Research Assistant, Reproduction in Crisis

Founded in 1910 and located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Mount Royal University grew into a vibrant college in the 1930s and became a mid-sized university in 2009. Mount Royal has carved out a distinct niche by offering smaller class sizes, a robust liberal education and unique undergraduate programs. Currently, more than 15,000 credit students choose from 13 bachelor degrees and 36 majors.

Mount Royal University is located in the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and the people of the Treaty 7 region in southern Alberta, which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut'ina and the Iyarhe Nakoda. We are situated on land where the Bow River meets the Elbow River. The traditional Blackfoot name of this place is "Mohkinstsis," which we now call the city of Calgary. The city of Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation.

Mount Royal University is committed to removing barriers and fostering the inclusion of voices that have been historically underrepresented or discouraged in our society. In support of our belief that diversity in our faculty and staff enriches the work, learning and research experiences for the entire campus community, we strongly encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply and self-identify.

The research assistant will be helping to develop literature review and manage data related to a book project entitled “Reproduction in Crisis.” Offering a queer reproductive justice analysis, this book aims to illustrate how the contemporary panic around falling and rising birth rates— and shifting racial, sexual, and gender demographics— is inextricably tied to homophobia and transphobia.

The focus of this research assistantship will be on collecting, organizing and managing data on 1) ‘replacement theory’ and demographic politics in right-wing extremism and conspiratorial thinking; 2) the ‘parental rights’ movement in the Canadian context; and 3) the connection between ‘fertility crises’ and anti-trans policies in North America, the UK, and Europe.

The research assistant will begin as early as March 15th and work for six weeks (10 hours per week) supervised by Corinne L. Mason (they/them), Professor of Women’s and Gender Studies (Department of Humanities).

The research assistant can work from anywhere but should be able to access physical materials at the MRU library if/when necessary.

• Collect, organize, and manage literature including peer-reviewed academic sources, reports, news media, blogs, forums, and/or social media on Google Drive
• Summary and initial analysis of academic sources
• Citations management via Zotero or other citation tools
• Bi-weekly meetings (online or in person)

• Minor in Women’s and Gender Studies and Major in Sociology, or other related discipline
• Interest in in Queer and Trans Studies
• Prior research assistant experience considered an asset

Salary:                             $25.00 per hour

Closing Date:                  March 10, 2024   

A cover letter and resume should be submitted in one .pdf formatted document. Please title your .pdf document as follows: [Last Name], [Requisition Number].pdf (ex. Smith, Coordinator, 999999.pdf).

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens, permanent residents and others currently eligible to work in Canada will be given priority.

Recent Mount Royal graduates who are foreign nationals may be eligible to work on campus.  Please refer to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website under Post-Graduation Employment at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/index.asp .