Assistant Professor - Contractually Limited Term - Italian Studies

University of Toronto; Toronto; On-site; CAD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent Canadian university is seeking an Assistant Professor for a contractually limited term appointment in Italian Studies. The role focuses on innovative research and teaching in the fields of Italian literature, culture, and media, contributing to curricular renewal at the undergraduate level. Ideal candidates will have a PhD and a strong record in research and teaching excellence.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated research excellence through publications and presentations.
• Evidence of excellence in teaching with strong endorsements.
• Ability to work in an English-medium academic context.

Responsibilities

• Pursue innovative, independent research and establish a research program.
• Contribute to curricular renewal and develop new courses.
• Teach undergraduate courses in Italian Studies.

Skills

Expertise in critical approaches to Italian literature, culture, and media

Native or near-native proficiency in Italian

Teaching experience incorporating experiential learning

Strong research publication record

Education

PhD in Italian Studies or related field

Job description

Assistant Professor - Contractually Limited Term - Italian Studies

Date Posted: 09/16/2025
Closing Date: 12/01/2025, 11:59PM ET
Req ID: 44053
Job Category: Faculty - Contractually Limited Term Appointment
Faculty/Division: University of Toronto Mississauga
Department: UTM: Dept. of Language Studies
Campus: University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM)

Overview

The Department of Language Studies at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) invites applications for a three-year full-time contractually limited term appointment in Italian Studies (Critical Approaches to Italian Literature, Culture, Media). The appointment will be at the rank of Assistant Professor, with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2026.

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be expected to pursue innovative and independent research and to establish an outstanding research program; contribute to curricular renewal, particularly through the development of new courses in Italian literary, cultural, and media studies, and by leading experiential learning initiatives. They will teach across the undergraduate Italian Studies curriculum at UTM.

We seek a scholar whose research and teaching complement and enhance our departmental strengths and who demonstrates a strong commitment to expanding access to Italian Studies by integrating critical perspectives and the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion into the teaching of language, literature, and culture.

Candidates must have earned a PhD in Italian Studies or a related field by the time of appointment, or shortly thereafter, and must demonstrate: 1) expertise in critical approaches to Italian literature, culture, and media, and a specialization in one or more of the following (or closely related) areas: feminist and 2SLGBTQI+ approaches to world literatures; Indigenous Italian Canadians; Black Diaspora in Italy; popular culture and/or cultural forms; 2) teaching experience that incorporates experiential learning and related High-Impact Practices; and 3) a record of excellence in research and teaching in degree granting program. Native or near-native proficiency in Italian and the demonstrated ability to successfully work in an English-medium academic context are required.

Qualifications

Evidence of research excellence 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 provided through teaching accomplishments, the teaching dossier (with required materials outlined below) submitted as part of the application, as well as strong letters of reference.

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Application Process

All qualified candidates are invited to apply online by clicking the link below. All application materials must be formatted with the naming convention LastnameFirstname_CV.pdf, LastnameFirstname_Writing.pdf, etc. Your current CV and cover letter should be uploaded into the dedicated fields. Applications should include the following in a single PDF file:

• a statement outlining current and future research interests
• two representative publications
• teaching dossier including teaching evaluations, sample syllabi of courses already taught, and a one-page teaching philosophy
• proposed syllabi for i) a 200-level introductory course in Italian literary, cultural, or media studies; ii) an advanced (300- or 400-level course) in the candidate’s area of expertise. Both courses should target students enrolled in the Department’s Specialist, Major, and Minor programs in Italian ( https://utm.calendar.utoronto.ca/section/Italian )
• Diversity Statement as per paragraph below

Diversity and Equity

At UTM we are committed to fostering an environment of diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from candidates who identify as Indigenous, Black, or racially visible, and who have experience working with diverse groups or students. Candidates must demonstrate, in their application materials, an ability to foster diversity on campus and within the curriculum, and must show evidence of a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and the promotion of a respectful and collegial environment. Candidates must submit a statement describing contributions to equity, diversity, and inclusion, which might cover topics such as teaching that incorporates a focus on underrepresented communities; efforts to develop inclusive pedagogies, collaboration, and engagement with underrepresented communities; and mentoring of students from underrepresented groups. If you have questions about this statement, please contact Professor Arsalan Kahnemuyipour at [e-mail].

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 after an application is 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.

All application materials, including recent reference letters, must be received by December 1, 2025. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Diversity Statement

The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.

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 [e-mail].