School of Health Studies – Assistant Professor, Probationary (Tenure-Track), Health Studies (HS-294)

jobsnearcanada.com

FACULTY POSITION – Indigenous Scholar
Assistant Professor – Probationary (tenure-track) Indigenous health and/or health practices
School of Health Studies
Appointment Type and Rank: Assistant Professor, Probationary (tenure-track)
Number of Positions: One
Posting Date: February 25, 2026
Closing Date to Apply: April 30, 2026
Anticipated Start Date: September 1, 2026 or as negotiated
Compensation: $100,000 to $135,000 Annually

Position Profile: We are excited to welcome the first Indigenous Scholar to join our School of Health Studies at a pivotal stage of its evolution as a provider of education in health and wellbeing. As part of Western’s commitment to advancing Indigenous scholarship and research, and building upon the strong foundation established by our Indigenous Studies Program, Indigenous Faculty Advisory Council, and Office of Indigenous Initiatives, the School of Health Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, invites applications from exceptional Indigenous scholars for a Probationary (tenure track) appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor. The School of Health Studies (SHS), one of seven schools in the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS), is home to a large undergraduate Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc) program, and contributes to the Faculty wide Health & Rehabilitation Sciences graduate program and the Advanced Health Care Practice graduate program and the Interfaculty Program in Public Health.

In accordance with Section 14 of the Ontario Human Rights Code, this position is open only to Indigenous applicants as part of Western’s commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and our Indigenous Strategic Plan. Candidates must self-identify as Indigenous and complete and submit the Western Application Form for Indigenous Scholars as part of the application package.

The School of Health Studies is a leader in impactful interdisciplinary and international research, education and knowledge mobilization focused on health and wellbeing. Our mission is to nurture the creativity and critical thinking of tomorrow’s global leaders in health and wellbeing. Our innovative research programs address health and wellbeing across the life course including marginalized populations in general. Our undergraduate BHSc curriculum provides students with foundational and specialized training in the six dimensions of health (physical, mental, interpersonal, ecological, sociocultural, sociopolitical) studied through the lens of equity and social justice. The interdisciplinary focus of SHS is unique in FHS making it an ideal place to examine rapidly evolving health environments and diverse health-related experiences. We are engaged in research and scholarly activity in areas such as health promotion, health policy, public health, law, health equity and sustainability, and digital health. The School’s faculty and staff complement is diverse, and we welcome Indigenous people to be part of our journey of learning about health from all perspectives.
Western is home to a growing community of Indigenous faculty across varying disciplines, supported by the Indigenous Faculty Advisory Council, which provides mentorship, cultural guidance, and advocacy for Indigenous faculty members. The Office of Indigenous Initiatives offers programming, cultural spaces, and connections to local Indigenous communities including partnerships with N’Amerind Friendship Centre and Atlohsa Family Healing Services. Opportunities exist for collaboration with the Indigenous Studies Program, interdisciplinary research networks, and participation in campus-wide Indigenous initiatives. We recognize that this position offers the opportunity to be a foundational Indigenous voice in FHS while connecting with an established Indigenous scholarly community across Western.

Academic Expectations: We seek an Indigenous scholar whose research and teaching are grounded in Indigenous ways of knowing and relational accountability to Indigenous communities. We welcome candidates who centre Indigenous methodologies in their work, whether focusing on positive outcomes of Indigenous health initiatives, addressing systemic barriers to health care access, or other areas that serve Indigenous community priorities and contribute to resurgence and revitalization. Your expertise as an Indigenous person and scholar will enrich our curriculum, research environment, and broader university community, while your presence will provide essential mentorship and cultural connection for Indigenous students. We particularly welcome research programs that address Indigenous health issues, including but not exclusively, positive outcomes of Indigenous health initiatives within Indigenous communities and/or systemic and structural gaps and barriers to appropriate, accessible health care that Indigenous peoples experience within their own communities as well as within wider society. We welcome expertise in the views of Indigenous peoples in Canada.

Qualifications or Experience and Skills Required: The successful candidate will have a PhD or equivalent in health sciences or a related discipline (e.g., public health, bioethics, social epidemiology, health promotion, etc.). Appropriate to career stage, the successful candidate will have demonstrated a record of, or a strong potential for, excellence in scholarly research including, but not limited to, that carried out based on traditional/Indigenous knowledge and its practical application or dissemination as reflected by evidence of community-accessible knowledge sharing or other diverse modes of dissemination including peer-reviewed publications and contributions to policy briefs and reports. Evidence of or potential for external funding is preferable. The successful candidate will also have experience or demonstrated potential in developing and teaching courses across the six dimensions of health that centre on Indigenous perspectives, potentially including collaborations with Indigenous Studies. We seek someone committed to creating culturally safer learning environments and serving as a mentor to Indigenous students. The position has a workload of 40% Teaching, 40% Research, and 20% Service which could be adapted according to the successful candidate’s program of research and/or commitments to their community. We recognize that service to Indigenous students and communities is valuable scholarly contribution, and workload distribution can be adapted to support community-engaged research and cultural responsibilities. Successful candidates will have opportunities to collaborate with research Centres and Institutes in the FHS and Western (e.g. Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging, Centre for Research on Health Equity and Social Inclusion, the Rotman Institute of Philosophy and the new Centre for Bio-Ethics). Applicants must be committed to providing high quality, innovative and contemporary teaching and mentoring at graduate and undergraduate levels, in line with Western’s Data Strategy as well as its Indigenous Strategic Plan.
Compensation Details: Salary for this position will be $100,000 to $135,000 annually, commensurate with qualifications and experience. This position includes a comprehensive benefits package. Further details can be accessed at: https://www.uwo.ca/hr/benefits/your_benefits/faculty.html

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 University: Western University delivers an academic experience second to none. Western challenges the best and brightest faculty, staff, and students to commit to the highest global standards. Our research excellence expands knowledge and drives discovery with real-world application. Western attracts individuals with a broad worldview, seeking to study, influence, and lead in the international community. Since 1878, The Western Experience has combined academic excellence with life-long opportunities for intellectual, social, and cultural growth in order to better serve our communities.
To Apply: Interested applicants are invited to submit a complete application package, as a SINGLE PDF file, containing the following:

• SPECIAL APPLICATION FORM DEVELOPED BY THE OFICE OF FACULTY RELATIONS – https://www.uwo.ca/facultyrelations/careers/pdf/Health_Studies_Indigenous_Scholar_Application_Form_20261.pdf
• Cover letter that outlines your interest in joining our community and how Western’s Indigenous scholarly network and supports align with your professional and cultural needs, along with how your work advances equity and inclusion in health research and education
• Curriculum vitae
• Brief statement of your teaching philosophy and approach to creating culturally safer learning environments, your research methodology and community relationships, research accomplishments, and future research plans that serve Indigenous community priorities, and
• Names and contact information of three references (one of which must be academic)

The application package can be submitted via email to:
Dr. Rachel Forrester-Jones
Director and Professor School of Health Studies
Faculty of Health Sciences
222 – Arthur & Sonia Labatt Health Sciences Building Western University
London, Ontario, Canada N6A 2K5
shsdir@uwo.ca

Please quote number HS-294 on all correspondence for this position.

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 Dr. Rachel Forrester-Jones shsdir@uwoc.ca

To help us track our recruitment effort, please indicate in your cover/motivation letter where (jobsnearcanada.com) you saw this job posting.