Graduate Research Assistant: All the things that remind me of you

OCAD University acknowledges the ancestral territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Haudenosaunee, the Anishinaabeg and the Huron-Wendat, who are the original owners and custodians of the land on which we work, stand and create.

OCAD University , Canada’s largest and oldest art and design university, is a vibrant community of bold, curious and compassionate artists, designers and scholars who are imagining and creating a joyful, equitable and sustainable world. The University is an internationally renowned hub for art, design, digital media, research, innovation and creativity, and arts administration. It embraces collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches to change-making through art, design-thinking curriculum and research, making OCAD U a local, regional, national and global leader in art and design.

It is an exciting time to join the OCAD U community. The University is at a key stage in its institutional transformation, with the implementation of its Academic and Strategic Plan  and guiding principles—driving positive impact, decolonization, indigenization, and equity, environmental sustainability, emerging as a vibrant hub, student-centered approaches, innovation in learning, teaching, and research, and financial stewardship.

Project Details:

All the things that remind me of you is a funded project to extend research work into personal narratives and to build upon personal photographs of objects collected and displayed in the artist Michelle Forsyth’s home. She will build a body of work that is more focused on these things, both horded and collected, over her lifetime. This work will take cues from a course she developed and taught for the first time at OCAD last fall entitled: DRPT-2024 Drawing from Objects.  

Seeking a Graduate research assistant to help the Principal Investigator, Associate Professor, Michelle Forsyth, develop research needed to write a series of personal essays about objects by identifying literature that applies to new understandings of objecthood. A GRA will assist with deepening this research and develop a series of narratives tying her practice as an artist with other knowledge modalities.  

Responsibilities:

• Working under the supervision of the Principal Investigator, Michelle Forsyth, in support of the project’s research goals and objectives
• Assisting with data collection, literature searches, data compilation, processing, entry and analysis
• Assist with developing a more robust bibliography
• Assist with literary searches and reviewing the material
• Assist with diversifying literary materials and introducing a diversity of artists to the course outline, readings and work samples
• Assisting with the preparation of proposals, progress and final reports
• Assisting with the promotion of research activities
• Assisting with project coordination, budget management and administration of research activities
• Working with Technicians and other research personnel, where relevant, by ensuring the appropriate and safe use of materials, equipment and/or facilities
• Participating in the provision of safe and secure environment for all members of the University community and its facilities

Qualifications:

• Completion of a BFA or relevant degree, and current enrollment in a Graduate Program and/or equivalent training and professional experience. Priority will be given to current OCAD U students. 
• Where relevant, sound knowledge of, and commitment to, healthy and safe work practices
• Where relevant, strong organizational, interpersonal, oral and written communications and problem-solving skills
• Prior familiarity with New Materialism and Object-Oriented Ontology an asset.
• Indigenous knowledge is an asset
• Knowledge of disabilities is considered is an advantage
• Demonstrated commitment to the principles of equity and diversity and experience promoting a respectful work and learning environment for students, staff and faculty

Hours of Work:  10 hours per week over the period July 22, 2024, to August 30, 2024.

Work Environment: The position will be conducted online, with some in person library research. There is also the possibility of onsite at the Principal Investigator’s studio in Toronto, ON, but not a requirement of the role. Candidates outside of Toronto will be considered. 

Compensation: $33.78 (Graduate Rate) per hour, subject to qualifications, plus 6% in lieu of benefits plus vacation pay, as applicable, per the provisions of the Employment Standards Act

Please note the following:

• Applicants must be eligible to work in Canada for any employer (with a valid work or study permit, SIN and Canadian bank account).
• This appointment is conditional upon funding of the Project by OCAD U’s external funding partner(s)
• If you are a work or study permit holder, please note a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN) and Canadian bank account is a condition of employment.
  

Applications should include:

1.     A one-page cover letter explaining the candidate’s interest

2.     A curriculum vitae

3.     The contact information for three (3) referees

Please upload all three (3) components as one PDF. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please name your upload:  FirstName_LastName-Job Code

Interested applicants are invited to submit their application in confidence addressed to, Michelle Forsyth, Tenured Associate Professor, Faculty of Art, online by clicking the “Apply Now” button below.

The review of applications will begin on 28, July, 2024 and will continue until the position has been filled.

If you require application  support, please contact the People & Culture  Office. Please note  that People & Culture cannot update you on the status of your application as these searches are decentralized. You will only be contacted if you are shortlisted for an interview. If the posting is advertised, we are still accepting applications.

As an employer committed to employment equity, we encourage applications from members of equity-seeking communities including women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities/expressions.

We encourage members of designated equity-seeking groups to self-identify within the voluntary Applicant Questionnaire .

  OCAD U is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier free experience to applicants with accessibility needs. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage during the recruitment process. Please contact People & Culture for more information or refer to OCAD U’s Policy of Accommodation in Employment for Persons with Disabilities .

All qualified persons are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority. While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those short-listed will be contacted.