Graduate Research Assistant

Posted on behalf of Professor Natasha Henry-Dixon (York University)

Professor Natasha Henry-Dixon is seeking two qualified Research Assistants who identify as persons of Black, African, or Caribbean descent to support the research project, Living on the Outskirts: Black History in York County North.

Position Summary:

The Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) will work collaboratively with the Principal Investigator and collaborators to supports the advancement of the research project. The GRA is expected to make significant contributions to the research plan, data collection and analysis, knowledge mobilization, and project execution. Moreover, the research position also facilitates the knowledge mobilization of Living on the Outskirts and can be applied to the GRA's thesis. Training and mentorship will be provided. Through guided and supportive practice throughout the project, the Principal Investigator will provide the GRA with the training and supports to develop transferrable academic and professional proficiency and skills to foster future research leadership and independence.

Project Summary:

Living on the Outskirts: Black History in York County North is a two-year (2026-28) SSHRC-funded research project that seeks to unearth, document, and share the histories of Black inhabitants in the rural communities of York Region between the 1840s to the 1920s. The project team includes Dr. Natasha Henry-Dixon, Assistant Professor of History (York University), as Principal Investigator, a collaborating heritage institution, and a digital developer.

Responsibilities:

Research Coordination:

• Assist the Principal Investigator with coordinating research activities, timelines, deliverables, documentation, and project communications
• Assist with coordination of research interviews and participant communication
• Help implement research protocols, ethics procedures, and consent processes
• Prepare and organize research materials, reports, summaries, meeting notes, and project documents

Data Collection & Analysis:

• Conduct historical research (archival, library, online catalogue searches)
• Collect, analyze, and summarize research findings
• Assist with transcribing historical records
• Conduct literature reviews and prepare annotated bibliographies
• Contribute to qualitative and quantitative data collection in research interviews
• Assist with interview transcription, coding, data cleaning, synthesis, and thematic analysis
• Help to coordinate data organization

Knowledge Mobilization:

• Assist with outreach and recruitment for research interviews
• Help develop knowledge dissemination outcomes - e.g., presentations, summaries, reports, articles, and other knowledge mobilization materials

Team Coordination & General Duties:

• Assist with scheduling, team coordination, take and manage meeting notes, and related tasks
• Help Undergraduate Research Assistant and project collaborators with research, documentation, and coordination needs
  
  

Qualifications:

• Be a current graduate student in History, or a related field (Humanities, Social Science) with experience or interest in Black Canadian history or research on an aspect of the African diaspora, Black Studies, etc.
• Have some previous historical research education and training and some familiarity with the scholarly literature around Black history in Canada and the U.S.
• Experience with historical research methods, literature reviews, and annotated bibliographies
• Strong research and academic skills, with a strong attention to detail
• Strong organizational, communication, and teamwork skills
• Strong time management
• Ability to work independently, while seeking guidance when needed
• Experience with Chicago Manual of Style
• Proficiency with digital applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Google Drive, Google Sheets, Zoom, Teams, Zotero, and familiarity with project management tools (e.g. Basecamp, Monday.com)
  
  

APPLICATION INFORMATION:
Number of Positions	Two qualified Research Assistants
Minimum Experience	N/A
Compensation	$40/hour
Hours per Week	10 hours/week, including evenings and occasional weekends
Position Duration	September 2026 - June 2027, with the possibility of renewal for July 2027 – May 2028
Position Start Date	September 2026
Position End Date	June 2027 (with possibility of renewal to May 2028)
Application Deadline	August 31, 2026

HOW TO APPLY:

Interested applicants are invited to submit an application package that includes:

• A brief cover letter (1-2 pages). Black applicants are invited to self-identify in the cover letter.
• CV (2-3 pages)
• Short writing sample (academic paper)

Please send your application to: henryn@yorku.ca

Deadline: August 31, 2026

Virtual interviews will be held with top candidates in early September 2026. Two professional references will be requested at the next stage of consideration.