Assistant Professor (tenure-track), Modern/Contemporary Korean Studies (Open Field)

This position is a part of the Association of the Academic Staff of the University of Alberta (AASUA).

Location - North Campus Edmonton. This role is in person

The Department of East Asian Studies of the University of Alberta is seeking to hire a tenure-track Assistant Professor in modern or contemporary Korean Studies in any field of the humanities, social sciences, or fine arts. Anticipated start date is July 1, 2024.

Responsibilities 

• Maintain an ambitious schedule of research publication in venues appropriate to the candidate’s discipline.

• Teach four class sections of Korean studies per academic year, in person on our Edmonton campus. Classes will be a mix of introductory survey courses and advanced courses in the candidate’s field of specialization. The successful candidate will be expected to teach one course per year on some aspect of Korea-Canada relations broadly understood, in a fashion appropriate to their field of specialization.

• Make yearly service contributions to the Department of East Asian Studies, to the University of Alberta, and to the scholarly profession at a rate appropriate to the rank of Assistant Professor.

Required Qualifications 

• Ph.D. in a topic focused on some aspect of modern or contemporary Korea, in any field of the humanities, social sciences, or fine arts.

• Evidence of an ambitious program of research, including publications or forthcoming publications in reputable scholarly venues.

• Native or near-native proficiency in Korean and English

• Experience in Canadian or Anglophone universities, either as a student, researcher, or instructor.

The Department

The Department of East Asian Studies was founded in 1982, and is one of the few departments of its kind in Canada that offers full four years in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean languages, along with courses in the histories, cultures, and societies of East Asia. Our diverse faculty includes scholars working in the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Fine Arts, and we are the only area studies department at any university in the province of Alberta. We have an award-winning Korean language program, as well as one Associate Professor specializing in premodern Korean literature.

Working at the University

Edmonton and the University of Alberta are situated on Treaty 6 territory, homeland of the Métis, and traditional meeting ground and home for many Indigenous Peoples, including Cree, Saulteaux, Blackfoot, Dene, and Nakota Sioux. Established in 1908 as a board-governed, public institution, the University of Alberta has earned the reputation of being one of the best universities in Canada based on strengths in teaching, research, and service. The University is home to a diverse and welcoming community of over 1,300 Indigenous students from various Nations and communities; 4.2% of undergraduates in the Faculty of Arts self-identify as Indigenous. In 2022, the University's Indigenous Strategic Plan was implemented, reflecting an important step in our institution’s commitment to reconciliation in post-secondary education and research, addressing the historical legacy of the residential school system and Canada’s colonial history in a meaningful and lasting way. The University's principles and actions and its EDI Strategic Plan are underpinned by respect for the dignity, rights, and full participation of all those who live, work, and learn within the university. This is underscored by the Faculty of Arts commitment to fostering a welcoming, equitable, and antiracist working through deliberate actions to address structural oppression and racism. The Academic Success Centre administers the University of Alberta’s Duty to Accommodate procedure for students, and works with students, instructors, campus units, Faculties and departments, community and government agencies, and on and off-campus service providers to coordinate students’ medical and non-medical accommodation needs for participation in University of Alberta academic programs.

Edmonton, a city of nearly 1.5 million people, is the sixth largest metropolitan area in Canada and has the second largest Indigenous population and the fourth largest Black population of any Canadian city. The Canadian prairies are the second most densely populated Black region in Canada. Moreover, Black people as a demographic are growing faster in Alberta than in any other region, apart from central Canada. Nearly 10% of Edmonton's population is of South Asian origin and 16% of East and Southeast Asian origin, with growing numbers of Edmontonians of Filipino, Latin American and Middle Eastern origins. The Edmonton public school system offers bilingual education for children in French, German, Hebrew, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), and American Sign Language. amiskwaciy Academy offers Cree as a high school credit and has started an Aboriginal study course in junior high school. At least two high schools, Amiskwaciy Academy and Victoria School of the Arts offer Cree and Blackfoot as a high school credit and has started an Indigenous Ways of Knowing program in junior high school.

How to Apply

To have your application considered, please select the Apply Online icon below and submit the following:

• Cover letter that includes highlights of the candidate’s profile (2 pages max);

• Curriculum vitae ;

• Teaching dossier that includes evidence of or potential for teaching effectiveness. This dossier should include at minimum: a) a statement regarding the applicant’s approach to, and experience in teaching Korean studies; and b) student evaluations of teaching, or else comparable evidence of teaching effectiveness (attach as one document under “Statement of Teaching/Research Interests);

• Writing sample , either a journal article or a book or dissertation chapter. For those in the Fine Arts, or with a research-creation focus, a portfolio can be substituted for a writing sample (attach under “List of Publications”)

Also arrange to have three confidential letters of recommendation sent to Thurraya Said at [email protected]

Review of applications will begin on October 31, with a targeted start date of July 1, 2024.

Inquiries regarding the position can be addressed to the Chair of the Advisory Selection Committee, Dr. Daniel Fried, at [email protected], using “Tenure-track Position Query” as the email’s subject.

As part of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program requirements, the university must conduct recruitment efforts to hire Canadians and permanent residents before offering a job to a temporary foreign worker. To ensure we remain in compliance with these regulations, please include the appropriate statement in your application "I am a Canadian Citizen/Permanent Resident" or "I am not a Canadian Citizen/Permanent Resident"

The University of Alberta is committed to an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from all qualified persons. We encourage women; First Nations, Métis and Inuit persons; members of visible minority groups; persons with disabilities; persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity and expression; and all those who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas and the University to apply.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. If suitable Canadian citizens or permanent residents cannot be found, other individuals will be considered.

Note: Online applications are accepted until midnight Mountain Standard Time of the closing date.