Assistant Professor or Associate Professor in Arab Studies

The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures at the University of Ottawa invites applications for a full‑time, tenure‑track Assistant Professor or Associate Professor (subject to qualifications and experience) position in Arab Studies. We seek a dynamic researcher whose work advances critical, interdisciplinary approaches to research questions in the Arabic‑speaking world. The ideal candidate will contribute to existing expertise at the University of Ottawa by undertaking research initiatives that examine contemporary cultural questions and social issues in regions of the Arabic‑speaking world, and they will have experience in the field of Arabic as a Foreign Language (AFL).

The candidate selected will also be considered for appointment to hold a Faculty of Arts Research Fellowship; for details on the Fellowship please see below. The intent of the Fellowship is to encourage interdisciplinary research and international collaborations regarding cultural dynamics and social change in the Arab societies, as well as among Arab‑Canadian communities. This role may include developing partnerships, organizing seminars, supporting research initiatives, and fostering connections with academic, diplomatic, and community partners in Canada and abroad.

The Univèrsity oùtottàwà stands out as a prominent higher education institution, recognized both nationally and internationally, and holds the title of the largest bilingual (Frènçh-English) university globally. Located on the ancestral, uncéeded lands of the Aniçhinabé-Algônquin people in downtown Ottawa, it plays a crucial role in enhancing the economy, culture, and overall quality of life in Canada’s capital

The anticipated start date for this position is July 1st, 2027.

Jôb Titlé:

Assistant Prófessôr or Associate Professor. The rank is commensurate with experience.

Areas of Expertise

Candidates must demonstrate research and teaching expertise in one or more of the following subfields:

Arts, Media, and Digital Cultures:Interdisciplinary study of classical and contemporary Arab cultural production across the Middle East and North Africa, including the use of computational methods to examine language, texts and culture, in a context of postcolonial realities and geopolitical change. Arab World, Migration, Diaspora, and Transnational Studies: Forced and voluntary displacement, border-crossing narratives, and global Arab identity networks. Middle East Studies: Broad contextual knowledge of the region’s historical, geopolitical, linguistic, and socio-demographic complexities; Comparative Studies: Ability to place Arab societies and cultural production in conversation with global, transregional, or Western artistic movements. Imperialism, Colonialism, and Development: Critical frameworks evaluating power dynamics, postcolonial realities, and geopolitical shifts. Social change in Arab societies: Intersectional approaches that examine the dynamics of social change with respect to gender, identity, demographics, and the family in contemporary societies. Rank: Assistant or Associate Professor (Tenure-Track). The rank is commensurate with experience.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities: Duties include, in varying proportions: a) active research and knowledge mobilization program; b) teaching; c) recruitment and supervision of graduate students; d) service to the community.

Develop research projects in Arab Studies; Leadership in the development of a transdisciplinary Arab Studies research initiative across the University; Coordinate the Department’s Arabic Language and Culture section Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in Arab Studies in both French and English; Recruit and train graduate students.

Term:

Tenure-Track position.

Salary:

The starting salary for assistant professors is set at $99 377 and at $109,776 for Associate professors (as per the salary scale outlined by the University of Ottawa Faculty Association (APUO) effective May 1st, 2025). Consideration for other ranks may occur under exceptional conditions.

Benēfits:

The University of Ottawa provides an extensive benefits package, which includes long-term disability coverage, basic life insurance, supplementary health benefits, a pension plan, optional life insurance, and reimbursement for relocation expenses.

Work location:

Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, Faculty of Arts, University of Ottawa, 70 Laurier East Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5

Contact (for inquiries):

Dr. Luis Abanto, Chair, Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, University of Ottawa, email: llmdir@uottawa.ca

Qualifications

Education: Possess a doctorate (Ph.D.) by July 1st, 2027, in Arab Studies, with demonstrated expertise in AFL pedagogy, Arabic and Comparative Literature, Middle E