Assistant Professor, Tenure Stream - Astronomy

The Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) invites applications for a full-time, tenure stream position in the area of Exoplanet or Planetary Astronomy. The appointment will be at the rank of Assistant Professor, with an expected start date of July 1, 2022, or shortly thereafter.

UTM is one of the three University of Toronto campuses and the incumbent will also be a member of the tri-campus graduate unit, the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics. Further, the successful candidate will have a close relationship with the Dunlap Institute, the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, and the Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences on the Scarborough campus.

Applicants must have earned a PhD in Astrophysics or a related area by the time of appointment, with a demonstrated record of excellence in research and teaching.

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. Candidates must provide evidence of research excellence as demonstrated by a record of publications in top-ranked and field-relevant journals meeting high international standards, the submitted research statement, presentations at significant conferences, awards and accolades, as well as strong endorsements from academic referees.

Evidence of excellence in teaching will be demonstrated through teaching accomplishments, the teaching dossier, and strong endorsements by referees. The teaching dossier should include a statement of teaching philosophy, sample course materials, and teaching evaluations or other evidence of superior performance in teaching-related activities submitted as part of the application. Teaching-related activities may include pedagogical publications, conference presentations, or posters, performance as a teaching assistant or course instructor, experience leading successful workshops or seminars, student mentorship, and outreach activities.

At UTM we are committed to fostering an environment of diversity and inclusion. With an enviably diverse student body, we especially welcome applications from candidates who identify as Indigenous, Black, or racially visible (persons of colour), and have experience working with teaching or mentoring diverse groups or students. Candidates must demonstrate 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, demonstrated through their application materials. Candidates, therefore, must submit a statement of contributions to equity, diversity, and inclusion, expanding on their experience with, knowledge about and their track record and plans for advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion, which might cover topics such as (but not limited to): teaching that incorporates a focus on underrepresented communities, the development of inclusive pedagogies, collaboration and engagement with, and service to, underrepresented communities, or the mentoring of students from underrepresented groups. If you have questions about this statement, please contact Lindsay Schoenbohm at [email protected].

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

All qualified candidates are invited to apply online by clicking the link below. Applicants must submit:

• a cover letter addressing their (1) research record, (2) research plans, and their (3) teaching interests and plans
• a current curriculum vitae
• a research statement outlining current and future research interests
• a teaching dossier that includes a statement of teaching philosophy, sample course materials, and teaching evaluations or other evidence of superior performance in teaching-related activities
• an equity and diversity statement as outlined above (1-2 pages)

Applicants must provide the name and contact information of three references. The University of Toronto’s recruiting tool will automatically solicit and collect confidential letters of reference from each referee once an application is submitted (this happens overnight). Applicants remain responsible for ensuring that referees submit letters (on letterhead, dated and signed) by the closing date.

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 Ekana Mc Alister, Assistant to the Chair, at [email protected].

All application materials, including reference letters, must be received by November 15, 2021.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Diversity Statement
The University of Toronto is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons / persons of colour, women, Indigenous / Aboriginal People of North America, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.

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].