Associate Professor of Cosmology

Date Posted: 08/24/2023
Closing Date: 10/31/2023, 11:59PM ET
Req ID: 32613
Job Category: Faculty - Tenure Stream (continuing)
Faculty/Division: Faculty of Arts & Science
Department: Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)

Description:

The Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics (CITA), a national centre hosted in the Faculty of Arts and Science at the University of Toronto, invites applications for a full-time tenure stream position in the area of Cosmology. The appointment will be at the rank of Associate Professor, with an expected start date of July 1, 2024. 

Candidates must have earned a PhD degree in Theoretical Astrophysics or a related area, with a clearly demonstrated exceptional record of excellence in research and teaching. We seek candidates whose research and teaching interests complement and enhance existing strengths in the Institute with a focus on cosmology and/or the early universe. Candidates will have an established international reputation and will be expected to sustain and lead innovative and independent research at the highest international level and to maintain an outstanding, competitive, and externally funded research program.      

Candidates must provide evidence of research excellence which can be demonstrated by a record of sustained high-impact contributions and publications in top-ranked and field relevant journals, the submitted research statement, presentations at significant conferences, distinguished awards and accolades, and other noteworthy activities that contribute to the visibility and prominence of the discipline, as well as strong endorsements from referees of high standing.

Evidence of excellence in teaching will be provided through teaching accomplishments (including the supervision of postdoctoral fellows and graduate students), and the teaching dossier submitted as part of the application (with required materials outlined below), as well as strong letters of reference.

The successful candidate will have a record demonstrating scientific leadership, creativity and technical depth throughout their career, as evidenced in their application materials.  

Candidates are also expected to show evidence of a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and the promotion of a respectful and collegial learning and working environment demonstrated through the application materials.

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. 

CITA is the only national astrophysics theory institute in the world. CITA’s mission is to expand the frontiers of knowledge in all domains of astrophysics. CITA faculty help train the next generation of scholars at the undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral stage in Canada and abroad to attain the highest level of rigour and creativity. CITA is also actively engaged with multiple observational experiments aimed at testing theoretical ideas including (but not limited to) CCAT-p, CHIME/CHORD, CMB-S4, SDSS-V,  Spec-S5, and LIGO.    

The present complement of research staff in CITA includes 7 faculty and over 25 research fellows and a national network of faculty, postdocs, and students across Canada. The unique research environment at CITA is enhanced by close ties to the 23 faculty, 15 postdocs, and graduate students in the David A. Dunlap Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, the Department of Physics and the Dunlap Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, and with the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics and the Gravity and the Extreme Universe Program within the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research.

The successful candidate will join a vibrant intellectual community of world-class scholars at Canada's leading university. The University of Toronto offers a wide range of opportunities for collaborative and interdisciplinary research and teaching.  As a public University, the UofT further offers the excitement of working with a highly diverse student population and actively encourages innovative scholarship at all levels. The Greater Toronto Area offers exceptional cultural and demographic diversity and one of the highest standards of living in the world.  

For more information about CITA, please visit https://www.cita.utoronto.ca. 

All qualified candidates are invited to apply online by clicking the link below. Applicants must submit:

1. a cover letter;
2. a current curriculum vitae;
3. a research statement outlining current and future research interests;
4. one to three publications of which the candidate is particularly proud; and
5. a teaching dossier which includes a strong teaching statement, sample course materials, and teaching evaluations.  

We seek candidates who value diversity and whose research, teaching and service bear out our commitment to equity. Candidates are therefore also asked to submit a 1‐2 page statement of contributions to equity and diversity, which might cover topics such as (but not limited to): research or teaching that incorporates a focus on underrepresented communities, the development of inclusive pedagogies, or the mentoring of students from underrepresented groups.

Applicants must provide the name and contact information of three referees. The University of Toronto’s recruiting tool will automatically solicit and collect letters of reference from each after an application is submitted. Applicants remain responsible for ensuring that references 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. All enquiries about this position should be sent to facultysearch@cita.utoronto.ca using the subject line “Faculty Search”.

All application materials, including recent reference letters, must be received by October 31, 2023.

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 uoft.careers@utoronto.ca.