Assistant Professor

Assistant Professor or Associate Professor in Arab Studies

Position Type: Full-time, tenure-track

Start Date: July 1st, 2027

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

About the University

The University of Ottawa stands out as a prominent higher education institution, recognized both nationally and internationally, and holds the title of the largest bilingual (French-English) university globally. Located on the ancestral, unceded lands of the Anichinabé-Algonquin people in downtown Ottawa, it plays a crucial role in enhancing the economy, culture, and overall quality of life in Canada's capital.

About the Role

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.

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

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

Qualifications

Education: Possess a doctorate (Ph.D.) by July 1, 2027, in Arab Studies, with demonstrated expertise in AFL pedagogy, Arabic and Comparative Literature, Middle East Studies, Arab Media/Cultural Studies, or a related discipline.

Linguistic Fluency: Excellent communication skills in English and/or French. Active knowledge of Canada's two official languages (French and English) is a requirement for tenure. Native or near-native fluency in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA).

Research Track Record: A demonstrated track record of research excellence, including peer-reviewed publications.

Pedagogy: Demonstrated excellence or strong potential for teaching excellence in Arab Studies or related discipline.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary: The starting salary for an Assistant Professor is $99,377 (according to the scale in effect as of May 1, 2025). Consideration for other ranks may occur under exceptional conditions.

Benefits: 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.

Arab Studies Research Fellowship

The University of Ottawa aspires to create a dynamic research hub about transformations and innovations occurring in the countries of the Arab world and within the cultures of the Arab diaspora. To this end, the Faculty of Arts Research Fellowship is open with respect to the field of Arab Studies – candidates with expertise in any of the themes outlined above will be considered. The person appointed to the Fellowship is expected to demonstrate commitment to innovative, ground-breaking research about cultural and social processes and change that affect Arab communities.

This research fellowship is for an initial appointment of five years, with the possibility of renewal. The Fellowship comes with an annual research fund of $25,000. Additional funding will be available to support research activities of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. The Fellowship is intended to support an exceptional scholar for whom Arab Studies is their primary research focus.

Application Requirements

Deadline: Applications received by November 9, 2026 will be fully considered; however, the position will remain open until it is filled.

Submission: Applications must be submitted through the University of Ottawa's career portal, and only complete submissions will be evaluated.

Please submit the following documents in a single PDF: cover letter, curriculum vitae, two recent peer-reviewed publications, statement of research interests, and an example of a course syllabus.

Following an initial review of applications, selected candidates will be invited to present their research to professors and students and asked to have three confidential letters of reference submitted directly by the referees.

Contact

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

To learn more about our department, please visit: https://www.uottawa.ca/faculty-arts/department

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

The University of Ottawa is committed to providing its academic community with a leadership and learning environment that promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion. As such, we strongly encourage applications from Indigenous peoples of Canada, visible minorities, individuals with disabilities, women, and all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to engage constructively with communities that embrace equity, diversity and inclusion. Applicants from these groups are invited to fill out a confidential self-identification questionnaire when submitting their applications.

All qualified candidates are invited to apply; however, preference will be given to Canadians and p…