Assistant Professor - Sociocultural Studies of Physical Activity and Health

Assistant Professor - Sociocultural Studies of Physical Activity and Health

Date Posted : 10 / 23 / 2025

Closing Date : 12 / 15 / 2025, 11 : 59PM ET

Req ID : 43440

Job Category : Faculty - Tenure Stream (continuing)

Faculty / Division : Faculty of Kinesiology & Physl Ed.

Department : Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education

Campus : St. George (Downtown Toronto)

Description :

The Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education (KPE) at the University of Toronto invites applications for a full-time tenure stream appointment in the sociocultural studies of physical activity and health. The appointment will be at the rank of Assistant Professor and will begin on July 1, 2026.

This search aligns with the University’s commitment to strategically and proactively promote diversity among our community members (Statement on Equity, Diversity & Excellence). Recognizing that Black, Indigenous, and other Racialized communities have experienced inequities that have developed historically and are ongoing, we strongly welcome and encourage candidates from those communities to apply.

Preference will be given to candidates who self-identify as Indigenous. Recognizing that there are a variety of terms that potential candidates may use to self-identify, the University uses the term “Indigenous” in this search, which forms part of the U of T Response to Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, to encompass the people of Turtle Island, including those who identify as First Nations, Métis, Inuk (Inuit), Alaska Native, Native American, and Native Hawaiian people.

Applicants must have a Ph.D. or an equivalent doctoral degree in Kinesiology or a relevant field in the social sciences (e.g., sociology, health studies, cultural studies, environmental studies, gender studies, critical race studies, Indigenous studies, queer studies, critical disability studies, media studies, policy studies) by the date of the appointment, or shortly thereafter, with a demonstrated record of excellence in research and teaching. Experience / training in using intersectional anti-oppression approaches is considered a strong asset.

The successful candidate will be expected to pursue innovative and independent research and develop an outstanding, original, and externally-funded research programme. Evidence of research productivity and research excellence will be demonstrated through publications in top-ranked and field relevant journals or forthcoming publications meeting high international standards, presentations at significant conferences, research funding, transformations in practice or policy, or other forms of recognition that are appropriate for the field of inquiry, as well as the submitted research statement and strong endorsements from referees of high standing.

The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to undergraduate and graduate program teaching and student mentorship and to increase opportunities for students to conduct research in associated areas of scholarship. Evidence of excellence in teaching will be demonstrated through teaching accomplishments, the teaching dossier including a statement of teaching philosophy, sample syllabi and teaching evaluations or other evidence of superior performance in teaching-related activities, as well as strong endorsements from referees of high standing. Other teaching-related activities can include performance as a teaching assistant or course instructor, experience leading successful workshops or seminars, student mentorship, or excellent conference presentations or posters.

Contributions to service through engagement on Faculty-related committees will be expected.

We seek exceptional candidates who would complement our existing strengths (for KPE Faculty Members / Research Areas, please see Faculty Listing | UofT - Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education) and expand upon existing collaborations with colleagues in the Faculty, university and related research community. Applicants will be assessed on the basis of these criteria, as they relate to each candidate’s area of inquiry.

The selection process will be based on scholarship, interviews, research seminar, and meetings with faculty and students.

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education (KPE) at the University of Toronto has made major contributions to its mission of developing, advancing and disseminating knowledge about physical activity and health and its interactions through, education, research, leadership and the provision of opportunity. With a culturally diverse student body of more than 1000 undergraduate students and 140 graduate students, as well as 35 faculty members from diverse disciplinary backgrounds, ours is an intellectually rich and supportive community, guided by the highest standards of scholarship with a commitment to equity and social justice. The successful candidate will join an internationally recognized faculty whose commitments to equity and access are reflected in our research, education, policy and practice. In keeping with this commitment, particular attention will be given to candidates from under-represented groups.

All qualified candidates are invited to apply online by clicking the link below. Applicants must submit a cover letter; a current curriculum vitae; a research statement outlining current and future research interests; a recent writing sample; and a teaching dossier including a teaching statement, sample course materials, teaching evaluations or evidence of superior performance in other teaching-related activities as listed above; and names and contact information for three reference letters.

All application materials, including recent reference letters, must be received by December 15th, 2025.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

If you have any questions about this position, please contact Professor Gretchen Kerr at

The University of Toronto’s recruiting tool will automatically solicit and collect letters of reference from each referee within 48 hours after an application is submitted. Applicants remain responsible for ensuring that referees submit recent letters (on letterhead, dated and signed) by the closing date. More details on the automatic reference letter collection, including timelines, are available in the candidate FAQ.

Submission guidelines can be found at Your CV and cover letter should be uploaded into the dedicated fields. Please combine additional application materials into one or two files in PDF / MS Word format.

Diversity Statement

The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see

Accessibility Statement

The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.

The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.

If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact

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