Post-docs

Post-doctoral researcher position

Trans+ People in Canadian Prisons

Seeking a highly-motivated Postdoctoral Fellow with strong leadership ability and expertise in prisons and/or transgender studies. The successful applicant will work full-time under the supervision of Dr. Aaron Devor, Chair in Transgender Studies and Professor of Sociology, for a one-year term with the possibility of extension to subsequent year(s). Applicants must have completed a PhD prior to commencing the appointment, preferably awarded in the four years immediately prior to the start of this post-doctoral fellowship. The position starts as soon as a suitable PDF is available.

THE PROJECT:

Correctional Services of Canada (CSC) is seeking a comprehensive assessment of the health and safety barriers, and options/alternatives to them, that are preventing the placement of transgender offenders in institutions that correspond to their gender identity/expression.

In 2022/23, this project will consist of preliminary research into any health and safety barriers that are preventing the placement of transgender people in penal institutions that correspond to their gender identity/expression, and possible ways to address those barriers. This will be achieved through interviews and focus groups with CSC staff at men’s and women’s institutions, as well as with gender-diverse people in custody. Later analyses will identify key themes and findings from the perspective of staff and gender-diverse people in custody, and develop policy recommendations.

You will review published material on the subject, including peer-reviewed academic literature, government and NGO reports and policies, journalism, blogs, videos, and social media. You will consult with government, NGO agencies, and peer support groups who work with people in prisons to learn about the challenges and what is currently being done about them. You will write a comprehensive summary report of your findings.

You will draft a research framework to identify research questions, methodology, research protocols and tools to address the above questions. You will obtain necessary ethical and security approvals. You will identify, recruit, and make arrangements for phase one of data collection which will be in the form of interviews and focus groups with key internal CSC staff, gender-diverse people in custody, and other stakeholders.  You will consult with relevant community-based experts at various stages of the research and analysis (e.g., Prisoners Legal Services, Elizabeth Fry Society, John Howard Society, Prison Justice Societies, Canadian Prison Law Association, and others as appropriate).

WORK TO BE PERFORMED:

• Provide leadership and strategic direction, to design and implement a research framework to identify research questions, methodology, research protocols and tools
• Assist with hiring and supervision of research assistants
• Conduct a comprehensive literature review and write a report
• Ensure that all required ethical and security clearances have been completed
• Make arrangements for, and participate in, site visit(s)
• Identify key individuals in CSC who will be invited to be interviewed or to participate in focus groups
• Identify key community agencies and individuals who will be invited to be interviewed or to participate in focus groups
• Recruit participants and make arrangements for interviews and focus groups
• Write reports and manuscripts, present results at internal and external meetings
• Might include identifying further funding opportunities as well as writing grant proposals with supervisor as a co-applicant

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

The PDF will work with a high degree of independence and set priorities under broad directives from Dr. Devor. The PDF is accountable for the quality and integrity of the research and data, including analyses and interpretation, as well as the effective and efficient management of the research project, staff, and deliverables.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge about prisons, experience in qualitative research, and familiarity with Trans+ communities would be ideal qualifications. Candidates who have experience and expertise in two of these three areas are also encouraged to apply.

• This position requires innovation, strategic planning, and adaptability
• D. in social sciences, gender studies, labour studies, law, or similar discipline
• Excellent written and oral communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills
• Well-rounded expertise in social science study design, qualitative research, and data analysis
• Experience and a strong track record with in-depth interviewing and conduct of focus groups
• A publication track record
• Good command of Microsoft Office, Zoom, and NVIVO
• Ability to pass security clearances
• Bilingual in French and English would be an asset
• Knowledge about prisons and familiarity with Trans+ communities would be ideal qualifications

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES:

Self-starter; Demanding of excellence; Attentive to details; Committed while able to maintain balance and perspective; Willing to make and learn from mistakes; Person of high integrity; Honest, trustworthy, positive, and respectful; Accountable; Flexible; Gets along well with others; Good listener, straightforward communicator, team builder; Capable of working independently and in teams; Comfortable with responsibility and uncertainty; Looking to build something of value; A good sense of humour; Excellent social, networking, and interpersonal skills. People with lived experience as Trans+ people, in corrections, and BIPOC people are especially encouraged to apply.

HOW TO APPLY?

