Graduate Research Assistants
The University of Alberta, through the project, Building Capacity for Community-Led Indigenous Language Revitalization in Canada, will be able to support up to 4 Graduate Research Assistants, for those already registered in a graduate program or September 2022.
We are seeking highly-qualified individuals from a wide variety of disciplinary backgrounds who would like to pursue a PhD program, or who are currently enrolled in a PhD program, to contribute to an interdisciplinary research project that seeks a deeper understanding of the connections between Indigenous languages, their maintenance and revitalization, and both personal and community well-being.
Context:
Indigenous peoples from around the world have long spoken of the importance of maintaining or revitalizing their traditional languages, not simply because it is their moral right to do so, but because of the many benefits (mental, physical, emotional, spiritual) that they recognize come from knowing the language of one’s ancestors and traditional territory.
This interdisciplinary research project takes those insights as foundational, and seeks a deeper understanding of the connections between Indigenous language knowledge, maintenance and revitalization on the one hand, and personal and community well-being on the other, with a focus on Indigenous communities in Canada.
Students:
We are seeking highly-qualified students from a wide variety of disciplinary backgrounds including but not limited to: Indigenous Studies, Anthropology, Linguistics, Education, Sociology, and Psychology.
Indigenous students are strongly encouraged to apply for these positions.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Alongside departmental requirements for their degree, the graduate students will be expected to:
- participate in regular research team meetings
- contribute to research team publications
- conduct original research from their disciplinary perspective on links between Indigenous language knowledge and well-being
Requirements:
These positions require:
- meeting the entrance requirements for the relevant department at the University of Alberta
Preference will be given to applicants who:
- have first-hand or lived experience with Indigenous peoples, communities and languages in Canada
- are First Nations, Inuit, or Métis and who speak an Indigenous language
- have a research interest in Indigenous language revitalization
What We Offer:
- Up to four years of funding (up to 12 hr / week as a GRA for a period of approximately 10 months/year) as per the U of A GSA agreement
- the opportunity to work with a diverse team of interdisciplinary researchers, including Indigenous scholars
- training in a variety of research methods
- support from a full-time research project coordinator
- funding for community-based research and conference presentations
Expression of Interest:
Students who are interested in applying for one of these positions are asked to send a one-page expression of interest. Please include a brief description of:
- your academic background and training
- your interest in and experience with Indigenous peoples, communities and languages
Send your expression of interest to: Pamela McCoy Jones, Executive Director, at mccoyjon@ualberta.ca by Friday, September 30, 2022.