Assistant, Associate or Full Professor, Artificial Intelligence & Indigeneity

Media and Technology Studies at the University of Alberta invites applications for a tenure-track or tenured position at the rank of Assistant, Associate or Full Professor in Artificial Intelligence & Indigeneity, with an anticipated starting date of July 1, 2024.

Position Summary

We welcome candidates with specialization in an area of Artificial Intelligence & Indigeneity that complements and broadens our current strengths in research and teaching. We particularly encourage candidates with research programs in areas such as Indigenous epistemologies, digital humanities, software studies and emergent media theories, with special emphasis on how these areas intersect with decolonization, artificial intelligence understood broadly, and Indigenous research and knowledge.

Diverse methodological and theoretical approaches as well as engagement with Indigenous knowledge systems, languages or methodologies are required. Demonstrated experience leading research and/or research creation projects at the intersection of AI and Indigenous research would be an asset. The successful candidate will support the Faculty of Arts in its efforts to decolonize and indigenize research and teaching. First Nations, Métis, and Inuit scholars are encouraged to apply, along with Indigenous scholars from any geographical region. Applicants should self-identify and are encouraged to demonstrate Indigenous community connections.

Successful candidates will be nominated for a Canada CIFAR Artificial Intelligence (CCAI) Chair by the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii). Amii is one of three institutes named in the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy and represents more than 35 artificial intelligence (AI) & machine learning (ML) researchers at the U of A, as well as CCAI Chairs at post-secondary institutions across Western Canada. The CCAI Chair includes research funding for at least five years.

This position is part of a University of Alberta cluster hire in the areas of research strength that include health, energy and Indigenous initiatives in health and humanities, among others. The University of Alberta is world-renowned for its strength in AI; this cohort will bring together and foster the next generation of scientists leading the development of machine learning for societal benefit, fulfilling Amii’s mandate of AI for good and all 

Minimum Qualifications

• A terminal degree (PhD or MFA/MDes or equivalent) in a relevant field
• An innovative and robust research program in the field of AI, demonstrated by a strong record of publications and presentations in important venues, or a record of diverse research experiences, such as research creation or community-engaged scholarship;
• A track-record of successful research funding (especially in the case of applicants who already hold a tenure-track position);
• A clear plan for future research;
• Excellence in teaching and mentorship suitable to the candidate’s career stage, as demonstrated by a teaching portfolio that includes teaching evaluations, a statement of the candidate’s approach to teaching, and sample course outlines.

Unit/Faculty Summary

Media and Technology Studies (MTS) is an interdisciplinary unit within the Faculty of Arts, with growing undergraduate programs in Media Studies; Science, Technology & Society; and Computer Game Design, as well as a graduate program in Digital Humanities and an MA in Communications and Technology. MTS offers a vibrant and supportive work environment for new and established academics, with outstanding support for research and teaching.

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). Research programs with connections to Indigenous research across the Faculty include the Canada Research Chair in Comparative Indigenous Feminist Studies, the Institute for Prairie and Indigenous Archeology, the Intersections of Gender (IG) signature area, and the Canadian Literature Centre/Centre de littérature canadienne (CLC). The University is also home to the Faculty of Native Studies as well as the Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Peoples, Technoscience, and Society, the Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Governance, and the Situated Knowledges, Indigenous Peoples and Place (SKIPP) signature area.

Working at the University of Alberta

The University of Alberta (www.ualberta.ca) is situated in the centre of Edmonton on Amiskwaciy/Beaver Hills in Treaty 6 territory, also the traditional meeting ground and home for many Indigenous Peoples, including the Cree, Saulteaux, Blackfoot, Dene, Métis, and Nakota Sioux.

Established in 1908 as a board-governed, public institution, the University of Alberta is one of the leading Universities in Canada based on the reputation and strength in service, teaching and research. The main campus of the University of Alberta is located in Alberta’s capital, the City of Edmonton, The Edmonton metropolitan area is the sixth largest in Canada, with a population of nearly 1.5 million. Edmonton is home to Canada's second-largest urban Indigenous population, with over 76,000 residents who identify as First Nations, Inuit, or Métis. It has the second largest Indigenous population and the fourth largest Black population of any Canadian city. 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.

The University of Alberta serves over 39,000 students in almost 400 undergraduate, graduate and professional programs. The University is home to a diverse and welcoming community of over 1,300 Indigenous students from various Nations and communities. 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. 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.

How to Apply

To have your application considered, please click here and submit the following:

• cover letter that includes highlights of the candidate’s profile (2 pages max);
  • Please note: Letters of reference will only be requested for selected candidates. Referees should be prepared to send their letters by mid-November.
• curriculum vitae that includes the names of three referees (CV)
• research statement that outlines main areas of current and future research (2 pages max) (submit as attachment under “Research Plan” option);
• teaching dossier that includes evidence of or potential for teaching effectiveness. This can include a brief description of your approach to teaching or brief descriptions of a few courses you have taught or would be interested in teaching. Full syllabi are not required (submit as one attachment under “Statement of Teaching/Research Interest” option);
• at least one sample of written or creative work (submit as one attachment under “List of Publications” option).

Inquiries regarding the position can be addressed to the Chair of the Search Committee, Dr. Marie-Eve Morin (mmorin1@ualberta.ca), or to the Director of MTS, Dr. Gordon Gow (ggow@ualberta.ca) (using “Faculty Positions 2023” as the email’s subject).

Review of applications will start on October 30, 2023 and will continue until the position is filled, with a targeted start date of July 1, 2024.

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. 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 in your application (within the cover letter). If you do not have a Canadian Social Insurance Number, please indicate this in your application (within the cover letter).