The Michael Ridley Postdoctoral Fellowship in Digital Humanities, 2026-2028 | Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies

The Michael Ridley Postdoctoral Fellowship in Digital Humanities, 2026-2028

Department / Academic Unit: College of Arts & McLaughlin Library

Description of the Area/Topic of Research:

The University of Guelph seeks a postdoctoral fellow to join its vibrant digital humanities research and teaching program, which features an undergraduate major in Culture and Technology Studies, the DH@Guelph lecture and summer workshop series, and through the THINC Lab emphasizes feminist, interdisciplinary, and intersectional approaches to scholarship.

This is a two-year postdoctoral fellowship, named in honour of the former chief librarian and chief information officer of the University of Guelph, Michael Ridley, who did much to promote the digital humanities at the University of Guelph. As co-sponsors of this Fellowship, the College of Arts and the McLaughlin Library seek a recent PhD with an established digital humanities teaching and research agenda.

Description of Lab/Group/Area:

THINC Lab is the home of a wide range of research projects including collaborative tools and platforms, linked open data, maker spaces, virtual reality, digital editions, literary history, social media and culture, community oral histories, and critical infrastructure studies. It is housed in the McLaughlin Library which has a strong record of leadership and innovation related to open scholarship as well as rich rare book and archival holdings.

This fellowship will be awarded for the period July 2026-June 2028. Postdoctoral fellows will receive office space in the McLaughlin Library, access to the services of the University of Guelph, including administrative and research assistance, and will be expected to advance Library strategic priorities for instance by making use of the library’s collections which include strengths in culinary history, Canadian theatre history, landscape architecture, Scottish studies, and agricultural and rural heritage, or engaging in collaborative initiatives.

General Outline of Duties:

The successful applicant is expected to pursue the research project submitted in their application, and to actively promote the digital humanities at Guelph through their work for the THINC Lab, Culture and Technology Studies, and the McLaughlin Library. Specifically, their duties will include:

  • conducting original research;
  • building the digital humanities community at Guelph by helping organize events such as the DH@Guelph Speakers’ Series and the IF... Series advancing library strategic priorities, especially around fostering
  • connections across disciplines;
  • acting as a consultant for University instructors and graduate students interested in developing expertise in the digital humanities;
  • providing mentorship and guidance to junior scholars, including students in the Culture and Technology Studies program;
  • engaging with staff in relation to the application of digital technologies in library initiatives;
  • teaching two courses annually, in Culture and Technology Studies and, where appropriate, in another discipline in the College of Arts.

The distribution of effort for this position is 50% personal research, 30% collaborative research/service, and 20% teaching. Note that a regular presence on campus and in the THINC Lab is a requirement of this position. This is not a remote position. Some assistance with moving expenses is available.

Supervisor: Susan Brown 

Required Qualifications:

The successful applicant will have demonstrated experience and expertise in humanities computing (broadly understood) and will have completed a PhD in information science or the humanities within the last five years. The successful candidate will be cross-appointed between the College of Arts and the McLaughlin Library, with connections to units as per their area of disciplinary research.

Start Date & Duration of Appointment: July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2028

Anticipated Hours/Days of Work: 35/week (at time of posting)

Salary Information: Salary Range (Minimum): $41,676. It is valued at $71,000 per year (inclusive of sessional teaching) with a yearly research allowance of $10,000, plus benefits.

Employment Equity Statement: 

At the University of Guelph, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment where all individuals feel valued, respected, and supported. We believe that diversity in our research community enhances creativity, innovation, and excellence. THINC Lab and the McLaughlin Library are dedicated to promoting a culture of inclusion that welcomes diverse perspectives and experiences.

We encourage applications from all qualified individuals, including but not limited to women, members of racialized communities, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and individuals of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process and will work with applicants to provide accommodations as needed.

By embracing equity, diversity, and inclusion in our research and academic endeavors, we aim to create an environment that enriches the quality of life for everyone involved.

Application Requirements

Documents:

  • Cover Letter
  • CV
  • Summary of Research Experience
  • an application letter (1,500 words or less) outlining the candidate’s experience in digital humanities and/or library and information science, the research project they propose to undertake while at Guelph, and which courses in the CTS curriculum they would be suited to teach;

Applicants must have a PhD in hand at the time of application. They must submit required documents to artsadr@uoguelph.ca.

Special Instructions: Consideration of applications will begin on May 15 and will continue until the position is filled.

Criteria for selection are:

  • the quality and originality of the proposed research and its relevance to the information science/digital humanities;
  • the candidate’s fit with the mandate of DH@Guelph;
  • the candidate’s record of scholarly achievement; and their potential to contribute to the Culture and Technology Studies program and the Library’s strategic priorities. 

The selection committee will include representatives from the College of Arts and McLaughlin Library. International applications are welcome. 

Contact Info

Dr. Andrew Bailey
Associate Dean (Research & Graduate Studies)
Email: abailey@uoguelph.ca


Posting Date: Thu, 04/30/2026
Closing Date: Wed, 07/01/2026