Today@Dal

​The James Robinson Johnston (JRJ) Chair is an endowed national senior academic Chair established and based at Dalhousie University, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada to honour and recognize the unique historical presence of African Nova Scotians. The goal of the Chair is to lead and support knowledge mobilization endeavours on Black Canadian and related studies, further develop and
mobilize research on Black peoples in Canada, and the African Diaspora.
For more information, visit: https://www.dal.ca/faculty/jrj-chair/about.html

Position Title: RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Start date: February 10, 2020

End date: Aug 31, 2020 (possibility of extension)

Location: Dalhousie University, Halifax campus

Remuneration: $22.50 per hour

Workload: 10 hours per week (more hours are possible if successful candidate is available)

Research Project: History of Medical Education in Canada: The presence of Blackness: This project focuses on the history of medicine, specifically in relation to Black people in Canada; in particular, I seek to identify and investigate historical medical records to specifically document the medical records of Black people in Canada.

Medical and health records are created primarily to provide patient care or improve the health of our society. They give an account of events over a specific period of time, allowing efficient communication between health professionals in the interest of the patient or community. There is limited research on health outcomes for Black people in Canada and researchers have only recently begun to look at differential health outcomes between racialized and non-racialized groups. Such disparities may result from direct effects of racial discrimination, unequal treatment by healthcare providers, and indirectly through effects of race-related socioeconomic inequalities including differences in literacy, knowledge, lifestyles, and healthcare access.

Research Assistant tasks:

• In collaboration with Dr. Dryden, the JRJ Chair, develop research questions
• Identify location of holdings: Health Sciences Library, Nova Scotia Archives, historical hospital records, NSHA records, personal holdings
• Catalogue/Identify themes within documents, publications, and resources
• Analyze documents, publications, and resources
• Document all information, resources, and materials (digital and physical) in a database
• Where allowed, Scan all physical resources (documents, publications,)
• Scan all physical resources (including but not limited to documents, publications, event information.)
• In consultation with JRJ Chair, update university library/archive records in all formats for their long-term retention.
• Surveying the literature, media, University records

The following qualifications are necessary:

• Current graduate or senior undergraduate student – with experience in Black studies, archival research, history of medicine.
• Preference will be given to candidates with closely related area of research that will progress towards fulfillment of their program and degree requirements with their participation in this project.
• Experience with literature searches and retrievals using electronic databases.
• Demonstrated experience conducting in-person and/or telephone interviews.
• Demonstrated experience with qualitative research.
• Proven time management, technological, communication and writing skills.
  
   

Since this project focuses on Black Canadian communities, applications from Black community members with relevant qualifications are strongly encouraged.

Expectations: The RA will work under the supervision of Dr. OmiSoore Dryden, JRJ Chair. They will be expected to primarily work flexible hours during the course of the project. The RA will attend regular meetings with Dr. Dryden and/or other members of the JRJ team, either bi-weekly or as required by the progress of the project.

To apply please send a current CV, and a cover letter to Dr. OmiSoore Dryden at omisoore.dryden@dal.ca by January 31, 2020. Only qualified candidates will be contacted.