Assistant Professor of Information Science

Date Posted: 08/07/2025
Closing Date: 10/07/2025, 11:59PM ET
Req ID: 43240
Job Category: Faculty - Tenure Stream (continuing)
Faculty/Division: Faculty of Information
Department: Faculty of Information
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)

Description

The Faculty of Information at the University of Toronto invites applications for a full-time tenure stream position in Knowledge Systems, Infrastructures, Communities, and Cultures. The appointment will be at the rank of Assistant Professor, with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2026.

This search aligns with the University’s commitment to strategically and proactively promote diversity among our community members and to enact its response to Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Recognizing that Black, Indigenous, and other Racialized communities have experienced inequities that have developed historically and are ongoing, we strongly welcome and encourage candidates from those communities to apply.

Candidates must have earned a PhD degree in Information Studies, Library Science, Archival Studies, Museum Studies, Media Studies, Communications, Cultural Studies, History, Anthropology, Sociology, Social Sciences, Science and Technology Studies, History and Philosophy of Science, or a related area by the time of appointment, or shortly thereafter, with a demonstrated record of excellence in research and teaching.

We seek candidates whose research and teaching interests complement and enhance our existing Faculty strengths. The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Pursue innovative and independent research

• Establish an outstanding, competitive, and externally funded research program

Research Focus Areas

We seek applicants whose research engages questions of knowledge systems, infrastructures, communities, and/or cultures, including:

• Knowledge production and exchange in a variety of contexts

• Meaning-making and knowledge sharing in organizations

• Community-engaged practices producing new forms of knowledge, new histories, and new ways of knowing

Approaches could be philosophical, sociological, historical, experimental, aesthetic, and/or critical, and might engage qualitative and/or quantitative methodologies, such as:

• Ethnography

• Research-creation

• Interviews

• Action research

• Discourse analysis

• Hermeneutic research practices

We especially welcome candidates whose research draws on conceptual and theoretical resources in the areas of:

• Indigenous ways of knowing

• De-, post-, and/or anti-colonial epistemologies

• Epistemic injustice and its impact on knowledge structures and cultures of memory institutions

We welcome non-traditional demonstrations of research impact, including community engagement and creative professional activities. Research excellence will be evaluated commensurate with career stage, considering life trajectory and any special circumstances (e.g., career interruptions).

Teaching and Supervision

The successful candidate must also provide demonstrated evidence of readiness as a research supervisor, as they will be expected to:

• Undertake undergraduate and graduate research supervision and teaching

• Perform standard professional and administrative activities typical of a research-intensive university-level department

Demonstrated interdisciplinarity across various industries and academic disciplines is considered an asset. The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate excellence in teaching, including the ability and ambition to advance the Faculty’s highly ranked programs:

• Bachelor of Information

• Master of Information

• Master of Museum Studies

• PhD

Evidence of Excellence in Teaching

This will be demonstrated by:

• Teaching accomplishments

• Teaching dossier including:

  • Teaching statement

  • Sample course materials

  • Teaching evaluations or other evidence of superior performance in teaching-related activities

Other teaching-related activities can include:

• Performance as a teaching assistant or course instructor

• Experience leading successful workshops or seminars

• Student mentorship

• Excellent conference presentations or posters

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

About the Faculty of Information

The Faculty of Information is a research-led Faculty committed to educating the next generation of professional and academic leaders in information, who join us in transforming society through collaboration, innovation, and knowledge creation. We are guided by core values that include engagement with cultural, social, political, and ethical issues in information to benefit society; and transparency, accountability, and public responsibility.

Our key strengths include:

• Quality of interdisciplinary research

• Excellence of graduate students

• Strong connections across the university

• Committed alumni

Our strategic priorities are:

• Excellence through interdisciplinarity

• Impact through partnerships

• Equity through fostering inclusive environments

As part of the University of Toronto, the Faculty of Information offers the opportunity to teach, research, and live in one of the most diverse cities in the world. We seek candidates who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and the promotion of a respectful and collegial learning and working environment through their application materials. Candidates therefore must submit a statement of contributions to equity and diversity, which might cover topics such as:

• Teaching or research that incorporates a focus on underrepresented communities

• Development of inclusive pedagogies

• Mentoring of students from underrepresented groups

Application Instructions

All qualified candidates are invited to apply online. Applicants must submit:

• Cover letter

• Current curriculum vitae (CV)

• Research statement outlining current and future research interests

• Recent writing sample

• Statement of contributions to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility

• Complete teaching dossier, including:

  • Teaching statement

  • Sample course materials

  • Teaching evaluations or other evidence of superior performance in teaching-related activities

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 within 48 hours after an application is submitted. Applicants remain responsible for ensuring that referees submit recent letters (on letterhead, dated and signed) by the closing date.

All application materials, including recent reference letters, must be received by Tuesday, October 7, 2025.

For questions about this position, contact Melissa Szopa, Administrative Coordinator, Academic at dean.ischool@utoronto.ca.

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.

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.

In your application, please refer to Polytechnicpositions.com