If you are interested in this position, apply to transchair@uvic.ca using the subject line “CSC PDF” and include:

• a cover letter
• current CV
• a one-page statement of your research interests
• contact information for three referees
• an example of your scholarly work (no more than 20 double-spaced pages) in PDF format
• The position will remain open until filled

Desired start date: As soon as a suitable PDF is available.
Duration: Fixed term / Temporary
Contract Type: Full Time

The University of Victoria is committed to upholding the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion in our living, learning and work environments. In pursuit of our values, we seek people who will work respectfully and constructively with differences and across levels of power. We actively encourage applications from members of groups experiencing barriers to equity. Read our full equity statement here: www.uvic.ca/equitystatement.        

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

The successful candidate will be a grant-funded employee of the co-supervisors, not of the University of Victoria. The fellowship includes a salary of $50,000 CAD/year (pro-rated to start date). The employer’s portion of Canada Pension Plan, Employment Insurance, WorkSafeBC, and the Employer Health Tax is a mandatory cost (approximately 10%) against the total amount of the award. The amount of the award will be reduced to allow for this cost, and salary will be paid from the balance. Enrollment in the University of Victoria employee benefits program is an additional optional cost. If chosen, the amount of the award will be reduced to allow for this cost, and salary will be paid from the balance.

This project is under contract to the Research Branch of Correctional Service Canada.

Post-doctoral researcher position

Trans+ People in Precarious Labour in Canada

We are seeking a highly-motivated Postdoctoral Fellow with strong leadership ability and expertise in labour and/or transgender studies. The successful applicant will work full-time under the supervision of Dr. Aaron Devor, Chair in Transgender Studies and Professor of Sociology; and Dr. Annalee Lepp, Dean of Humanities and Associate Professor of Gender Studies, for a one-year term with the possibility of extension to a second year. Applicants must have completed a PhD prior to commencing the appointment, preferably awarded in the four years immediately prior to the start of the first year of this post-doctoral fellowship. The position start date is as soon as a suitable candidate is found.

THE PROJECT:

Learn the nature and the extent of Trans+ (gender-diverse) people in situations of precarious labour in Canada. Develop and test a pilot project with a community partner.

The position will provide opportunities to collaborate and work with both activist and academic collaborators. The PDF will be responsible for investigating the experiences and  circumstances of Trans+ people who have worked under precarious labour conditions, and for co-conceiving, co-designing, co-implementing, and co-evaluating a pilot project with a community partner to address current situations of Trans+ people in precarious labour in Canada.

You will review published material on the subject, including peer-reviewed academic literature, government and NGO reports, journalism, blogs, videos, and social media. You will consult with government, NGO agencies, peer support groups who work with Trans+ people and in opposition to precarious labour in Canada, and with individuals with lived experience of precarious labour. You will learn the extent of the situation and what is currently being done about it by conducting interviews and focus groups. You will analyse data and write a summary report of research procedures and findings.

You will convene cross-sectional meetings to co-create plans about what can be done to address the situation in Canada. Based on plans co-created with the organizations consulted, you will write a report detailing the nature and extent of the problem and possible approaches to decreasing precarious  labour and its deleterious effects among Trans+ people in Canada. You will recommend, with clearly articulated rationales, promising courses of action that will have the best chances of leading to improved circumstances.

In conjunction with a community partner organization, you will develop pilot programming to address some of the issues identified.  You will help to set up, run, and evaluate the pilot program. You will write a report detailing the processes involved in establishing, operating, and evaluating the pilot program, and make recommendations for how to scale up a successful pilot program into sustainable ongoing programming.

Applicants with well-rounded expertise in social science study design and qualitative research and data analysis are especially encouraged to apply.

Knowledge about precarious labour, experience in community-based research, and familiarity with Trans+ communities would be ideal qualifications. Candidates who have experience and expertise in two of these three areas are also encouraged to apply.

