of Historical Studies Chair at historical.studies@utoronto.ca.

The successful applicant will join a vibrant intellectual community of world-class scholars at Canada’s largest university. The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is one of the most fascinating, diverse and “livable” places in the world.

All qualified candidates are invited to apply online by clicking the link below. Applications must be submitted online by March 11, 2024, and include 1) a cover letter, 2) a current CV, 3) two article-length samples of academic writing, 4) a statement of research interests, 5) a statement of contribution to equity and diversity (see above), 6) a teaching dossier to include the items listed above.

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 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 the Department of Historical Studies Chair at historical.studies@utoronto.ca .

All application materials, including recent reference letters, must be received by March 11, 2024.    

The University of Toronto has adopted the AAU Principles on Preventing Sexual Harassment in Academia, including the requirement that applicants release personnel information from prior employers regarding sexual misconduct. Full details and requirements can be found here.

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 uoft.careers@utoronto.ca.

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