The Faculty of Arts at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada invites applications to the Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC) Program from a recognized international leader in the area of Democracy and Social Inequality, with a focus on one or more of the following areas: the dynamics of disenfranchisement in democratic countries; grassroots collective action and democratic revitalization; social movements, polarisation and extremism; the politics of race; Indigenous governance; for a non-renewable period of 8 years.

The successful candidate will complement Ryerson’s current strengths in Democracy Studies. With recent institutional-wide investments of over $9M in infrastructure and operations funding, the successful candidate will join a dynamic body of scholars focused on Democracy Studies, Democratic Engagement, Political Empowerment, Citizenship and Migrant Rights, Indigenous Politics, and Public Policy. The Faculty of Arts is home to the Jarislowsky Democracy Chair, the Democratic Engagement Exchange, a Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Biskaabiiyang and Indigenous Political Resurgence, the internationally-recognized Yellowhead Institute, the Young Workers’ Rights Hub, a large and highly sought after Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration, and a unique interdisciplinary PhD program in Policy Studies.

The successful candidate will be nominated by the University to the Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) Program by mid-October 2022, with decisions expected by the end of March 2023. Following notice of award and upon official acceptance by all parties, successful candidates will have up to 12 months to commence the Chair. The successful CERC will be appointed at the rank of Full Professor or Associate Professor with tenure, and their salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The Nominee will be expected to articulate, develop and advance an innovative, productive and impactful research program that contributes to Ryerson’s Scholarly, Research and Creative (SRC) activities and involves meaningful public engagement;
expand their leadership and influence within their academic discipline through professional activities such as editorships, awards, conference organization and other public and professional contributions; demonstrate a commitment to the training of students, researchers and scholars at all levels of study; and, collaborate within a multi-disciplinary community of researchers who vary with respect to theoretical orientations and levels of analysis.
 Research Chairs fall under the jurisdiction of the Ryerson Faculty Association (RFA) (www.rfanet.ca). The RFA collective agreement may be viewed here and a summary of RFA benefits can be found here.

Nominees to the CERC program must be at the rank of Full Professor, or Associate Professor expected to be promoted to Full Professor within one or two years of the nomination. Alternatively, if their experience is outside the academic sector, nominees must possess the qualifications necessary to be appointed at these ranks. The nominee must hold a full-time academic appointment at the nominating institution on the start date of the CERC award. 

In addition to the above requirements, the successful nominee will hold a Ph.D. (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline with documented research contributions; have demonstrated an innovative and internationally recognized program of research that advances current thinking in relevant research areas; have the potential for, and openness to interdisciplinary impact; and have demonstrated a strong, authentic and sustained commitment to equity, anti-racism, diversity and inclusion in their research and teaching activities.
Nominations are subject to review by the CERC Secretariat, and appointment as a Canada Excellence Research Chair is conditional upon their approval.

About Ryerson University

Located in downtown Toronto, one of the world’s most diverse and innovative global cities and on the territory of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee and the Wendat Peoples and the Mississaugas of the Credit, Ryerson University is Canada’s leader in innovative, career-oriented education. Urban, culturally diverse and inclusive, the University is home to more than 47,500 students, including 3,000 master’s and PhD students, 4,000 faculty, instructors and staff and nearly 227,428 alumni worldwide. Ryerson researchers are on a trajectory of success and growth across a number of research areas; their long-standing partnerships and collaborations with community, industry, government, and professional practice drive innovation that responds to real-world problems.

In August 2021, the University announced that it would begin a renaming process to reconcile the legacy of Egerton Ryerson for a more inclusive future. To learn more, please visit our page.

Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC) Program

The CERC program aims to recruit the best global talent to Canada in order to support the next generation of leaders as integral parts of their ambitious core research teams, so they can chart their own paths forward. The social and economic benefits of the program will impact Canadians and others around the world through the commercialization, knowledge translation and mobilization the research generates.

CERC awards are among the most prestigious and generous available globally. The University desires to attract top-tier, internationally-based scholars and researchers to Canada. Following a highly competitive and rigorous selection process involving peer review, CERCs are appointed for a period of eight years, and will have a value of $1,000,000 per annum over the award period. The Chairs will be awarded in alignment with the Government of Canada’s ST&I priority areas for the CERC Program. The ST&I priorities as identified by the Government of Canada are: 

- Healthy Canadians
- Innovative and Resilient Communities
- Sustainable Food Systems
- Clean and Resource-Rich Canada
- Technologically Advanced Canada
 The objectives of the CERC program are to strengthen Canada’s ability to attract the world’s top researchers, in order to be at the leading edge of breakthroughs in ST&I priority areas expected to generate social and economic benefits for Canadians; help Canada build a critical mass of expertise in ST&I priority areas; create a competitive environment to help Canadian institutions; in their pursuit of excellence in their research, attract a cadre of world-leading researchers; and, contribute to branding Canada as a location of choice for world-leading research, science and technology development, alongside other federal programs with similar objectives.

