Closing Date: November 3, 2025, 11:59PM ET
The David A. Dunlap Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics (DADDAA) and the Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics (DIAA) in the Faculty of Arts and Science at the University of Toronto together invite applications for a full-time tenure stream position in the area of experimental astrophysics. This will be a joint appointment between the DADDAA (51%) and the Dunlap Institute (49%) at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor, with an anticipated start date of 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.
Applicants must have earned a PhD degree in astronomy, astrophysics, or a related area, with a clearly demonstrated record of excellence in research and teaching. We seek candidates whose research and teaching interests complement and enhance the existing strengths of the DADDAA and the Dunlap Institute. Candidates will have an established international reputation and will be expected to sustain and lead an innovative, independent, competitive, and externally funded instrumentation-driven research program; supervise research projects carried out by graduate and undergraduate students; teach undergraduate and postgraduate courses; and engage in university service activities.
We seek candidates who develop and apply innovative instrumentation to advance our understanding of the Universe, with a focus on potential scientific impact. In their application materials, the successful candidate must:
- Demonstrate experience in astronomical instrumentation through the construction of astronomical instruments as a lead/senior investigator, while also demonstrating strong technical and scientific leadership in the national and international context;
- Present a strong instrumentation development plan, with a focus on how their vision can be achieved at the University of Toronto;
- Demonstrate experience in working within instrumentation teams, as well as developing collaborations and working collaboratively; and
- Demonstrate their capacity to prepare the leaders of the future in astronomical instrumentation, by recruiting, supervising, training and mentoring research students, early-career researchers, and technical staff from a diverse range of backgrounds and levels of ability.
Candidates must provide evidence of research excellence which can be demonstrated by the applicant’s cover letter, a sustained record of high-impact contributions and publications in top-ranked and field relevant journals, the submitted research statement, presentations at significant conferences, awards and accolades, and other noteworthy activities that contribute to the visibility and prominence of the discipline, as well as strong endorsements from referees of high standing.
Evidence of excellence in teaching will be demonstrated by sustained teaching accomplishments, and the teaching dossier, including a teaching statement, sample course materials, and teaching evaluations or other evidence of superior performance in teaching-related activities (e.g. development of novel teaching methodologies) submitted as part of the application, as well as strong letters of reference.
Salary and rank will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
The University of Toronto offers the opportunity to teach, conduct research, and live in one of the most diverse cities in the world. The David A. Dunlap Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics is actively engaged in a wide range of observational and theoretical research and offers Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees, as well as a wide range of graduate and undergraduate courses. Together with our sibling units, the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics (CITA) and Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics (Dunlap), there are close to 100 faculty members, post-doctoral fellows and graduate students here that make up a lively and diverse atmosphere in research, teaching and outreach. Our graduate students come to Toronto from around the world with a wide range of academic backgrounds. They enjoy working with leading researchers in various fields, and are actively engaged in outreach programmes. The Dunlap Institute has a strong focus on developing innovative astronomical technologies, has a large prize postdoctoral program (the Dunlap Fellowships) and has substantive programs in professional training, such as the yearly Dunlap Instrumentation Summer School, education (Discover the Universe), and public outreach, which include programs such as Astronomy on Tap T.O. The successful candidate will benefit from proximity to Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics (CITA), a renowned national theory institute. University of Toronto astronomers have access to a wide range of observational facilities with access to JWST, CHIME, CHORD, Gemini, CFHT, SDSS-V, and MWA. The Dunlap Institute has facilitated Canadian access to the LSST program on the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. Finally, Canada is a major partner of the Thirty Meter Telescope project.
All qualified candidates are invited to apply online by clicking the link below. Applicants must submit:
- a cover letter
- a current curriculum vitae including a full list of publications
- a research statement of no more than five pages including instrument development/laboratory plans, and
- a teaching dossier that includes a teaching statement, sample course materials, and teaching evaluations or evidence of performance in other teaching-related activities.
Equity, diversity and inclusion are essential to academic excellence as articulated in University of Toronto’s Statement on Equity, Diversity and Excellence. We seek candidates who share these values and who demonstrate throughout the application materials their commitment and efforts to advance equity, diversity, inclusion, and the promotion of a respectful and collegial learning and working environment.
The research and teaching statements must each address the applicant’s capacities to teach, train and support a diverse body of students/trainees and to meaningfully advance equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the relevant contexts, as per the expectations listed above. For information about the University’s approach to equity, diversity, and inclusion in research and innovation see https://ediri.utoronto.ca.
Applicants must provide the name and contact information of three references. 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 http://uoft.me/how-to-apply. 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. If you have any questions about this position, please contact the DADDAA department and faculty search chair, Professor Jo Bovy, at chair@astro.utoronto.ca.
All application materials, including recent reference letters, must be received by November 3, 2025.
The University of Toronto has adopted the AAU Principles in Preventing Sexual Harassment in Academia, including the requirement that applicants release personnel information from prior employers regarding sexual misconduct. Full details and requirements can be found here: https://www.aau.edu/key-issues/campus-climate-and-safety/aau-principles-preventing-sexual-harassment-academia
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
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 http://uoft.me/UP.
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 uoft.careers@utoronto.ca
