The Department of History and Carleton Centre for Public History at Carleton University is
accepting applications for a postdoctoral fellowship in Critical Public History and Museology.
The anticipated start date will be 01 August 2022 with a duration of two (2) years. The
postdoctoral fellow will be involved in projects that examine the origins and legacies of
settler-colonialism in collection development and scientific practice in the Canadian Museum of
Nature (CMN) with a focus on the Canadian North.
Department and Partner Background Information
Established in 2006, the Carleton Centre for Public History (CCPH) at Carleton University
(located in Ottawa, Canada) is dedicated to innovation, community and institutional
engagement, facilitating interdisciplinary public historical and critical heritage research, and
mentoring new scholars and practitioners. Besides being a research associate in the CCPH, the
fellow will also join a dynamic scholarly community within the Department of History, including
more than 25 graduate students (both MA and PhD) pursuing degrees in public history.
In addition to working with the research project supervisor, the fellow will also work in
collaboration and with the support of the Canadian Museum of Nature Foundation and CMN
staff. The Foundation financially supports the Canadian Museum of Nature’s scientific and
educational activities through direct solicitation of donations from high profile individuals,
foundations and corporations. Having more historical knowledge and a better understanding of
the Canadian Museum of Nature’s collection practices will support the Canadian Museum of
Nature Foundation in engaging with funders and potential funders transparently, ethically, and
consciously in its work to fund important projects at the Museum.
Research Project Overview
The objective of this fellowship is to report on the historical, institutional, and systematic othering
of knowledges, peoples, and places through the research and collection practices at the
Canadian Museum of Nature and its predecessors–the Geological Survey of Canada, the
National Museum of Canada, and the National Museum of Natural Sciences. The fellow’s work
will also contribute to the Canadian Museum of Nature’s ongoing development of a framework
for more responsible and ethical scientific and collection practices. The outcomes of this
research will also be provided to communities and partners in the North, via established
institutional partnerships and memoranda of agreements and understanding. If time allows, the
fellow will also assist CMN in asking communities and partners in the North what if any further
research they want to see done at the conclusion of this fellowship.
The postdoctoral fellow will be engaged primarily in archival research and oral history
interviewing mostly in Ottawa-Gatineau but also, if time and resources permit, in Nunavut and
the Northwest Territories. Training in CMN’s collection management system (Emu), oral history,
and archival methodologies will be provided as required. As well, the fellow will receive
professional mentoring from a wide range of non-Indigenous and Indigenous staff, advisors, and
board members at CMN and at the Canadian Museum of Nature Foundation, in addition to
those at Carleton University.
Research Project Supervisor and Principal Investigator
Dr. John C. Walsh, Associate Professor of History and Co-Director, Carleton Centre for Public
History.
The fellow will also work closely with Sean Tudor, Head, Collection Services and Information
Management at the Canadian Museum of Nature.
Salary
The postdoctoral fellow will be paid an average salary of $45,000 per annum (including an
extended health and dental benefit plan) for 2 years. They will be considered unionized and will
be a member of PSAC Local 77000.The fellow will also be provided with financial support to
purchase equipment, travel for research, and attend scholarly and professional meetings at a
minimum of $5000 per annum. This fellowship is supported by Mitacs through the Mitacs
Accelerate Program, the Canadian Museum of Nature Foundation, and Carleton University.
The fellow will be provided with office and work space at the Canadian Museum of Nature’s
Natural Heritage Campus in Gatineau, Quebec as well as have access to the Carleton Centre
for Public History’s office space and its associated technologies.
Position Duties and Responsibilities
The incumbent of this position will, under the direction of Dr. John C. Walsh, be responsible for
leading the research activities of the project, including but not limited to the following core
responsibilities:
1) Conducting archival and oral historical research
2) Compiling a final research report responding to the initial research questions
3) Organizing a workshop / short lecture series in collaboration with Carleton University, The
Canadian Museum of Nature Foundation, and The Centre for Arctic Knowledge and Exploration
at the Canadian Museum of Nature
4) Collaborating with a team at the Canadian Museum of Nature Foundation and CMN to
develop a framework for further reconciliation of collection practices at the Canadian Museum of
Nature
Job Requirements
1) A completed PhD in History, Public History, Critical Heritage, Library, Information, and
Archival Studies, Art History, Cultural Studies, Anthropology, Sociology, Geography, or any other
discipline related to the scope of the research objectives. (Note: “completed PhD” refers to the
start of the fellowship and not necessarily at the time of application.)
2) An ability to be based in the National Capital region.
3) While the majority of the research will involve English-language materials, the fellow will need
to conduct some archival research in French. French and / or Inuktitut are considered strong
assets.
4) Experience with collaborative research practices is also considered a strong asset.
Accommodations and Accessibility
Should you require a copy of this posting in an alternate format, please contact us as soon as
possible and we would be happy to get one to you in a timely manner. We believe in the
importance of supporting on the-job success for the incumbent and are pleased to discuss
and/or provide specific tools, resources or other requirements for day-to-day work requirements,
as needed.
About Carleton University
Carleton University is a dynamic and innovative research and teaching institution with a national
and international reputation as a leader in collaborative teaching and learning, research and
governance. To learn more about our university and the City of Ottawa, please visit
www.carleton.ca/provost. Carleton University is committed to fostering diversity within its
community as a source of excellence, cultural enrichment, and social strength. We welcome
those who would contribute to the further diversification of our university including, but not
limited to: women; visible minorities; First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples; persons with
disabilities; and persons ofany sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression. Carleton
understands that career paths vary. Legitimate career interruptions will in no way prejudice the
assessment process and their impact will be taken into careful consideration.
We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be
contacted. If contacted for an interview, please inform us should accommodation be required,
and arrangements will be made in a timely manner. All qualified candidates are encouraged to
apply.
How to Apply
Please send your application as a single file to john.walsh@carleton.ca. Application materials
should include: i) a cover letter describing career goals, research interests, and reasons for
applying; ii) your CV; iii) contact information for two (2) references. Please use the same email
address to ask any questions about this position and / or about the application process. The
deadline for Applications is June 24, 2022 (or until the position is filled).