Canada Research Chair (SSHRC) Tier 2 in Innovation and Inclusion in Education

Wilfrid Laurier University

Canada Research Chair (SSHRC) Tier 2 in Innovation and Inclusion in Education

Wilfrid Laurier University, Faculty of Education (Waterloo Campus)

Position Summary 

The Faculty of Education (FOE) at Wilfrid Laurier University (Waterloo campus) invites applications for a tenured or tenure-track Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (SSHRC) in Innovation and Inclusion in Education. The Canada Research Chairs Program is a key component of a strategy to make Canada one of the world’s top countries in research and development (www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca). In alignment with the pillars of the Faculty of Education this position is only open to applicants who identify as Indigenous, racialized, or having a disability; applicants with this lived experience who also identify as women, gender minorities and other equity deserving groups are also encouraged to apply. Increasing representation from equity deserving groups strengthens Laurier’s research efforts (Laurier Strategic Research Plan 2020-2025), the mission of the Faculty of Education, and the university. In support of Laurier’s strategic planning, including its Strategic Plan for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Indigenous Strategic Plan, institutional Strategy (2019-2024) and Academic Strategic Plan (2023-2028), the Faculty of Education’s mission includes increasing inclusivity, Indigeneity, internationalization, and innovation across our academic programs and research. Applicants wishing to learn more about the Faculty of Education’s Strategic Plan are encouraged to contact the Dean of Education’s Office (deanofeducation@wlu.ca).

Tier 2 Canada Research Chairs are intended for exceptional emerging scholars (i.e., candidates must have been an active researcher in their field for fewer than 10 years at the time of nomination). Applicants who are more than 10 years from having earned their highest degree (and where career breaks exist, such as maternity, parental or extended sick leave, clinical training, etc.) may have their eligibility for a Tier 2 Chair assessed through the program’s Tier 2 justification process. Please contact Charity Parr-Vasquez (cparrvasquez@wlu.ca), Assistant Vice-President, Research, for more information. Please consult the CRC website for additional details.

The Canada Research Chair (SSHRC) Tier 2 in Innovation and Inclusion in Education will strengthen the FOE’s position as an emerging leader in Canada in the areas of innovation and inclusion in education. The Chair will work within, and lead research that explores the nexus of inclusion and innovation in education. Commitments to EDI and decolonization in education have been on-going for many years within the Faculty of Education, Laurier, and the broader community. The Chair will lead research that moves education beyond performative commitments and contributions to EDI to innovative and sustainable practices that can foster inclusive schools and learning communities. Working in tandem with current researchers in the FOE who engage in research in inclusion and innovation, as well as our Indigenous scholar position in the FOE, this position will bolster significant research efforts to support programming related to innovation and inclusion in education across Canada and internationally. The Chair has a mandate to engage in research on how innovative approaches can advance inclusive and Indigenous education. Innovations in pedagogical approaches using emerging technologies, including generative AI, must be considered through an equity lens. In addition, the Chair has the mandate to explore how innovation mindsets can be fostered in youth and educators to approach and address issues related to inclusion, transforming educational systems, and improving societal and economic outcomes in Canada and internationally.

This Chair will:

provide support to a proposed doctoral program in Educational Studies offered by the Faculty of Education focused on the important topics of innovation and inclusion that is planned to commence in Fall 2025 with teaching, supervision, mentoring and program development;

contribute to the training and mentorship of graduate and undergraduate students through their research program and will be expected to secure external funding, including through SSHRC;

be a significant contributor in helping to sustain the FOE’s research trajectory by complementing current strengths focused on innovation rooted in equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and Indigenous education;

build a collaborative network to foster a nexus of scholars and practitioners, engaging other researchers at Laurier, as well as national and international scholars;

collaborate with various offices within Laurier such as the Office of Indigenous Initiatives, the Office of the AVP Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and the newly developed position, Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and more recently developed committees addressing Generative Artificial Intelligence and its role in innovative pedagogies;

liaise very closely with the Centre for Leading Research in Education (CLRiE), thus further supporting the strong research growth in that centre; leading regular research seminars, symposia, conferences, etc.

The successful candidate will be nominated for a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair and will be appointed as a tenured or tenure-track faculty member at the Assistant or Associate Professor level in the Faculty of Education, conditional on CRC application approval.

Qualifications

identify as Indigenous, racialized, or having a disability

hold a PhD or EdD in Education as required by the Faculty of Education

have an established scholarly record of educational research commensurate to career stage, including state-of-the-art research and knowledge mobilization and dissemination

have a research record that includes scholarship pertinent to innovation and inclusion in education

have a strong track record of obtaining Tri-agency and other external funding

demonstrated teaching proficiency in inclusive and innovative education courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels, with proven leadership in program development that draws on their research and community service

demonstrated ability to train and mentor undergraduate and graduate students.

have an established network and demonstrated experience working with Indigenous and/or equity-deserving communities

evidence of collaborations within and outside of the university setting

experience with Indigenous education will be considered an asset

experience in research and/or teaching of emerging technologies, such as Generative Artificial Intelligence will be considered an asset

How to Apply

Application packages should be submitted electronically to Dr. Julie Mueller, Associate Dean: Graduate Programs and Research, Faculty of Education, Wilfrid Laurier University, c/o deanofeducation@wlu.ca. Applications will be accepted until April 29, 2024. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2025 (or later), subject to the successful candidate’s availability and the timeline for the Tier 2 CRC nomination process.

Applicants should submit the following:

Cover letter outlining their qualifications for the position

Curriculum vitae

Brief research plan (no more than 5 pages)

Teaching statement outlining teaching philosophy, experience, and interests (two-pages)

PDF copies or other electronic format of up to three of their most significant contributions that represent their research accompanied by a detailed description of their significance

contact information of three referees willing to provide a reference

As this position is open only to those who identify as Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, and racialized persons, candidates must confirm their eligibility as a member of at least one of these groups in the cover letter. Also, in accordance with the CRC’s Requirements for Recruitment guidelines, applicants are encouraged to complete the applicant equity survey. For more information on Laurier’s CRC equity, diversity and inclusion commitments, please visit the Laurier’s CRC Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan. Prior to offer, the successful candidate will need to confirm their eligibility for this role. An Indigenous candidate will need to go through Laurier’s Indigenous Verification Process; a candidate who is racialized and/or has disabilities will need to sign a declaration confirming eligibility.

Applicants are also encouraged to include statements in their cover letter that speak to their experience with and commitment to issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion (e.g., scholarship, teaching, mentoring, lived experience).

It is recognized that life circumstances such as illness, disability, family and community responsibilities (e.g., maternity leave, parental leave, leaves due to illness, leaves due to caring for family members, or slowdowns due to chronic illness or disability) are expected to have an impact on a candidate’s record of research achievement, and that these impacts will be taken into careful consideration during the assessment process.

Equity, diversity and creating a culture of inclusion are part of Laurier’s core values and central to the Laurier Strategy. Laurier is committed to increasing the diversity of faculty and staff. We welcome applications from qualified candidates who also identify as Indigenous, racialized or having disabilities, and qualified candidates of any sexual and gender identity. Candidates who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcome to contact the Office of Indigenous Initiatives at indigenous@wlu.ca and/or Equity and Accessibility at equity@wlu.ca.

Laurier strives to make our application process accessible and provides accommodations for both applicants and employees as outlined in Policy 8.7. If you require assistance applying for this position, would like this job posting in an alternative format, or would like to discuss accessibility and accommodations during the recruitment process please contact Laurier’s Equity and Accessibility Officer at accessibility@wlu.ca.