Queen’s University’s Faculty of Arts and Science is seeking an outstanding researcher for a new Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Indigenous Studies. The position, to be advertised in the coming days, will support an emerging leader in indigenous scholarship and help to solidify Queen’s existing expertise in the field.

“This new CRC is a fantastic opportunity to enhance the fast-growing and important field of indigenous studies,” says Gordon Smith, Associate Dean, Faculty of Arts and Science. “It will promote a wider understanding of indigenous cultures, movements and issues.”

The CRC will be an interdisciplinary appointment within the Faculty of Arts and Science and will be cross-appointed between academic departments. This will allow students and scholars from multiple fields to benefit from this additional expertise.

“Indigenous studies is, by its very nature, an interdisciplinary field,” adds Dr. Smith. “We are therefore inviting applications from researchers with any disciplinary background and with any research focus within indigenous studies.”

Janice Hill, director of Queen’s Four Directions Aboriginal Student Centre and a member of the CRC search committee is delighted that this CRC will allow the university to better engage with indigenous communities.

“We are looking for a candidate who not only brings an exceptional research program, but also one who has strong connections with indigenous communities,” says Ms Hill. “We want this new chair to have the ability to bring people together and to build closer connections between the university, its indigenous students and local indigenous people.”

The Canada Research Chair program was established by the Government of Canada to attract outstanding researchers to Canadian universities. Tier two research chairs are directed at emerging scholars who have the potential to become internationally recognized leaders in their field.

Review of applicants will begin May 1 and the selection committee hopes to have the successful candidate at Queen’s by July 2014.