Job Description

NOTE: Students must be approved for the 2025-26 Work-Study program in order to be hired for this position. The Work-Study Student Application form is available online here:
Please include confirmation of your approval to participate in the Work Study Program with your resume.
Research Assistants are normally students, in a University of Winnipeg undergraduate program, employed to assist with tasks related to research. Work is performed within defined guidelines and under supervision of a more senior researcher or faculty member.
Position Overview:
The research assistant will provide support to Dr Alexander in her research on the histories of South Asian migrants to Manitoba since the 1950s. Since 2023 she has taught the course HIST-3118 South Asian Diaspora Since 1800 with a focus on Winnipeg, and her students have conducted local research and oral histories. The plan is for this research to contribute to a book and a website with student collaboration on South Asian Manitoba and have one student continue that research as a work study research assistant position in 2025-26.
Duties:

• The selected assistant will conduct library research using local newspapers, archives and libraries.
• They will, in conjunction with the professor, conduct fieldwork research at local events in the community.
• They will learn how to create a database and undertake data entry.
• They will learn how to label and record archival materials.
• They will learn how to edit texts and create publishable materials.

Qualifications

• A general understanding of South Asian history and cultures.
• Courses in history at the second year level or above.
• Strong organizational skills, library research skills.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel.
• The assistant will be reliable and dependable, pay close attention to detail and be willing to engage with people from a variety of cultural backgrounds.

Condition(s) of Employment:

• Must be legally entitled to work in Canada.
• Students must be approved for the 2025-26 Work-Study program. Students may be eligible for the Work-Study Program if they meet all of the following criteria:

• Currently an undergraduate or graduate* student (PACE students are currently ineligible);
• Enrolled full-time for the current Fall/Winter session (i.e., at least 18 credit hours or 12 credit hours if registered with Accessibility Services);
• Completed at least 24 credit hours at an undergraduate level at the University (or equivalent);
• Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0;
• Have demonstrated financial need (shortage between your expenses and resources)**; and
• A Canadian citizen, permanent resident, protected person or an international student with a valid study permit.

*Graduate students in a joint program may only be eligible if currently registered at UW or whose thesis advisor is a UW Faculty member.
**Zero on all resources fields is deemed an incomplete application. As a full-time student, you are expected to have some form of funding source.
The period of work will be from ASAP - March 31, 2026 and the estimated total hours of work will be 36 hours.
Note: This position is represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada - Research Capacity Unit.
The University of Winnipeg is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognizes that a diverse staff and faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research environments, and is essential to academic and institutional excellence. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals and encourage women, racialized persons, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQ+ persons to confidentially self-identify at time of application.
The University of Winnipeg is committed to ensuring employment opportunities are accessible for all applicants. If you require accommodation supports during the recruitment process, please contact human_resources@uwinnipeg.ca.
The personal information of applicants is collected under the authority of the University of Winnipeg Act and 36(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. All personal information collected via the recruitment process is used to assess the applicant's suitability, eligibility, and qualifications for employment, and to otherwise support recruitment activities. This information will be provided to participating members of the recruitment process. Questions regarding the collection of your personal information may be directed to the Director, HR Services, 515 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3B 2E9 or human_resources@uwinnipeg.ca.

Skills Required