Call for Applications:
Provostial Research Scholars in Institutional Histories, Slavery, and Colonialism
Founded in 1821 McGill University is home to exceptional students, faculty, and staff from across Canada and around the world. Our University is also the site of world-class research in a range of disciplines. As it enters its third century, McGill seeks to undertake a rigorous and thorough self-examination of two particular questions of critical importance to understanding its past, and guiding future directions:
• What are McGill’s historic connections, both direct and indirect, to transatlantic slavery?
• What are McGill’s historic connections, both direct and indirect, to colonialism and its impact on Indigenous communities?
As noted in the Final Report of the Provost’s Working Group on Principles of Commemoration and Renaming, while critical to assess acts and views “by the standards of their time” our university is called to “address and confront its historical legacies of wrong towards historically subordinated groups,”
Accordingly, McGill is recruiting two Provostial Research Scholars in Institutional Histories, Slavery, and Colonialism to examine the two questions listed above.
The Provostial Research Scholars will work under the supervision of McGill Professors Wendell Nii Laryea Adjetey, Suzanne Morton, and Charmaine Nelson over a period of one to two years. Funded by McGill’s Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) as postdoctoral fellows, their core responsibility will be to conduct archival (at McGill, in Montreal and abroad), doctrinal, or other research germane to the issues listed above, and to document findings through peer-reviewed manuscript(s) and/or written reports.
Provostial Research Scholars will be provided with a research stipend intended to allow them to travel for research abroad as required and to participate in conferences and workshops.
While not assigned formal teaching responsibilities, Provostial Research Scholars may participate as guest lecturers and invited speakers in classes and other events at McGill.
Provostial Research Scholars’ findings and publications will inform future initiatives at McGill that seek to enhance the presence and success of Black and Indigenous students and faculty at our University.
Salary: $75,000/an plus benefits. Research Scholars will also be awarded a research stipend of $10,000/an. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants must:
• hold a PhD in history, art history or a related field by June 2020
• be able to work in Montreal beginning Sept 2020
Proficiency in reading and speaking French is an asset.
Applications are due 15 December 2019 by email to tynan.jarrett@mcgill.ca.
Applications shall include:
• Curriculum vitae
• Statement of interest (Maximum 2 pages)
• Names and contact information of 2 referees
McGill University is committed to equity and diversity within its community and values academic rigour and excellence. We welcome and encourage applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to engage productively with diverse communities. For this Provostial Research Scholar in
Institutional Histories, Slavery, and Colonialism program, preference shall be given to excellent candidates who are Black and/or Indigenous.