It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of Dr. Michael Ium, a cherished colleague, scholar, and friend to many in our academic community.

Michael was born and raised in Toronto, the child of South Korean immigrants. He went on to complete degrees at the University of Toronto (B.Sc.), Maitripa College (M.A.), and the University of California, Santa Barbara’s Department of Religious Studies (M.A., Ph.D.). A historian of religion, his research focused on the religions of Tibet and South Asia, with particular attention to the early history of the Geluk tradition in Tibet.

In addition to advancing the academic study of Buddhism in Canada, Michael was deeply interested in what makes the Canadian Buddhist context unique—whether Canada’s multicultural framework or Buddhism’s theological engagement with other religious communities.

Michael held the distinction of being the first postdoctoral fellow jointly appointed in the Department for the Study of Religion and the Ho Centre for Buddhist Studies at the University of Toronto, where he quickly became a vibrant and deeply valued presence. In 2024, he began a postdoctoral fellowship at the Institute for Cultural and Intellectual History of Asia at the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW), where he was part of the European Research Council–funded project TibSchol: The Dawn of Tibetan Buddhist Scholasticism.

He also served as co-editor of the Canadian Journal of Buddhist Studies, contributing both his scholarly insight and collegial generosity to the field.

Michael’s warmth, enthusiasm, and scholarly dedication left a lasting impression on all who had the privilege of working with him. He will be profoundly missed—for his intellectual contributions and for the spirit of collegiality and kindness he brought to our community. Professor Rory Lindsay has been in contact with those close to Michael, and we will provide an update on plans for a memorial as they become available. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all who are mourning this sudden and heartbreaking loss.

March 11, 2025

Call for Proposals May 2025 – April 2026 Academic Year

We invite proposals for programs for the 2025–26 year due by April 11, 2025, including but not limited to:

• Community engagement and public outreach projects aligning with the Ho Centre’s mission
• Support for students
• Research workshops, lectures and retreats
• Language training/workshops
• Scholarly or public conversations, whether through digital media such as podcasting or videos, or physical media such as engaging with material culture and exhibitions

Please submit your proposal in one document that includes the following 5 items by April 11, 2025 to SeungJung Kim and copy Sam Keravica.

Proposal Format

1. Program description (including names of organizers and dates)
2. Program category (language training; research workshop/lecture; teaching support; podcast series; public outreach; other)
3. Projected audience type and anticipated numbers
4. Budget requested of HCBS*
5. Other funding sources or co-sponsorships

We encourage the submissions of proposals that demonstrate how it will foster diversity, equity, and inclusion, center on anti-colonial/de-colonial practices, or contribute to greater global sustainability and development through environmental literacy.

*If you are proposing to offer an honorarium to a visiting speaker, or hire work-study student/instructor, etc., please contact us for guidelines about the appropriate amount.

HCBS invests in carbon offset projects to help mitigate environmental effects of speaker travel through supporting environmental or sustainability initiatives (via Less, at www.less.ca) in Gold Standard-Certified International Carbon Emission Reduction projects in Southeast Asia, which include the development of Solid Waste Facilities in Vietnam and the development of Wastewater Treatment Facilities in Thailand. Other practices may include prioritizing low-waste catering, reusable dishware, and the use of video-conference meetings instead of travel.

If you would like to discuss your ideas with us in advance, please get in touch! We look forward to hearing your ideas and working with you over the next year.

Posting date: February 14, 2024

The Department for the Study of Religion (DSR) and the Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Centre for Buddhist Studies (Ho Centre) at the University of Toronto invite applications from recent holders of a PhD (2022 and onward) in the Study of Religion (or cognate field) for a postdoctoral fellowship in the interdisciplinary field of the study of Buddhism. We welcome applications from scholars engaging in a diverse range of methods and time periods, including those working in the study of Buddhism and its intersections with race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality. We also welcome candidates who are familiar with or willing to engage in digital humanities projects and/or public outreach. The postdoctoral fellowship is a one-year position, from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, with the possibility of a one-year renewal.

In addition to conducting research in their area of expertise, the responsibilities of the postdoc include: teaching 1.0 FCE (2 courses) per year in the DSR; the Fellow is also expected to contribute to Ho Centre initiatives (pedagogy projects or public outreach, etc.) and to organize and host a public event/program/conference of their design in keeping with the Ho Centre mission. The theme and format of this event will be determined at the beginning of the Fellow’s term, together with the Ho Centre Director.

The Fellow will be provided with workspace, library privileges, and full access to the university’s electronic resources. Postdoctoral fellows are expected to be in residence and to contribute to the intellectual life of the DSR and the Ho Centre through active participation in seminars, workshops, and other events. The Postdoctoral Fellow will be jointly supervised by a DSR faculty member in their research area (appointed by the Chair) and the Ho Centre Director.

The Department for the Study of Religion is located at the University of Toronto, one of the world’s leading research universities. Building upon the expertise of our faculty and the extensive resources of the university, the Department for the Study of Religion is uniquely positioned to nurture critical scholarship and teaching. We draw students from across the world and are situated in one of the most diverse metropolitan regions in North America, on the traditional lands of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit River.

The Ho Centre promotes excellence in research and teaching of Buddhist Studies across all three University of Toronto campuses and is housed administratively within the Department for the Study of Religion. The Ho Centre’s programs and events explore the way Buddhist traditions have grown and developed, how they have been understood and transformed, and how we can think about them with discipline in our religiously plural environment.

Salary: $63,000 (plus benefits)

Application deadline: February 29, 2024.

To apply, please send your application with the following information (in a single PDF document) to Tanya Proulx, Chair’s Assistant and Office Administrator, via email: tanya.proulx@utoronto.ca:
• Statement of interest describing your professional and academic experience and specifying your proposed research project and your possible idea for a public-facing event/program/conference sponsored by the Ho Centre
• CV
• List of DSR courses interested in teaching, and one sample syllabus
• Teaching statement of no more than 2 pages
• Two letters of recommendation (to be sent directly to tanya.proulx@utoronto.ca). If candidate is currently ABD, please make sure the letter specifies a projected dissertation completion date.

Employment as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto is covered by the terms of the CUPE 3902 Unit 5 Collective Agreement. The normal hours of work are 40 hours per week for a full-time postdoctoral fellow (pro-rated for those holding a partial appointment) recognizing that the needs of the employee’s research and training and the needs of the supervisor’s research program may require flexibility in the performance of the employee’s duties and hours of work. The award is open to both domestic and international candidates. Successful international candidates must meet all Canadian immigration requirements.

The University of Toronto is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons / persons of colour, women, Indigenous / Aboriginal People of North America, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.