Senior Research Assistant
About the role
Department: CERC HECW, Faculty of Community Services
Position supervisor: Eun Jung, Senior Research Associate
Location: on-site, Toronto campus
Contract length: 17 weeks (May 4 to Aug 31, 2026)
Hours of work per week: 14 hours/week
Position type: Non union casual
Rate of pay: $30.00/hour
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 Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Health Equity and Community Wellbeing
The Canada Excellence Research Chair in Health Equity and Community Wellbeing (CERC) program, led by Dr. Karen Soldatic, is a transformative research initiative that employs an engaged community partnership approach to expand our understanding, practice and delivery of health outcomes for all members of our communities. Collaborating closely with a network of healthcare institutions, service providers and civil society organizations, the CERC in Health Equity and Community Wellbeing aims for a paradigm shift – one that challenges a siloed, expert-driven approach to health and well-being and moves, instead, towards a community-engaged, preventative model of wellbeing. Uniquely applying a critical disability lens, the research program aims to not only reduce health disparities that are inextricable from their social contexts but to embed community knowledge into health-care institutions, systems and models of delivery.
Learn more about the CERC here: https://www.torontomu.ca/cerc-health-equity/
The opportunity
We are seeking a currently enrolled PhD student who has completed a Masters via Research degree to undertake four-months long qualitative research on gender-based violence, with a particular focus on women and girls with disabilities in countries across Global South and North. The successful candidate will assist in submitting ethics applications, conducting interviews, analyzing secondary data, and writing a final report.
Qualifications
Required:
- Currently enrolled in a PhD program
- Academic or professional work background in health equity & wellbeing (e.g. public health, health studies, public policy, disability studies, gender studies, sociology, social work).
- Demonstrated research interest and/or engagement in disability inequity and injustices from intersectional perspectives
- Proven ability to research and compile academic sources relevant to the outlined topics
- Willingness to work both independently and collaboratively with researchers in an academic environment
- Capacity to adopt and incorporate the research principles, aims and objectives of the CERC Health Equity & Community Wellbeing into internship deliverables.
- Experience in conducting critical qualitative research (e.g. ethics, interviews, thematic analysis, literature review, Nvivo)
- Experience writing academic papers, including research proposals, literature reviews, and journal manuscripts.
Assets:
- Experience working with community members and survivors who have experienced violence, discrimination, or abuse
- Experience in disability accessibility research methods and processes
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, databases, reference and management software
How to apply
To apply for the CERC in Health Equity and Community Wellbeing Senior Research Assistant role, please send the following documents labelled - CERC Research Assistant - “your name” and include the following documents in a single word or .pdf file to: opportunity.cerchecw@torontomu.ca
- a brief CV (2 pages)
- cover letter that clearly indicates your why you are interested in this role (1-2 pages)
- two potential references (references will be contacted for preferred applicants only)
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 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.
About Toronto Metropolitan University
Toronto Metropolitan University is located in the heart of Canada's largest city. Its distinctly urban campus features a culture that's innovative and entrepreneurial, a community that's welcoming and inclusive, and a learning environment that's incredibly creative. Our mission is to serve societal need and engage communities both locally and across the globe.
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Senior Research Assistant
About the role
Department: CERC HECW, Faculty of Community Services
Position supervisor: Eun Jung, Senior Research Associate
Location: on-site, Toronto campus
Contract length: 17 weeks (May 4 to Aug 31, 2026)
Hours of work per week: 14 hours/week
Position type: Non union casual
Rate of pay: $30.00/hour
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 Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Health Equity and Community Wellbeing
The Canada Excellence Research Chair in Health Equity and Community Wellbeing (CERC) program, led by Dr. Karen Soldatic, is a transformative research initiative that employs an engaged community partnership approach to expand our understanding, practice and delivery of health outcomes for all members of our communities. Collaborating closely with a network of healthcare institutions, service providers and civil society organizations, the CERC in Health Equity and Community Wellbeing aims for a paradigm shift – one that challenges a siloed, expert-driven approach to health and well-being and moves, instead, towards a community-engaged, preventative model of wellbeing. Uniquely applying a critical disability lens, the research program aims to not only reduce health disparities that are inextricable from their social contexts but to embed community knowledge into health-care institutions, systems and models of delivery.
Learn more about the CERC here: https://www.torontomu.ca/cerc-health-equity/
The opportunity
We are seeking a currently enrolled PhD student who has completed a Masters via Research degree to undertake four-months long qualitative research on gender-based violence, with a particular focus on women and girls with disabilities in countries across Global South and North. The successful candidate will assist in submitting ethics applications, conducting interviews, analyzing secondary data, and writing a final report.
Qualifications
Required:
- Currently enrolled in a PhD program
- Academic or professional work background in health equity & wellbeing (e.g. public health, health studies, public policy, disability studies, gender studies, sociology, social work).
- Demonstrated research interest and/or engagement in disability inequity and injustices from intersectional perspectives
- Proven ability to research and compile academic sources relevant to the outlined topics
- Willingness to work both independently and collaboratively with researchers in an academic environment
- Capacity to adopt and incorporate the research principles, aims and objectives of the CERC Health Equity & Community Wellbeing into internship deliverables.
- Experience in conducting critical qualitative research (e.g. ethics, interviews, thematic analysis, literature review, Nvivo)
- Experience writing academic papers, including research proposals, literature reviews, and journal manuscripts.
Assets:
- Experience working with community members and survivors who have experienced violence, discrimination, or abuse
- Experience in disability accessibility research methods and processes
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, databases, reference and management software
How to apply
To apply for the CERC in Health Equity and Community Wellbeing Senior Research Assistant role, please send the following documents labelled - CERC Research Assistant - “your name” and include the following documents in a single word or .pdf file to: opportunity.cerchecw@torontomu.ca
- a brief CV (2 pages)
- cover letter that clearly indicates your why you are interested in this role (1-2 pages)
- two potential references (references will be contacted for preferred applicants only)
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 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.
About Toronto Metropolitan University
Toronto Metropolitan University is located in the heart of Canada's largest city. Its distinctly urban campus features a culture that's innovative and entrepreneurial, a community that's welcoming and inclusive, and a learning environment that's incredibly creative. Our mission is to serve societal need and engage communities both locally and across the globe.