Position Title, Area/Discipline, Faculty, Department/School/Unit or Western Libraries Assistant Professor, Literatures and Cultures in Canada, Department of English and Writing Studies, Faculty of Arts and Humanities

Appointment Type and Rank: Assistant Professor (Probationary Tenure Track)

Number of Positions: 1

Posting Date: July 22, 2026

Closing Date to Apply: October 15, 2026 Anticipated Start Date: July 1, 2027, or as negotiated Position Profile

The Department of English and Writing Studies invites applications for a probationary appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor (tenure track) in the field of Literatures and Cultures in Canada.  Consideration of tenure and promotion to Associate Professor will occur at the end of the probationary period (maximum 6 years). This position is expected to start July 1, 2027, and salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Academic Expectations

The successful applicant is expected to have and maintain a nationally and/or internationally recognized research profile, to teach a 2/2 load that includes introductory courses and undergraduate and graduate seminars, and to be active in student mentorship, program development, and service on Department committees

Qualifications or Experience and Skills Required

Applicants must possess a PhD in English Literature (or a closely related field) by the time of appointment.  We seek candidates whose research and teaching interests complement and deepen our existing departmental strengths, including Asian Canadian, Black Canadian, Diaspora Studies, and Indigenous Studies. The successful applicant will have an outstanding record of research in the form of publications in peer-reviewed journals, monographs, awards, invited talks, or other scholarly or creative achievements, as appropriate for their career path and stage. It is expected that the successful applicant will have a record of success in securing funding and the credentials to apply for and secure Tri-Council funding. The Department welcomes applications from candidates pursuing a range of research methods, including critical, theoretical, and/or interdisciplinary approaches, digital humanities, community-engaged research, and research creation.

Western University, Department of English and Writing Studies, University College Rm. 2401

1151 Richmond Street, London, ON, Canada N6A 3K7 t.519.661.2111, ext.83403 f.519.661.3776 www.westernu.ca/english

We are also seeking a candidate with evidence of successful teaching and the ability to teach at all levels of the undergraduate curriculum in English, including the second-year Canadian Literature survey, and to propose and teach fourth-year seminars and graduate courses in their areas of expertise. The successful candidate will also be prepared to supervise undergraduate honours theses, MA Independent Research Projects, and PhD dissertations.

The successful applicant will be collaborative, collegial, community-minded, and keen to engage in the collective work of the Department. Effective communication and interpersonal skills, as well as strong evidence of leadership potential, are essential.

The Department of English and Writing Studies is committed to constructing a dynamic, supportive space that integrates principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, decolonization, and accessibility among all members. 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. The successful candidate will demonstrate potential for meaningful engagement with, and be inclusive of, students from equity-owed communities.

The successful candidate will be committed to a physical presence at Western University.

Compensation Details

$110,000-$125,000 - Salary to be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Affirmation Policy Statement

Western, like many postsecondary institutions in Canada, is moving beyond sole reliance upon Indigenous self-identification in its hiring processes. This is to safeguard against the use of incorrect, incomplete, or misleading information in circumstances in which a candidate has made a declaration of Indigenous citizenship or membership. Candidates who are invited for an interview or who are short-listed, and who have made a declaration of Indigenous citizenship or membership for material advantage at Western, including where required or preferred for the position, will be asked to have their declaration of Indigenous citizenship or membership affirmed through a relational accountability process, led by the Office of Indigenous Initiatives (OII), that is consistent with Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing. Please contact the OII directly for details on the affirmation processes: https://indigenous.uwo.ca/. The policy can be viewed at: POLICY 1.58 - Affirming Declarations of Indigenous Citizenship or Membership at Western University.

The Department of English and Writing Studies

The Department of English and Writing Studies has over 40 full-time members covering a wide range of historical fields and methodologies. Our offerings include longstanding English graduate and undergraduate programs as well as undergraduate programs in Writing Studies, Film Studies, Theatre Studies, and Medieval Studies. We have one of the oldest

Writer-in-Residence programs in Canada and a unique Student-Writer-in-Residence program. We also host a Chair in Creativity, which has brought writers such as Ivan Coyote and Sheila Heti to Western. For more information about the Department and its programs, please visit: www.uwo.ca/english.

Arts and Humanities

Founded along with the University itself as the Faculty of Arts in 1878 and based in the oldest building on campus, University College, the Faculty of Arts and Humanities is at the core of Western University. Hosting departments of Classical Studies, English and Writing Studies, French Studies, Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies, Languages, Cultures, and Linguistics, Philosophy, and Visual Arts, the Faculty’s teaching and research span the vital elements of our human experience–language, literature, art, writing, visual culture, the world of ideas and self-understanding–where we encounter our humanity most directly, in all its complexity and richness.

Western University

Western University delivers an academic experience second to none. Western challenges the best and brightest faculty, staff, and students to commit to the highest global standards. Our research excellence expands knowledge and drives discovery with real-world application.

Western attracts individuals with a broad worldview, seeking to study, influence, and lead in the international community. Since 1878, The Western Experience has combined academic excellence with life-long opportunities for intellectual, social, and cultural growth in order to serve our communities better.

With annual research funding exceeding $220 million, and an international reputation for success, Western ranks as one of Canada's top research-intensive universities. Our research excellence expands knowledge and drives discovery with real-world application. Western also provides an exceptional employment experience, offering competitive salaries, a wide range of employment opportunities and one of Canada's most beautiful campuses.

London, Ontario

The university campus is in London, Ontario, a city with a population of around 500,000, located midway between Toronto and Windsor. With an extensive park system, river valleys, tree-lined streets, and bicycle paths, London is known as the “Forest City.” London has a reasonable cost of living and hosts an international airport, galleries, theatre, music, sporting events, and excellent restaurants. For further information, see https://www.londontourism.ca/.

Mandatory Application Requirements

Applicants are invited to submit a complete application package, as a single PDF, containing the following:

• Application for Full-Time Faculty Position Form, found here: https://www.uwo.ca/facultyrelations/pdf/full-time-application-form.pdf
• Cover letter addressing how the applicant’s expertise fits this position and

complements or adds to the Department’s strengths

• Curriculum vitae
• Research statement, including plans for research at Western and Tri-Council grant applications (up to two pages)
• Statement on teaching and mentoring, including a sample course outline for English 2501E: Canadian Literature Survey (calendar description here), descriptions of past formal and informal mentorship experience, and plans for mentorship and training at Western (statement of up to two pages plus the course outline)
• Statement on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Decolonization, and Accessibility in

relation to the applicant’s academic activities (up to one page)

• Sample of scholarly writing of no more than 20 pages
• Three letters of reference sent directly from referees The closing date for applications is October 15, 2026.

Applications and inquiries about the position should be sent via email to the attention of:

Dr. Michael Fox

Chair, Department of English and Writing Studies Western University

1151 Richmond St London, ON, N6A 3K7

Email: english-recruitment@uwo.ca.

Positions are subject to budget approval. Applicants should have fluent written and oral communication skills in English. The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Western is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from women, members of racialized groups, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, and persons of any gender identity or gender expression.

In accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you require accommodations for interviews or other meetings, please contact Mirela Parau at mparau2@uwo.ca.

This position is an existing vacancy.

Posting Number: ARTS-EnglishWriting-2026-056