Department: Journalism
Position supervisor: Adrian Ma
Contract length: 8 weeks
Hours of work per week: 11 - 12 (total 105 hours)
Location: Hybrid
Position type: Research Assistant
Rate of pay: $30/hr

About Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University)

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.

About the project

This research initiative explores emerging forms of interdisciplinary and hybrid storytelling across media platforms/analogue experiences and examines how creative nonfiction storytelling is evolving through multimodal, cross-disciplinary, mixed-media, and participatory formats. The goal is to develop a conceptual framework that can inform future pedagogical and research initiatives, such as cross-disciplinary courses, workshops and open-access training materials. The Research Assistant will help map the theoretical and practice-based landscape of hybrid storytelling and assist in synthesizing findings into a structured research framework that may support future workshops, publications, and grant development. This role is well suited to a Master’s student with strong research and writing skills and an interest in interdisciplinary media, research-creation, or narrative innovation.

The opportunity

The Research Assistant will contribute approximately 105 hours across the following activities:

• Literature Review (approx. 36 hours): Conduct a focused review of academic and practitioner sources on hybrid storytelling, multimodal narrative, transmedia practices, immersive media, and related fields.
• Annotated Bibliography & Research Summaries (approx. 18 hours): Compile an annotated bibliography and produce thematic research summaries identifying key debates, conceptual clusters, and emerging trends.
• Practitioner Mapping & Interviews (approx. 14 hours): Assist in identifying practitioners engaged in hybrid storytelling and support interview preparation, documentation, or transcription.
• Research Synthesis & Framework Development (approx. 23 hours): Work with the supervisor to synthesize findings into a draft conceptual framework outlining key models, tensions, and pedagogical implications.
• Workshop Preparation (approx. 9 hours): Support preparation of materials for a planned interdisciplinary workshop.
• Meetings & Updates (approx. 5 hours): Participate in supervisory meetings and provide short progress updates. The assistantship will culminate in a brief research report or framework document synthesizing key findings.

Qualifications

• Current enrollment in or recent completion of a Master’s program in performance, media studies, communication, journalism, digital humanities, creative practice, or a related field
• Experience conducting literature reviews and producing strong academic writing
• Ability to synthesize research across disciplines and identify conceptual patterns
• Strong organizational skills and ability to work independently
• Experience conducting qualitative interviews is an asset
• Interest in interdisciplinary storytelling and emerging media practices is strongly preferred

How to apply

Please submit a copy of your CV and a brief cover letter to Adrian Ma at adrian.ma@torontomu.ca by end of day May 1, 2026.

Toronto Metropolitan University’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

• 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 james13@torontomu.ca.
• 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 Human Resources:
  • Current employees can contact HR by logging into AskHR to submit a request.
  • External candidates who do not have TMU login credentials can contact HR by visiting torontomu.ca/human-resources/askhr/.
• All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.