PhD Research Assistant (Digital) for the Early Childhood Pedagogies Collaboratory Zine Conversation Series

Department: Early Childhood Studies
Position supervisor: Dr. Nicole Land
Contract length: July 1, 2024 to April 31, 2025
Hours of work per week: Flexible; 80 hours total
Position type: Non-union casual
Rate of pay: $44.35/hour 

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)  .

The Early Childhood Pedagogies Collaboratory (external link)  is a Canadian hybrid and experimental space where educators and pedagogues trace and experiment with the contours, conditions, and complexities of early childhood education pedagogies in the 21st century. The Early Childhood Pedagogies Collaboratory is co-directed by Dr. Nicole Land, Dr. Cristina Delgado Vintimilla, Dr. Veronica Pacini-Ketchabaw, Dr. Kathleen Kummen, and Dr. Denise Hodgins. 

Following its mandate to provide a public space for weaving intellectual creativity with lived pedagogical relationships, the Early Childhood Pedagogies Collaboratory is hosting a Zine Conversation Series that will entail multiple activities and online gatherings over 10 months beginning in June 2024. The Zine Conversation Series will share stories of local pedagogies illustrated in short zines created by educators, researchers, and other stakeholders. Zines will be printed and distributed to participants. Collective online gatherings will create an opportunity for participants to discuss zines towards crafting innovative responses to contemporary ethics and politics, and activating possibilities for Canadian early childhood education. 

The Research Assistant (Digital) will collaborate with a postdoctoral associate to directly support educators, researchers, and other stakeholders to produce zines utilizing stories, writing, images, and visual documentation that zine creators provide. The Research Assistant will work closely with the organizers a postdoctoral associate, and a second research assistant. 

The Early Childhood Pedagogies Collaboratory Zine Conversation Series is supported by a SSHRC Connection Grant.

• Current PhD student in field related to education or childhood studies (including broader studies of culture, learning, or pedagogy)
  • Current MA students who anticipate completing their degree in 2024 and who have committed to begin a doctoral program in 2024 or 2025 can be considered
• Experience with or demonstrated ability to learn Adobe InDesign; expertise in digital art and/or photography design
• Experience teaching or providing professional development to professionals and/or students
• Interest in creating innovative knowledge mobilization methodology
• Research interest broadly related to education or childhood in the Canadian context
• Flexible availability for online consultation and online synchronous gatherings in all Canadian time zones 

• Collaborating with a postdoctoral associate to support early childhood educators, researchers, and other professionals in the early childhood field to create short knowledge mobilization zines using InDesign
  • Working with postdoctoral associate to plan and deliver four 1-hour workshops for creators (2 hours preparation x 4 workshops + 4 hours direct facilitation = 12 hours)
  • 1:1 creator support and troubleshooting (28 hours)
• Assist with knowledge mobilization tasks (28 hours)
  • Assist with co-creating support documents, preparing zines for website, post-event outreach, co-authoring methodology article
  • Attending synchronous gatherings, 
• Administration and communication (team meetings/communication = 12 hours)

Interested applicants should submit the following documentation to Dr. Nicole Land ([email protected] ) by June 14, 2024:

• 2-page letter detailing your interest in and fit with (a) the Early Childhood Pedagogies Collaboratory Zine Conversation Series and (b) this Research Assistant role
• 2 examples illustrating expertise in digital art and/or photography design; evidence of proficient with InDesign preferred

• 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 [email protected] .
• 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 to Human Resources: 
• All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.