*This posting will be used to hire 2 positions*
Research Assistants are normally students, in a University of Winnipeg undergraduate program, employed to assist with tasks related to research. Work is performed within defined guidelines and under supervision of a more senior researcher or faculty member.
Position Overview:
The RA for this project will assist with the organising and delivery of "Provocations: Unsettling African Migrations in Canada," a three-day international interdisciplinary conference to be held at the University of Winnipeg, September 17-19, 2026. The conference brings together leading and emerging scholars, community-based researchers, artists, and advocates to examine the encounter between African migration and the settler colonial structure of Canadian society. The position also provides post-conference support for an edited volume to be developed from conference papers.
Duties:
- Assist in logistics planning and scheduling for the three-day conference program, including keynote lectures, thematic panels, and roundtable discussions.
- Coordinate correspondence with invited speakers, panelists, and community participants.
- Support travel, accommodation, and catering arrangements for conference participants.
- Prepare and manage registration materials, programs, and conference documentation.
- Assist with setup, on-site coordination, and post-conference wrap-up tasks.
- Conduct literature searches and compile bibliographic resources relevant to the conference themes, including African migration, diaspora studies, settler colonialism, and decolonial thought.
- Assist with the preparation of grant reports, correspondence, and other project documents.
- Support the editorial process for the forthcoming conference volume, including communicating with chapter contributors and tracking submission deadlines.
- Perform data entry, document formatting, and record keeping.
- Assist in drafting communications for conference promotion, including email correspondence and social media content.
- Liaise with University of Winnipeg administrative offices, community partners, and external stakeholders as directed.
- Provide administrative support to the conveners throughout the project period.
- And any other tasks related to the project that may be required.
Qualifications:
- Enrolment in a graduate program, or completion of at least 60 credit hours in an undergraduate program, at the University of Winnipeg or another recognised post-secondary institution.
- Background in a relevant field such as English, African Studies, Cultural Studies, Postcolonial Studies, Sociology, History, or a related discipline.
- Demonstrated interest in African diaspora, migration, settler colonialism, or related areas of scholarship.
- Strong organizational, time management, and communication skills.
- Ability to work independently and meet deadlines with limited supervision.
- Proficiency in standard office and research software (Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, reference management tools).
Condition(s) of Employment:
- Must be legally entitled to work in Canada.
The period of work will be from July 27, 2026 - December 31, 2026 and the estimated total hours of work will be 50-150 hours.
Note: This position is represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada - Research Capacity Unit.
Note: The work described in this posting will be conducted in-person.
The University of Winnipeg is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognizes that a diverse staff and faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research environments, and is essential to academic and institutional excellence. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals and encourage women, racialized persons, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQ+ persons to confidentially self-identify at time of application.
The University of Winnipeg is committed to ensuring employment opportunities are accessible for all applicants. If you require accommodation supports during the recruitment process, please contact [email protected].
The personal information of applicants is collected under the authority of the University of Winnipeg Act and 36(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. All personal information collected via the recruitment process is used to assess the applicant’s suitability, eligibility, and qualifications for employment, and to otherwise support recruitment activities. This information will be provided to participating members of the recruitment process. Questions regarding the collection of your personal information may be directed to the Director, HR Services, 515 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3B 2E9 or [email protected].
