Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.
Job End Date
May 1, 2026At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.
Job Summary
This Research Assistantship will support for ongoing research conducted by Professor Candis Callison on two projects: 1) The Global North: Arctic and Northern Journalism Research project, and 2) Beyond Fires and Floods: Indigenous Narratives in an Era of Extremes.
The bulk of the duties for this research assistantship pertain to The Global North project. Duties will include interview transcription and analysis, data collection and analysis of media reporting about the Arctic, and other assistance related to drafting several articles and a book manuscript. Research assistant should be familiar with NVivo and Crimson Hexagon in order to assess and analyze research data and themes related to ethnographic data and interviews as well as news media and social media. Research assistant may be invited to co-author at least one article and is expected to contribute analyses and some writing. Duties for Beyond Fires and Floods include program support, event coordination and logistics for both public and private events on Oct 24-26, 2025. After the event, assistance will be required to devise podcast series based on the event. These duties include coordinating transcripts of the event, analyzing transcripts for editing, setting up ongoing networking and communication for participants at the event, and other support as needed for producing eventual podcast series based on the event for Media Indigena (a partner with the Global Journalism Innovation Lab at UBC).
Organizational Status
The position reports to Professor Candis Callison and works in close collaboration with other School of Public Policy and Global Affairs and Global Journalism Innovation Lab team members.
Work Performed
In collaboration with the Professor Candis Callison, develops and implements project work plans for special initiatives, and oversees their progress to ensure timelines, deliverables, and budgets are actively managed and aligned with project goals.
Utilizes NVivo software to assess possible research themes and emerging questions and synergies from research interviews.
Utilizes Crimson Hexagon software and other methods to conduct research according to Professor Callison’s direction related to social media including on X, Facebook, BlueSky, and LinkedIn.
Utilizes UBC Library software to create database of published news media related to Professor Callison’s research design.
Conducts updated literature review of interdisciplinary scholarship related to research projects.
Provides organizational support related to event management, including managing attendee lists, events communications, catering, and event logistics.
Supports development of content for events, participating in knowledge sharing.
Supports event participants to organize travel and accommodation, coordinating travel arrangements to UBC Vancouver by acting as liaison with travel agency, UBC Conferences and Accommodations staff.
Works with Professor Callison and Media Indigena producer Rick Harp, a partner on the Global Journalism Innovation Lab to plan, program, and edit podcast series of episodes based on event.
Consequence of Error/Judgement
The Research Communications, and Events Assistant is expected to work independently within the scope of this role, under the general guidance of Professor Candis Callison. Inappropriate judgment could impact the team’s capacity to achieve deliverables, and to achieve timely and accurate research outputs. This role is expected to demonstrate strong judgement when creating public-facing deliverables, and errors or poor judgement could result in reputational damage to the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs and more broadly, the University of British Columbia. Error in judgment may also result in difficult working relationships with members of the broader research team.
Supervision Received
This position works under general direction of Dr. Candis Callison.
Supervision Given
Supervision of UBC student volunteers at the event may be required.
Minimum Qualifications
Completion of a relevant technical program or a university degree in a relevant discipline and a minimum three years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own.
- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Preferred Qualifications
Completion of a master's level or above university degree in a relevant discipline.
Graduate degree in Anthropology, Journalism, Political Science, Public Policy, Sociology, or another relevant discipline, coupled with exposure to relevant research.
Strong writing and editing skills, with focus on social science research output
Knowledge of software platforms like NVivo, Crimson Hexagon, and library databases
Demonstrated ability in cross-cultural communication and international collaboration.
Demonstrated ability in budgeting and reporting.
Equity and Diversity:
Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. If two candidates are of equal merit, Canadian law requires that Canadians and permanent residents of Canada be given priority.