WORK TO BE PERFORMED:

• Foster research collaborations and work jointly with academic and community partners.
• Update a literature review.
• Conduct interviews and focus groups.
• Analyse data from interviews and focus groups.
• Write a report on results of interviews and focus groups.
• Provide leadership and strategic direction, to co-design, co-implement, and co-evaluate a pilot project with a community partner to investigate how to alleviate or improve Trans+ people’s experiences of precarious labour in Canada.
• Co-develop with a community partner recommendations for alleviating or improving Trans+ people’s experiences of precarious labour in Canada.
• Document the process in a report.
• Write manuscripts, present results at internal and external meetings.
• Might include identifying further funding opportunities as well as writing grant proposals with supervisors as co-applicants.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

The PDF will work with a high degree of independence and set priorities under broad directives from Dr. Devor and Dr. Lepp. The PDF is accountable for the quality and integrity of the research and data, including analyses and interpretation, as well as the effective and efficient management of the research project and deliverables.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• This position requires innovation, strategic planning, and adaptability.
• The candidate should have a solid social science research background with excellent written and oral communication, interpersonal, as well as organizational skills.
• Recent Ph.D. in social sciences, gender studies, labour studies, law, or similar discipline.
• Applicants with well-rounded expertise in social science study design and qualitative research and data analysis are especially encouraged to apply.
• Experience and a strong track record with community-based research, in-depth interviewing, conduct of focus groups, are desirable.
• A publication track record.
• Good command of Microsoft Office, Zoom, and social media platforms.
• Knowledge about precarious labour, experience in community-based research, and familiarity with Trans+ communities would be ideal qualifications.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES:

Self-starter; Demanding of excellence; Attentive to details; Committed while able to maintain balance and perspective; Willing to make and learn from mistakes; Person of high integrity; Honest, trustworthy, positive, and respectful; Accountable; Flexible; Gets along well with others; Good listener, straightforward communicator, team builder; Capable of working independently and in teams; Comfortable with responsibility and uncertainty; Looking to build something of value; A good sense of humour; Excellent social, networking, and interpersonal skills. People with lived experience as Trans+ people, with precarious labour, and BIPOC people are especially encouraged to apply.

HOW TO APPLY?

If you are interested in this position, apply to transchair@uvic.ca using the subject line “Precarious labour PDF” and include:

• a cover letter
• current CV
• a one-page statement of your research interests
• contact information for three referees
• an example of your scholarly work (no more than 20 double-spaced pages) in PDF format

The position will remain open until filled.

Desired start date: no later than 01 JAN 2023
Duration: Fixed term / Temporary
Contract Type: Full Time

The University of Victoria is committed to upholding the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion in our living, learning and work environments. In pursuit of our values, we seek people who will work respectfully and constructively with differences and across levels of power. We actively encourage applications from members of groups experiencing barriers to equity. Read our full equity statement here: www.uvic.ca/equitystatement.        

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

The successful candidate will be a grant-funded employee of the co-supervisors, not of the University of Victoria. The fellowship includes a salary of $50,000 CAD/year (pro-rated to start date). The employer’s portion of Canada Pension Plan, Employment Insurance, WorkSafeBC, and the Employer Health Tax is a mandatory cost (approximately 10%) against the total amount of the award. The amount of the award will be reduced to allow for this cost, and salary will be paid from the balance. Enrollment in the University of Victoria employee benefits program is an additional optional cost. If chosen, the amount of the award will be reduced to allow for this cost, and salary will be paid from the balance.        

This project is supported by the Silver Gummy Foundation.

Post-doctoral researcher position available

The successful candidate will have a proven track record in the area of trans studies, historical studies, and qualitative interviewing. Lived experience in trans or non-binary communities, or as a trans or non-binary activist, would be an asset.

The six-month fellowship includes a salary of $30,000 CAD and enrollment in the University of Toronto employee benefits program. 

All qualified candidates are invited to apply online by sending the application materials to historical.studies@utoronto.ca by 31 March 2019. Applicants must submit a cover letter, a current curriculum vitae, a 1-2 page research statement outlining current and future research interests, a sample of scholarly writing not to exceed 30 single-spaced pages, and contact information for three referees. Please send with the following in the subject line of the email: Trans Oral History Postdoc.

We recommend combining attached documents into one or two files in PDF or MS Word format. If you have any questions about this position, please contact Dr. Elspeth Brown (Elspeth.brown@utoronto.ca) and/or Dr. Aaron Devor (ahdevor@uvic.ca).

All application materials will be accepted until the closing date of 31 March 2019, or until the position is filled.

The University of Toronto is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons /persons of colour, women, Indigenous / Aboriginal People of North America, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.

The University of Victoria is committed to upholding the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion in our living, learning and work environments. In pursuit of our values, we seek members who will work respectfully and constructively with differences and across levels of power. We actively encourage applications from members of groups experiencing barriers to equity. Read our full equity statement here: www.uvic.ca/equitystatement.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.