Assistant Professor – Game Studies

Date Posted: 09/05/2024

Closing Date: 11/06/2024, 11:59PM ET

Req ID: 39048

Job Category: Faculty – Tenure Stream (continuing)

Faculty/Division: University of Toronto Mississauga

Department: Institute of Communication, Culture, Information, and Technology

Campus: University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM)

Description:

The Institute of Communication, Culture, Information, and Technology (ICCIT) at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) invites applicants for a full-time tenure stream position in Game Studies to further our interdisciplinary commitment to critically examining the cultural implications of technology including their development and their broader use. The appointment will be at the rank of Assistant Professor with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2025. 

Candidates must have earned a PhD degree in media studies, communication, science and technology studies (STS), cultural studies, sociology, 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 departmental strengths. The successful candidate will be expected to pursue innovative and independent research at the highest international level, and to establish an outstanding, competitive, and externally funded research program.

Applicants must have a program of research and experience in Game Studies which may include the dynamics of game communities, locative media, analog games, game histories, streaming and live play practices, experimental and avant-garde games, augmented reality and the cultural politics of play. We encourage applications from a wide range of critical perspectives and methodologies including Indigenous ontologies, queer, feminist and Black technoscience. Having a research practice that aligns with a curriculum focused on practice and design would be important.

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 outlining current and future research interests, presentations at significant conferences, awards and accolades, demonstrated ability to attract external research funding, and strong endorsements from referees of international standing. 

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

Salary 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 Professor Sarah Sharma, ICCIT Director at [email protected].

ICCIT focuses on teaching and research excellence in its four undergraduate programs: Communication, Culture, Information and Technology, Digital Enterprise Management, Technology, Coding and Society and Professional Writing and Communication. The successful applicant will join a vibrant intellectual community of world-class scholars at Canada’s leading university. For information, please visit www.utm.utoronto.ca/iccit.

All qualified candidates are invited to apply online by clicking the link below. All application materials must be formatted with the naming convention LastnameFirstname_CV.pdf, LastnameFirstname_Writing.pdf, etc. Your CV and cover letter should be uploaded into the dedicated fields. Applications must include the following additional application materials in PDF/MS Word format listed below:

Attachment 1: Research statement and statement of contributions to equity and diversity (see details above)

Attachment 2: Writing Sample (ONE peer-reviewed, first- or sole-author scholarly work demonstrating significant contribution to the field of Game Studies; do not submit entire doctoral theses)

Attachment 3: Teaching Dossier (Max. 20 pages, to include a list of courses taught, sample syllabi, course evaluation data summary, and statement of teaching philosophy)

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, November 6, 2024. More details on the automatic reference letter collection, including timelines, are available in the candidate FAQ. Letters of recommendation should be addressed to Professor Sarah Sharma, ICCIT Director.

Submission guidelines can be found at http://uoft.me/how-to-apply. If you have any questions about this position, please contact [email protected].

To be considered for this position, all application materials, including reference letters, must be submitted online by November 6, 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].

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