Assistant Professor, Probationary Teaching Track - Information Technologies

Position Profile:

Western University is located on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, and the Lūnaapéewak, on lands connected with the London Township and Sombra Treaties of 1796 and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum. This land continues to be home to diverse Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit) whom we recognize as contemporary stewards of the land and vital contributors of our society.

The Faculty of Information and Media Studies (FIMS) at Western University seeks a probationary (tenure-track) colleague at the rank of Assistant Professor whose research, scholarship, and professional practice are in the area of information and communication technology (ICT) and whose primary teaching responsibilities will be in our Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) program.

Our MLIS program is widely recognized as one of the best of its kind in North America. We provide a strong foundation in librarianship in a range of settings together with an opportunity to engage with innovative ideas, technologies, and new information practices. Western's MLIS program has been in good standing with the ALA since 1969 and was re-accredited in 2026. Our curriculum is grounded in commitments to centering communities, intellectual freedom, privacy, and critical thinking in decision making and information literacy. We directly engage with practitioners and professional and scholarly associations to advance research and practice in the information professions. Western’s MLIS offers unmatched flexibility with hybrid or fully online study, as well as an exceptional paid co-op program.

Academic Expectations:

We seek a colleague who can contribute to students’ development of core professional competencies in technological knowledge and skills, including identifying and evaluating technologies and uses that support information access and delivery in libraries and other information organizations. More specifically, we expect our new colleague to be able to teach in two or more of the following areas: database management systems; information retrieval; information visualization; web design and content strategy; data science; artificial intelligence; user experience design; digital humanities and digital librarianship; and open source and proprietary ILS systems. Applicants should expect to teach in online and in-person formats.

Qualifications, Experience and Skills Required:

We are open to applicants with doctoral degrees from a range of fields. This could include a PhD in Library and Information Science, or in a cognate area, plus evidence of experience with and commitment to information organizations (e.g., an MLIS degree in combination with a cognate doctorate).  It is essential that our new colleague be prepared to teach core courses and applied ICT courses to our MLIS students, who will go on to contribute to public, not-for-profit, and for-profit organizations in a range of librarianship and information management roles. 

The successful candidate will conduct research, and have the ability to supervise LIS PhD students, in any of the cutting-edge areas of information and communication technologies. Examples include (though are not limited to) user experience, augmented reality, conversational AI, Internet of Things, or information access and accessibility, each with relevance to library and information science.  

The successful candidate will have a PhD in hand or near completion; an excellent academic record and demonstrated achievement or potential in scholarly research; teaching experience at the university level; preparedness to teach in-person and on-line; demonstrated potential in graduate supervision; and the ability and willingness to contribute to the intellectual and scholarly life of the field, the Faculty, the University, and the London community. As a campus committed to equity, inclusion, decolonization, and community engagement, a record of teaching or the capacity to teach a diverse group of students and engage a multicultural community is essential.

Affirmation Policy Statement

Western, like many postsecondary institutions in Canada, is moving beyond sole reliance upon Indigenous self-identification in its hiring processes. This is to safeguard against the use of incorrect, incomplete, or misleading information in circumstances in which a candidate has made a declaration of Indigenous citizenship or membership. Candidates who are invited for an interview or who are short-listed, and who have made a declaration of Indigenous citizenship or membership for material advantage at Western, including where required or preferred for the position, will be asked to have their declaration of Indigenous citizenship or membership affirmed through a relational accountability process, led by the Office of Indigenous Initiatives (OII), that is consistent with Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing. Please contact the OII directly for details on the affirmation processes: https://indigenous.uwo.ca/. The policy can be viewed at: POLICY 1.58 - Affirming Declarations of Indigenous Citizenship or Membership at Western University.

The Faculty:

FIMS is a vibrant, interdisciplinary faculty dedicated to the advancement of knowledge about media, communication, and information.  At the Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral levels, we study technologies, systems, histories, and practices to understand the role of information and media in democratic processes and institutional and community life.  We connect our scholarship and research creation to the social and cultural determinants of power and agency in media and information contexts. For more information about our programs, please visit the FIMS website. https://www.fims.uwo.ca/

The University:

With an enviable national reputation and an international profile that ranks among the top universities world-wide, Western pushes the boundaries of pedagogical and scholarly excellence while setting a national standard for student experience. With annual research funding exceeding $220 million and an international reputation for success, Western ranks as one of Canada's top research-intensive universities. Our research excellence expands knowledge and drives discovery with real-world application. Western also provides an exceptional employment experience, offering competitive salaries, a wide range of employment opportunities, and one of Canada's most beautiful campuses. Western is a founding member of Canada’s U15, serves as a hub for more than 500 international research collaborations, and has been recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers. There are more than 38,000 students within Western’s 11 Faculties and 3 affiliated University Colleges. For more information about Western’s strategic priorities, visit Western Strategic Plan, Indigenous Strategic Plan, and Office of the Associate Vice-President of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and for information on Western’s research areas visit Research Western.

To Apply:

The anticipated start date is 1 July 2027. Interested applicants are invited to submit a complete application package, as a single PDF file, containing the following:

Application for Full-Time Faculty Position Form:

A cover letter which includes:

a research statement

a statement of teaching philosophy and capacity for teaching (a) ICT at the professional Master’s level, (b) in-person and online, and (c) in a multicultural context A detailed Curriculum Vitae

A writing sample not longer than 25 published pages and/or a selective portfolio of work in research creation, where applicable

The names, titles and email addresses of three academic referees, though one referee may be an information professional who has supervised the applicant

Electronic applications are preferred and should be submitted in one PDF file (in the sequence above) YOURLASTNAME_UWO_MLISTT2026 to

Susan Knabe, Acting Dean

Faculty of Information and Media Studies

FIMS and Nursing Building

Western University

London, ON, Canada N6A 5B9

fimsdeanapps@uwo.ca

Review of applications will begin on 15 November 2026, and applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Existing Vacancy Disclosure Statement: This position is an existing vacancy.

Positions are subject to budget approval. Applicants should have fluent written and oral communications skills in English. The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Western is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from women, members of racialized groups, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, and persons of any gender identity or gender expression.

In accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you require accommodations for interviews or other meetings, please contact Lilianne Dang at ldang4@uwo.ca