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PhD Research Assistant - Access Activations

Department: School of Disability Studies, Faculty of Community Services
Position supervisor: Dr. Eliza Chandler
Contract length: One year (with possibility of extension) 
Hours of work per week: 8 hours per week
Position type: OPSEU Research Assistant
Rate of pay: $35/hour

About Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University)

At the intersection of mind and action, Toronto Metropolitan University is on a transformative path to become Canada’s leading comprehensive innovation university. Integral to this path is the placement of equity, diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our institutional culture. Our current academic plan outlines each as core values and we work to embed them in all that we do.

Toronto Metropolitan University welcomes those who have demonstrated a commitment to upholding the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion and will assist us to expand our capacity for diversity in the broadest sense. In addition, to correct the conditions of disadvantage in employment in Canada, we encourage applications from members of groups that have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples, Indigenous peoples of North America, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and those who identify as women and/or 2SLGBTQ+. Please note that all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, applications from Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

As an employer, we are working towards a people first culture and are proud to have been selected as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers and a Greater Toronto’s Top Employer for 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. To learn more about our work environment, colleagues, leaders, students and innovative educational environment, visit www.torontomu.ca, check out @TorontoMet (external link) , @TorontoMetHR (external link)  and @ECItorontomet (external link)  on Twitter, and visit our LinkedIn company page (external link) .

About the Project

Access Activations

Access Activations is a SSHRC-funded Insight Grant project led by Dr. Eliza Chandler. It trains Deaf, disabled, mad, and neurodivergent students as "access activators" who will partner with arts and culture organizations across Canada to develop access practices rooted in critical access frameworks. The project explores the potential for critical access and cultural accessibility to drive transformative change in Canada’s arts and culture sector toward intersectional justice.

The opportunity

The PhD Research Assistant will play a pivotal role in supporting this project. This position offers an opportunity to develop leadership in critical disability studies and cultural accessibility research, collaborate with community partners, and contribute to community-based access practices and knowledge mobilization efforts that have a direct impact on Canada’s cultural landscape.

Key Responsibilities

  • Collaborate with the research team to onboard and recruit cultural organizations and students.
  • Conduct interviews with staff, volunteers, and board members at partner organizations, and analyze qualitative data.
  • Integrate findings from interviews, surveys, and focus groups into evaluative frameworks and internal and final reports.
  • Work with student access activators to develop access texts and plans rooted in critical access perspectives.
  • Participate in weekly 1-hour meetings with student access activators and organizations to present findings and refine accessibility practices collaboratively.
  • Contribute to knowledge mobilization through academic presentations and publications, workshops, and community-focused outputs.

Qualifications

  • Enrolled in a PhD program in any discipline that advances scholarship related to Disability Studies.
  • Demonstrated experience with qualitative research methodologies, including interviews and institutional ethnography.
  • Familiarity with critical access frameworks, cultural accessibility, and disability justice.
  • Experience with community-based research and working collaboratively with cultural or community organizations.
  • Deep understanding of intersectionality as it pertains to accessibility, equity, and systemic barriers in the arts and culture sector.
  • Strong writing skills, including experience drafting and revising reports.
  • Experience with translating research findings into accessible formats, such as community reports, toolkits, workshops, or policy recommendations

How to apply

Please send your resume and cover letter by January 10, 2025 to: Eliza Chandler (eliza.chandler@torontomu.ca) with the subject line “Application – Access Activations Research Assistant.”

Toronto Metropolitan University’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

  • We encourage all First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples or Indigenous peoples of North America, to self-identify in their applications. If you are an Indigenous applicant and require support during the recruitment process, please reach out to James McKay, Indigenous HR Lead at james13@torontomu.ca.
  • Toronto Metropolitan University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), and aims to ensure that independence, dignity, integration and equality of opportunity are embedded in all aspects of the university culture.
  • We will provide an accessible experience for applicants, students, employees, and members of the Toronto Metropolitan University community. We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the recruitment process. If you have restrictions that need to be accommodated to fully participate in any phase of the recruitment process,please reach out to Human Resources: 
  • All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.