Assistant Professor - Near Eastern Archaeology

University of Toronto

The Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations in the Faculty of Arts and Science at the University of Toronto invites applications for a full-time tenure stream position in Near Eastern Archaeology. The appointment will be at the rank of Assistant Professor, with an anticipated start date of September 1, 2026.

Candidates must have earned a PhD degree in Near Eastern Archaeology 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 who specialize in the Archaeology of the Levant (from south-central Türkiye to northwestern Saudi Arabia) during the Bronze and Iron Ages (3,000 to 500 BCE), and whose research and teaching interests complement and enhance our existing departmental strengths.

The successful candidate will be expected to pursue innovative and independent research, and to establish an outstanding, competitive, and externally funded research program. Candidates must also 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, presentations at significant conferences, awards and accolades, and strong endorsements from referees.

Evidence of excellence in teaching will be demonstrated by teaching accomplishments, and the teaching dossier, including a teaching statement, sample course materials, and teaching evaluations or other evidence of superior performance in teaching-related activities submitted as part of the application, as well as strong letters of reference. Other teaching-related activities can include performance as a teaching assistant or course instructor, experience leading successful workshops or seminars, student mentorship, or excellent conference presentations or posters.

The expected salary range is $120,000 – 160,000 CAD per annum, depending on experience. Negotiations beyond this salary range will be considered for exceptionally qualified candidates.

The University of Toronto is Canada's largest university and is a leading international institution of research and teaching. The Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations encompasses the interdisciplinary study of the civilizations and cultures of the Near and Middle East from Neolithic times until the present, including their archaeology, history, mythology, religion and thought, art and architecture, and language and literature (Akkadian, Ancient Egyptian, Classical and Modern Arabic, Aramaic, Coptic, Ge’ez, Hebrew, Persian, Sumerian, Syriac, and Turkish). The Department’s programs provide students with a unique opportunity to study non-Western complex societies and civilizations. It is the largest of its kind in Canada and one of the foremost research institutes devoted to the Near and Middle East in North America.

All qualified candidates are invited to apply online by clicking the link below. Applicants must submit a cover letter; a current curriculum vitae; a research statement outlining current and future research interests; a recent writing sample; and a teaching dossier including a teaching statement, sample course materials, and teaching evaluations or evidence of superior performance in other teaching-related activities as listed above.

Equity, diversity and inclusion are essential to academic excellence as articulated in University of Toronto’s Statement on Equity , Diversity and Excellence. We seek candidates who share these values and who demonstrate throughout the

application materials their commitment and efforts to advance equity, diversity, inclusion, and the promotion of a respectful and collegial learning and working environment.

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 of an application being submitted. Applicants remain responsible for ensuring that referees submit recent 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 Paul Allain Beaulieu, Chair of the Department of Near & Middle Eastern Civilizations at nmcchair@utoronto.ca.

All application materials, including recent reference letters, must be received by Friday, April 3, 2026 at 11:59pm EST.