Kule Chair of Ukrainian Ethnography

The Department of Modern Languages and Cultural Studies at the University of Alberta invites applications for the tenure-track or tenured position as Kule Chair of Ukrainian Ethnography at the rank of Associate or Full Professor, effective July 1, 2020. Candidates will already hold the rank of Associate Professor or equivalent or higher at the time of appointment. The successful candidate will have a PhD or equivalent in Ukrainian Folklore or related discipline (such as Cultural Studies, Ukrainian Studies, Slavic Studies, or others), native or near-native proficiency in Ukrainian, an excellent record of significant high-quality publications, and demonstrated teaching excellence.

The successful applicant will demonstrate familiarity with the diversity and interdisciplinary nature of contemporary folklore theories, methods, and fieldwork techniques as well as knowledge of social, material, and oral Ukrainian traditions and cultures in the 21st century and their foundations in earlier times. They will have expertise in one or more of the following specializations: Ukrainian cultural studies, diaspora culture in Canada and other nations, digital humanities, archiving, ethnographic methods, general folklore and cultural theory, gender and sexuality studies, critical race studies, (post) coloniality, popular culture, material or visual culture, health humanities; intersectional approaches are encouraged. The successful applicant will be willing to collaborate with other colleagues in the Department of Modern Languages and Cultural Studies as well as the Kule Centre for Ukrainian and Canadian Folklore. The successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to the broader program in Ukrainian and Slavic Studies in language, literature, culture, media, or linguistics as well as to the interdisciplinary and transnational graduate program in Modern Languages and Cultural Studies. Fluency in another Slavic language, or in a Germanic or Romance language, would be an asset.

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 serves over 39,000 students in almost 400 undergraduate, graduate and professional programs (www.ualberta.ca). The Faculty of Arts is the oldest and most diverse faculty on campus and is one of the largest research and teaching centres in Western Canada (www.arts.ualberta.ca). The University’s main campus is located in Edmonton, Alberta’s capital city. The Edmonton metropolitan area is the sixth largest in the country with a population of approximately one million.

Edmonton and the University of Alberta are situated on Treaty 6 territory and are a traditional meeting ground and home for many Indigenous Peoples, including Cree, Saulteaux, Blackfoot, Dene, Métis, and Nakota Sioux.

Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications in accordance with the Faculty Agreement as per the negotiated salary scales: https://www.ualberta.ca/faculty-and-staff/pay-tax-information/salary-scales. This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, which can be viewed at https://www.ualberta.ca/faculty-and-staff.


Apply online by submitting:

  • a cover letter that includes highlights of the candidate’s profile and the names of the three referees (see below for more information)
  • a curriculum vitae (CV)
  • research statement that outlines the applicant’s main areas of current and future research (submit under “Research Plan”)
  • a writing sample (submit under “List of Publications”)
  • teaching dossier that includes a brief teaching philosophy, evidence of (potential for) teaching effectiveness, and sample course outline(s) (submit as an attachment under "Statement of Teaching/Research Interests")

Applicants are further expected to contact their referees and arrange to have them send their letters of reference addressed to the Chair of the department, Dr. Carrie Smith, and sent to Paola Bravo (paola.bravo@ualberta.ca). Please enter “Reference Letter – KULE CHAIR IN UKRAINIAN ETHNOGRAPHY" in the subject line.

To assist the University in complying with mandatory reporting requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (R203 (3)(e), please include the first digit of your Canadian Social Insurance Number at the bottom of your cover letter.  If you do not have a Canadian Social Insurance Number, please indicate this at the bottom of your cover letter.

Review of applications will start on December 1, 2019. Only those applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

Link: https://www.careers.ualberta.ca/Competition/A110839251/