Research assistant – casual position

Start date: July 15, 2025

Application deadline: Will remain until filled

Term: July 15, 2025, to April 30, 2026

Supervisor: Dr. Katie MacDonald

Faculty: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Status: 6–10 hours per week over a nine-month period

Community Housing Labour Podcast Project

Overview

We are seeking a temporary, part-time Research Assistant for a SSHRC-CMHC funded project focused on labour in the community housing sector. This position supports the development and dissemination of a podcast series that explores key challenges and innovations in this sector. The Research Assistant will work closely with the project co-leads to research, design, and pitch a peer-reviewed podcast highlighting the lived experiences, expertise, and visions of individuals working in and advocating for community housing.

This research is part of a larger grant initiative that examines the roles of paid and unpaid labour in the community housing sector—an essential pillar of Canada’s National Housing Strategy (NHS).

Timeline of Activities

  • August–September 2025: Collaborate with project co-leads to develop and refine the podcast pitch (conduct a scan of current podcasts, develop description, etc.)
  • September–December 2025: Conduct a comprehensive literature review (academic and grey literature) on labour in the community housing sector
  • January–April 2026: Further develop the podcast proposal, including sample episodes and refining structure and themes
  • Spring 2026: Submit the completed podcast pitch for peer review and/or funding

Key Responsibilities

  • Supporting the conceptual development and proposal of a peer-reviewed podcast
  • Conducting a literature review relevant to labour in the community housing sector
  • Assisting in podcast planning, guest coordination, and potentially aspects of production
  • Attending regular team meetings and contributing to the collaborative research process
  • Providing input on research-creation strategies, including the use of mailed “creation boxes” for participant engagement

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will:

  • Have academic or professional experience conducting literature reviews and synthesizing both scholarly and grey literature
  • Demonstrate familiarity with podcasting, including concept development, production, or storytelling in audio formats
  • Show interest or experience in housing issues, community-based research, and/or labour studies
  • Be comfortable working independently and collaboratively in a remote work environment
  • Possess excellent communication, organizational, and time management skills

Equity and Inclusion

We especially encourage applications from individuals with lived experience in the community housing sector, and from equity-deserving groups, including Indigenous peoples, racialized individuals, 2SLGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, and others historically underrepresented in research and media production.

Compensation

Rate of pay will be commensurate with experience and in accordance with the relevant collective agreement.

How to apply

Interested candidates are invited to submit the following materials as a single PDF by email with the subject line “CHC Labour RA Application”:

  • A brief cover letter outlining your skills, experience, and interest in the project
  • A current resume or curriculum vitae
  • The contact information of 1–2 references

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Katie MacDonald at macdonaldk@athabascau.ca

Assistantship