Professor and Canada Research Chair in Design Studies

Professor and Canada Research Chair in Design Studies

The Department of Art and Design at the University of Alberta is seeking to nominate a Senior (Tier I) Canada Research Chair in Design Studies. We welcome applications from exceptional scholars with a strong record of teaching and collaborative research in the field of design theory and practice. A PhD in Design or a related field is preferred. Current members of the Department of Art and Design take an integrative and interdisciplinary approach to design studies, practice and research, and focus on issues of social and environmental health and wellbeing. The appointment will commence 1 July 2010, at the level of either senior Associate or Full Professor, with tenure.

The Canada Research Chairs Program was established by the Canadian Government to foster world-class research excellence. As stated in the program’s Terms of Reference (see www.chairs.gc.ca/), “Tier I Chairs, tenable for seven years and renewable, are for outstanding researchers acknowledged by their peers as world leaders in their fields,” with an excellent record of teaching and graduate supervision. The candidate’s proposed research program should ideally conform to the University’s vision and “cornerstones” outlined in the recently-adopted statement entitled “Dare to Discover” (www.president.ualberta.ca/daretodiscover.cfm). The candidate nominated by the Department will be subject to review by the CRC Secretariat. The successful applicant will be expected to teach at all levels of the curriculum, from first-year to graduate level courses, and to take on graduate supervision as well as other supervisory and administrative committee work.

Candidates should send the Chair a letter of application outlining the proposed program of research, a complete curriculum vitae (with full contact information, including phone numbers and e-mail address), a sample publication (20-page maximum), a portfolio of up to 20 examples in electronic format of recent design work (if applicable), the names of at least three referees, and a teaching dossier with evaluations of teaching performance. Finalists will be asked to send letters of reference and transcripts directly to the Department. The closing date for applications is 1 April 2009. All application materials should be sent directly to:

M. Elizabeth (Betsy) Boone, Chair
Department of Art and Design
3-98 Fine Arts Building, University of Alberta
Edmonton AB T6G 2C9 Canada

For further information about the position, or the Department, please contact the Chair by email at [email protected]

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With more than 36,000 students and 12,000 staff, the University of Alberta (www.ualberta.ca) grants almost 7,500 degrees annually to graduates of 200 undergraduate and 170 graduate programs. A research-intensive, medical-doctoral, multi-campus institution, the University of Alberta offers a full range of academic and professional programs. The Faculty of Arts (www.arts.ualberta.ca) is its largest Faculty with 340 faculty members in 15 departments in Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences in addition to the Office of Interdisciplinary Studies. The Faculty of Arts has approximately 6000 undergraduate and 900 graduate students. The Faculty provides a variety of opportunities for research funding, including the newly established $1.5 million Killam Research Fund which supports research, scholarship, and creative activities in the fine arts, humanities, and social sciences. The Faculty also hosts interdisciplinary units such as the China Institute, the Wirth Institute for Austrian and Central European Studies, the Institute for United States Policy Studies, and the Prince Takamado Japan Centre for Teaching and Research.

The Department of Art and Design is a vibrant and collegial unit with a superlative record for teaching, research, and service. The Department offers degree programs at the undergraduate (BA, BDes and BFA) and graduate levels (MA, MDes, MFA and PhD) in Fine Arts, Design Studies (Industrial Design and Visual Communication Design), and the History of Art, Design and Visual Culture. It also encompasses the FAB Gallery, a Canada Research Chair in Fine Arts, and a university centre of research excellence in printmaking. For more information on the department, please consult the departmental website at www.ualberta.ca/ARTDESIGN. Greater Edmonton (www.edmonton.ca), with nearly one million residents in the city and surrounding communities, is a beautiful city straddling a spectacular river valley park system. It is the capital of Alberta, with the lowest provincial tax regime in the country, and has led the nation in economic growth in the past five years. Edmonton is known as Canada’s Festival City, with more than thirty major annual festivals celebrating its rich cultural diversity and community spirit. It has all the attractions of a big city, yet it is clean, safe, and livable, with excellent schools and health care. Edmonton is located only a few hours drive from Banff and Jasper National Parks, which offer skiing in winter and excellent hiking and sightseeing in summer.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply for this position; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. The University of Alberta hires on the basis of merit. We are committed to the principle of equity in employment. We welcome diversity and encourage applications from all qualified women and men, including persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, and Aboriginal persons.