Call for 2023/2024 Black Research Network Faculty Fellows  

The Black Research Network (BRN) was launched in October 2021 as a University of Toronto Institutional Strategic Initiative to promote Black excellence at the University of Toronto.  Our mission is to enhance the research capacity of Black scholars within the university and on the world stage by developing or leveraging existing platforms to increase the visibility of Black scholars’ research accomplishments, sustain a cross-divisional, interdisciplinary network of Black scholars and facilitate robust research engagement across the U of T and internationally. The BRN envisions deep connections with Black communities outside of U of T and holds space for non-Black colleagues committed to addressing anti-Black racism to work alongside BRN members to achieve the goals of the network.    

BRN Faculty Fellows: Program Details  

We are launching the inaugural cohort of the BRN Faculty Fellows in line with BRN’s vision and strategic priorities. BRN fellowships will award $10,000 (CAD) in research engagement support for tenure and teaching stream faculty. This support will help BRN Faculty Fellows facilitate research in any academic discipline or multidisciplinary area, build disciplinary or multidisciplinary insights in given fields, and mobilize knowledge among the BRN network at U of T and on an international stage. The one-year fellowships are designed to support faculty in the areas of individual need, such as course release (with permission of chair); research funds; or honoraria – all subject to U of T guidelines.

BRN fellows will pursue the following objectives:  

• Advancing research in designated field(s)
• Contributing to the BRN strategic priorities and intellectual life by way of:
  • Knowledge mobilization
  • Engagement with BRN research cohorts (e.g., postdocs, wider BRN network etc.)
  • Recommendations for BRN programs (e.g., speakers’ series, research workshops, etc.) 

The BRN invites applications from tenure and teaching stream faculty at any stage of their research career. Four faculty fellowship positions are available. Each position will focus on one of the following areas:  

• Humanities, Arts and Black Studies  
• Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM)  
• Social Sciences, Law, and Science Technology Studies/History or Philosophy of Science 
• Queer and Gender Diversity Studies  
• Other research areas* 

*The application supports the four areas described. There will also be an opportunity to populate one “other” category as needed.