Appointment Type: Full-time; 3 Year, Contractually Limited Term Appointment (start date no later than July, 2027), Onsite
Compensation: Hiring Range: CA$113,000 - CA$120,000; Salary will be commensurate with experience.
Competitive benefits package, including group benefits, defined benefit pension plan, tuition waiver, and generous vacation time allotment
Role Status: This position is open due to a newly created position.
Reports to: Dean of Divinity
Trinity College is a vibrant and diverse academic community with a rich history and an excellent local and international reputation. Since its founding in 1851, the College has valued and fostered a high level of academic achievement with some 2,400 currently registered students, 450 of whom live at the College. The Faculty of Divinity includes an average of 100 Masters and Doctoral level students, and collaborates with the other member colleges of the Toronto School of Theology (TST). The Trinity College campus grounds comprise spectacular historic buildings. The College is on the St. George Campus of the University of Toronto, located in the central Toronto downtown core, steps from the Bloor – St. George subway station and Queen’s Park.
Position Summary:
The Institute for Humanistic Buddhist Thought & Practice at Trinity College, University of Toronto invites applications for a Contractually Limited Term Appointment (CLTA) at the rank of Assistant Professor. The successful candidate will contribute to the Institute's mission of advancing the teaching, study, and public engagement of Humanistic Buddhism.
Working closely with the Director, the successful candidate will help expand the Institute’s academic programs, strengthen its research profile, and support public engagement initiatives. The appointment is intended for a scholar whose research demonstrates a strong background in Buddhism and relevant cognate disciplines appropriate to the mission of the Institute and the Faculty of Divinity.
This position will teach courses in Buddhism, including Humanistic Buddhism. Additional teaching will include in at least one of the following areas: Buddhist practices, Buddhist texts, history of Buddhism, sustainability/religion and ecology, psychotherapy, spiritual care, sociology of religion, or similar cognate discipline. This new role at Trinity College will enhance the scope of teaching expertise in support of the development of Buddhist streams and degree programs within the Faculty of Divinity, and potentially other Trinity Arts and Science programs.
Key Responsibilities:
Teaching
- Teach courses 4-6 courses/year (depending on other duties) relevant to Buddhist streams within the Master of Theological Studies, Master of Psychospiritual Studies, and for leadership vocations in Buddhist communities.
- Support graduate level research and supervision within the Toronto School of Theology
- Contribute to curriculum development for the Institute's programs
- Possibility support Trinity Arts and Science program offerings
Research
- Maintain an active research program in Humanistic Buddhism and Interreligious Engagement.
- Publish high-quality scholarly work in leading peer-reviewed journals and academic presses.
- Present research at national and international conferences.
Service and Institute Development
- Assist in organizing the Institute's annual international conference, public lecture series, and other academic events.
- Support the Institute’s collaborations with academic and community partners.
- Participate in student recruitment, public engagement, and service activities within Trinity College and the Faculty of Divinity.
Educational and Experience Requirements:
- PhD in Buddhist Studies, Comparative Theology, Religious Studies, or a closely related discipline.
- Demonstrated effectiveness in university teaching, with evidence of excellence or strong potential for excellence in teaching.
- Experience supporting graduate-level research and supervision.
- Demonstrated record of scholarly publication or strong evidence of the potential to publish in leading peer-reviewed journals.
- Research specialization in Buddhism.
Skills and Attributes:
- Ability to teach courses in at least one of the following areas:, Buddhist practices, Buddhist texts, history of Buddhism, sociology of religion, religion and psychotherapy, spiritual care, sustainability/ecology, or related disciplines.
- Ability to contribute to interdisciplinary and interreligious education.
- Strong knowledge of Humanistic Buddhism and/or Chinese Buddhism.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Excellent interpersonal and collaborative skills.
- Strong organizational and project management abilities.
- Ability to contribute effectively to an interdisciplinary academic environment
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience organizing academic conferences, public lectures, or research initiatives.
- Familiarity with North American higher education and graduate program development.
- Demonstrated ability to establish international academic collaborations, particularly in Humanistic Buddhism and interreligious engagement.
- Fluency in Mandarin Chinese.
- Experience in psychotherapy, spiritual care, or leadership within Buddhist communities.
- Background in interreligious engagement or comparative theology.
Applicants should submit their cover letter, curriculum vitae, teaching statement, research statement, writing sample, and the names and contact information of three (3) academic references to: trinity.recruitment@utoronto.ca Please reference Job#2026-12 in the email subject line.
Job posting closing date: October 1, 2026.
Trinity College is a federated university in the University of Toronto and offers excellent employment opportunities with exceptional benefits. The College is a culturally diverse community that sustains a tradition of academic excellence and provides a vibrant and welcoming community of students, faculty, alumni, and staff.
Trinity College is committed to Employment Equity and Diversity based on merit, transparency, accessibility, and inclusion ensuring that all candidates are given a fair opportunity. If you need this job posting in an alternative format or if you require accommodation measures, please contact us at trinity.hr@utoronto.ca and we will work with you to meet your needs at every stage of the recruitment and selection process.
AI enabled tools may be used to support parts of the recruitment process, such as interview scheduling. All hiring decisions are made by human reviewers.
We thank all applicants for their interest in this position. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.