How to Apply

Applicants must submit their application online via the Faculty Recruitment Portal by selecting, “Start Application Process”. Applications containing the following, must be received by May 13, 2022:  

The application must contain the following:

- a letter of application outlining your interest in the position and what makes you a strong candidate overall as a researcher, educator, and community builder;
- a current curriculum vitae providing a clear sense of your scholarly and professional development via your education and your research activities and outcomes, but not limited to: peer-reviewed and non-peer reviewed publications, conference presentations, public talks, articles reaching specialist and non-specialist audiences, effective use of social media for research impact and networking; as well as your contributions to making your discipline a more equitable and inclusive discipline through committee work, community engagement, social media, and advocacy;
- a research statement discussing the significance, originality, and potential impacts of your current and developing research program (up to 3 pages), including your ability to attract research funding through fundraising efforts and the writing of grants, building international networks within and outside of the academy and enhancing the academic standing of the University through your work and connections globally;
- an EDI statement that includes your record of attracting and mentoring a diverse group of students, trainees and research personnel, and establishing an equitable and inclusive research environment. This should include a plan for establishing and maintaining a diverse core team (at the student, trainee, personnel and early-career researcher levels), and an environment that is safe and inclusive and allows all team members to reach their full research potential (e.g., through the recruitment and outreach strategy, equitable training opportunities, professional development and mentoring); and,
- the names and email contact information of three academic referees.

Indigenous candidates may include a community reference letter in place of one of the three academic references that speaks to their qualifications as an Indigenous scholar.

Ryerson recognizes that scholars have varying career paths and that career interruptions can be part of an excellent research record and recognizes the legitimate impact that leaves (e.g., parental leave, leave due to illness) can have on a candidate’s record of research achievement and that these leaves will be taken into careful consideration during the assessment process. Please consult the Canada Excellence Research Chairs website for full program information, including further details on eligibility criteria and application requirements. Search committee members are instructed to give careful consideration to diverse experiences and knowledge, and to be sensitive to the impact of career interruptions in their assessments.

The selection process will be governed by the requirements for recruitment and nomination process of the Canada Research Chairs Program, and comply with the Canada Research Chairs (CRC) Program’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Requirements and Practices. The selection process will follow the Ryerson University Canada Research Chair Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan, which commits the University to intentionally pursuing and implementing system-wide equity initiatives to embed diversity and inclusivity in all university structures, programs, policies, and practices.

The CERC program welcomes all nominees regardless of nationality and country of residence who meet Canadian immigration criteria. Researchers who hold a full-time academic appointment at a Canadian institution are eligible, but should they be nominated the University will be required to demonstrate the net benefit to Canada in moving their research from one Canadian institution to another.

Working at Ryerson

At the intersection of mind and action, Ryerson is on a transformative path to become Canada’s leading comprehensive innovation university. At Ryerson, we firmly believe that equity, diversity and inclusion are integral to this path; our current academic plan outlines each as core values and we work to embed them in all that we do.

Ryerson University welcomes those who have demonstrated a commitment to upholding the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion and will assist us to expand our capacity for diversity in the broadest sense. In addition, to correct the conditions of disadvantage in employment in Canada, we encourage applications from members of groups that have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples, Indigenous peoples of North America, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and those who identify as women and/or 2SLGBTQ+. Ryerson is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. To find out more about legal and policy obligations please visit the accessibility and Human Rights websites.

Dedicated to a people first culture, Ryerson is proud to have been selected as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers and a Greater Toronto Top Employer. We invite you to explore the range of benefits and supports available to faculty and their families, including access to our diverse faculty and staff networks. Visit us on Twitter: @RyersonU, @RyersonHR, @RyersonVPFA and @RyersonECI and our LinkedIn company page.

Contacts

Questions about the CERC program and Ryerson recruiting should be sent electronically to Dayle Levine (Manager, Institutional Projects, Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation, Ryerson University) at cerc@ryerson.ca. Specific research-related questions in relation to this competition should be sent electronically to Dr. Pam Sugiman, Dean, Faculty of Arts.

Disabled persons who would like to learn more about working at Ryerson University are welcome to contact Heather Willis, Accessibility Co-ordinator at hwillis@ryerson.ca. For those requiring accommodations during the recruitment process, please contact cerc@ryerson.ca for arrangements.

Indigenous candidates who would like to learn more about working at Ryerson University are welcome to contact Tracey King, Miigis Kwe, the Indigenous Human Resources Lead and the Founding Co-Chair of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Community Group at t26king@ryerson.ca. Candidates may also contact Riley Kucheran, Chair of the Indigenous Faculty Council at the University.

Black identified candidates who wish to learn more about working at Ryerson University are welcome to contact Shurla Charles-Forbes, Black Faculty & Staff Community Network at shurla.charlesforbes@ryerson.ca. Candidates may also contact Dr. Melanie Knight, Advisor to the Dean, Faculty of Arts on Blackness and Black Diasporic Education.

Faculty Job Postings