Research Assistant
This Magnificent Archipelago: Environmental Narratives and Caribbean Theatre
- Supervised by Sheryl-Ann Simpson
- Department of Geography and Environmental Studies
- Carleton University
- (2-years, ~10 hrs a week, $42 per hour)
- Start date: September 2026
Job Description:
This Magnificent Archipelago is a research project that asks how the environmental narratives in Caribbean theatre before 1970 can help us think about just environmental actions today. Specifically we’ll be looking at the work of two theatre companies the Trinidad Theatre Workshop (TTW) and the Negro Theatre Workshop (NTW). We will use archival research methods, and participatory engagement to do and share the research.
The project combines questions from environmental studies, environmental justice, geography, cultural studies, and Caribbean studies, and so the ideal candidate will have interests in at least one, but even better a few of those fields.
The research assistant’s tasks will include support around:
- background research, primarily conducting literature reviews and bibliographies about the theatre companies;
- archival research in Toronto (2wks summer 2027);
- presentations at academic conferences;
- preparing journal articles;
- preparing research reports for a broad audience.
This research will not be the main subject of your independent thesis project, but you can certainly use data and information collected during this process in that project, and your project can be related to this work.
Qualifications:
The research assistant will need to be a graduate student at Carleton University by September 2026.
This can mean:
- a current Master’s or PhD student in any program. (For Master’s students going into their second year the term of employment would be September 2026 – August 2027).
- A student who applies to and is successfully accepted into the MA program in Geography. Applications can be processed until the end of July, see Carleton Graduate School for information about applying.
You do not have to have past experience with the research method or topics, but should have a curiosity about them.
Ideally you have some research experience whether through work, volunteer, or community experiences or class work.
You should also bring a high level of ethics to your work, this includes completing your own work, and communicating clearly to make sure you understand what is allowed, when you are unsure about something, or when things don’t go to plan.
A connection to the English-speaking Caribbean, including an understanding of Caribbean language, history, art and culture, is also desirable.
How to indicate interest + what will happen next:
Please send a short note (~500 words) and resume to Sheryl-Ann Simpson (sheryl-ann.simpson@carleton.ca) by June 12. The subject should be your family name – research assistant 2026 (eg Simpson – research assistant 2026)
In your note describe your interest in the research. This could be something about your curiosity around the topic or methods, connections to other work you are doing etc. Describe anything you have done to prepare for a role like this. For example skills you have learned and practiced through course work, community and volunteer work, or through employment, connections to the topic or region. Anything else you would like me to know about you.
If you are a current graduate student at Carleton, describe your own research project, and any connections you see to this work, or ways this work might support your ongoing studies.
If you will be applying to the MA in Geography give a sense of the project you want to pursue as an independent thesis. This does not have to be directly related to the research assistantship but ideally would relate to any of the following topics: environmental studies, environmental justice, abolition ecologies, urban studies including urban planning and community development, health geography, spatial methods, or cultural geography including geohumanities.
I will respond to all notes of interest by the next week, and, if the successful candidate needs to apply to Carleton will support that application.
About the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies (DGES):
Geography is a social science that asks questions like where are things happening, why are they happening there, and how have they change. Geographers answer these questions by looking at everything from the physical form of the earth, to economic, political and cultural factors using methods that include mapping, spatial statistics and quantitative modelling, qualitative research, theory building and interpretive methods.
DGES is home to a group of critical scholars meaning that we are interested in using our research to get to the root causes of inequities and injustices, and think about how to address these challenges at the root
MA Geography students can add specializations in Accessibility, African Studies, Climate Change, Latin American and Caribbean Studies and Data Science.
The DGES website has more information about the program including course options.
Feel welcome to reach out with any questions (sheryl-ann.simpson@carleton.ca)!
