Internal Call: Tier II Canada Research Chair in Language, Literacy, and Early Learning

Open date: November 1, 2024 | Close date: December 1, 2024

The Okanagan School of Education within UBC’s Faculty of Education, one of the world’s leading faculties of its kind, invites applications through an internal call for a Tier II Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Language, Literacy, and Early Learning.

Situated on the unceded, ancestral, and traditional territories of the Syilx Okanagan people Kelowna, Canada, the Okanagan School of Education (OSE) in the Faculty of Education at the University of British Columbia invites applications for a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Language, Literacy and Early Learning in the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) stream. This is an internal call, and thus applicants must hold an active tenure stream appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor or Associate Professor in OSE at the time of application.

The successful candidate for this nomination must have their PhD and will be an exceptional emerging scholar who has achieved public and academic recognition for their research in the field of education with a focus on literacy and numeracy education as well as community based-initiatives. They must hold a doctoral degree. Their scholarly profile and proposed research must meet the criteria of the CRC Program and demonstrate an excellent fit with institutional goals and the aims of the position. The successful candidate is expected to: (a) pursue a program of teaching, research, and community engagement that focuses on early education, including K-3 primary years; (b) examine how language and literacy develops in diverse learners including children from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and children with and without learning disabilities; (c) conduct research in family literacy processes and interventions to enrich the home language and literacy environment; (d) support the Schools’ undergraduate and graduate programs and act as a catalyst in attracting and supervising graduate students from historically, persistently, and systemically marginalized (HPSM) groups; and (e) work with other researchers in similar scholarly areas within UBC as well as locally, provincially, nationally, and internationally, greatly increasing research and programmatic capacity in addressing the area of literacies.

The Faculty of Education is one of the leading Faculties of its kind in the world, tied 1st in Canadian rankings and ranked 10th globally. Our work advances educational research and understanding of teaching and learning in a way that affirms diversity, equity, and innovation, and takes part in international collaboration in an interdependent globe. We provide a comprehensive set of programmatic offerings at the baccalaureate, magisterial, and doctoral levels. For more information on the Faculty of Education, please visit educ.ubc.ca.

As one of the six academic units in the UBC Faculty of Education, OSE is committed to building and sustaining “scholar-practitioner” communities, offering a productive learning environment and excellent opportunities for regional, national, and international scholarly activities. OSE offers programs leading to BEd, MEd, and MA degrees and an Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies PhD degree. OSE also offers post-baccalaureate certificate and diploma programs as well as the English Foundation Program. For more information about OSE, please visit education.ok.ubc.ca.

The Tier 2 CRC has a term of five years which may be renewed once for a second five-year term. Tier 2 CRCs are intended for exceptional emerging scholars, who have completed their PhD within the last 10 years at the time of nomination. Candidates who are more than ten years from having earned their highest degree and have experienced legitimate career interruptions (maternity, parental, or extended sick leave, clinical training, or family care) may have their eligibility for a Tier 2 CRC assessed through the program’s Tier 2 justification process. Effective March 1, 2020, research interruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic are recognized and may be counted as an eligible delay. UBC acknowledges that certain circumstances may cause career interruptions that legitimately affect an applicant’s record of research achievement. These interruptions will be taken into careful consideration during the assessment process. We encourage applicants to note in their applications whether they would like consideration given to the impact of any such circumstances due to health, family, or other legitimate reasons in order to allow for a fair assessment of their research productivity.

All CRC nominations are subject to review and final approval by the CRC Secretariat. Please consult the Canada Research Chairs website for full program information, including further details on eligibility criteria.

In accordance with UBC’s CRC Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Action Plan, and pursuant to Section 42 of the BC Human Rights code, the selection will be restricted to members in one or more of the following designated groups: women, visible minorities (members of groups that are racially categorized), persons with disabilities, and Indigenous Peoples. Applicants to Canada Research Chair positions are asked to complete this equity survey (https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6WJHol7SfPxRMu9) as part of the application process, and applicants must self-identify as belonging to one or more of the designated equity groups to be considered for the position. Because the search is limited to those self-identifying as members of designated equity groups, candidates must also provide their name when completing the equity survey in order to be considered.

Personal information is collected under the authority of sections 26(a), 26(c) and 26(e) of the BC Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The information you provide will be used to determine whether you qualify for participation in this restricted process, and to advance accessibility, equity, and fair adjudication in this process. Data will be collected by the Equity & Inclusion Office and only the names of those eligible for the search process will be shared confidentially with the search committee, except those self-identifying with a
disability whose names will be shared separately. All responses will be stored in a secure database.

Interested candidates are invited to submit an application package that includes:

(i) a cover letter (maximum two pages) describing how your research achievements and
the trajectory fit in a Tier 2 CRC in Language, Literacy and Early Learning;
(ii) curriculum vitae;
(iii) a proposed five-year research plan (maximum four pages);
(iv) three sample publications that are most relevant to this position;
(v) an EDID statement that describes and documents your contributions to equity,
diversity, inclusion, and decolonization (EDID) through your teaching, research, service,
and community engagement, addressing the following three areas: (1) understanding
of and knowledge about EDID, (2) track record in advancing EDID, and (3) future plans
for EDID;
(vi) names and contact details of three references (least one should be arms- length).

Complete application packages must be provided in the format of one bookmarked PDF file addressed to Dr. Kedrick James, Director, Okanagan School of Education and Professor of Teaching, and sent electronically to Kristin Schuppener, Manager, Administration and
Operations, via email at kristin.schuppener@ubc.ca. The application deadline is 11:59 pm, December 1, 2024. Questions regarding this position and the CRC nomination process should be directed to Dr. Kedrick James, Director, Okanagan School of Education, at
kedrick.james@ubc.ca.

The University is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and equitable work environment for all members of its workforce, and in particular, for its employees with disabilities. Additionally, an inclusive work environment for employees with disabilities presumes an environment where differences are accepted, recognized, and integrated into current structures, planning, and decision-making modes. We welcome colleagues with the experiences and skills to contribute to our principles of inclusion, equity, and diversity throughout campus life. Accommodations are available on request for all candidates taking part in all aspects of the recruitment process. To confidentially request disability-related accommodations or accessibility support, please contact Kristin Schuppener, Manager, Administration and Operations, via email at kristin.schuppener@ubc.ca. If you have any questions regarding accommodations or accessibility during the recruitment and hiring process or for more information and support, please visit UBC’s Centre for Workplace Accessibility via email at workplace.accessibility@ubc.ca. To learn more about how the University is working to create a more inclusive working and learning environment, please see the UBC Inclusion Action Plan’s goals related to recruitment and retention at equity.ubc.ca.

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the British Columbia Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority. All applicants will be asked to complete a confidential equity survey.

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