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:
This project maps and studies the various intersections between Holocaust memory and representations of genocidal atrocities in African contexts. It aims to establish new frameworks for understanding this entanglement of Holocaust and African traumatic memories. The primary source materials of the study will consist of literary works, analysis of which will be supplemented by films, visual arts, photographs, oral histories, and scholarly works produced in response to mass atrocities in African contexts, including Ethiopia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, among others.
Duties:
- Conducting library, archival, and online research to source primary and secondary materials relevant to the project.
- Reviewing, summarising, and annotating a corpus of literary and cultural texts related to mass atrocity experiences in African contexts.
- Preparing and maintaining literature reviews and annotated bibliographies.
- Assisting with textual and discourse analysis of primary literary sources.
- Supporting data organisation, file management, and documentation of research findings.
- Drafting sections of research reports and meeting minutes.
- Participating in regular team meetings with me (minimum once monthly, in person or via Zoom).
- Preparing and presenting at least one conference paper based on the project at an academic conference (travel funding will be provided).
- Contributing to knowledge mobilisation activities associated with the project, including public lectures and community engagement events.
Qualifications:
- Currently enrolled in an MA program in English, Cultural Studies, or a related graduate program.
- Demonstrated experience conducting academic research, including literature reviews and annotated bibliographies.
- Strong analytical writing skills and familiarity with literary or cultural criticism methodologies.
- Proficiency with academic research databases and archival research methods.
- Ability to manage multiple tasks and work collaboratively within a research team.
- Background or coursework in one or more of the following: African literature and culture, postcolonial studies, genocide and Holocaust studies, memory and trauma studies, or comparative literature.
- Training will be provided in the following areas:
- Research ethics and responsible conduct of research
- Trauma-informed research practices
- Library, archival, and online research methods
- Literature review and annotated bibliography preparation
- Textual and discourse analysis in postcolonial literary/cultural criticism
- Academic writing and research report preparation
- Conference presentation and knowledge mobilisation
- Workshops on vicarious trauma, stress management, and researcher wellness will be arranged through the Crisis and Trauma Resource Institute (Winnipeg). The University of Winnipeg’s Centre for Research in Cultural Studies and the UW library may also be engaged to provide supplementary training sessions.
Condition(s) of Employment:
- Must be legally entitled to work in Canada.
The period of work will be from Septamber 1, 2026 - December 18, 2026 and the estimated total hours of work will be 150-200 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 human_resources@uwinnipeg.ca.
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 human_resources@uwinnipeg.ca.