Date/Time
Date(s) - 25/11/2022
12:00 am

Community-Engaged Research (CER) Graduate Student Internship Program

The Community-Engaged Research (CER) Graduate Student Internship Program, facilitated through the Faculty of Social Sciences’ Community Research Platform (CRP), provides opportunities for MA and PhD students to work with CRP partner organizations on research projects that support organizational needs and priorities and have tangible benefits for communities.

Inter Job Posting

Project: Investigating the role and impact of Hamilton Public Library’s (HPL) programs and services on newcomers (i.e. immigrant and refugee populations) in the Hamilton community.

Job Description: The HPL is seeking a graduate student intern to help investigate the impact, strengths, and gaps of the library’s programming for newcomers and to identify opportunities to further support newcomer populations in Hamilton. The HPL is particularly interested in exploring ways to increase library membership among newcomer populations. The intern will also act as a research resource to HPL staff and support a variety of ongoing research activities underway between the library and McMaster’s Community Research Platform. Key tasks include (but are not limited to):

1. Newcomers and HPL research project:
   • Work with HPL team to review new census data on immigrant populations in Hamilton and to develop neighbourhood profiles to help guide HPL wide and branch-specific newcomer programming, services, and collections
   • Conduct a literature review on Public Libraries and newcomers
   • Conduct an environmental scan of current HPL programs and services that are offered to newcomers
   • Lead the submission of an ethics proposal to undertake qualitative research with library staff and members
   • Conduct interviews and/or focus groups with HPL staff and newcomer members to identify strengths, gaps, and opportunities for advancing HPL’s role in supporting newcomers and attracting new newcomer members
   • Develop a guidebook for staff with high-level lessons learned and recommendations from the census data, literature review, and feedback from interviews/focus groups
2. Act as a Research resource at HPL:
   • Act as a liaison between HPL and McMaster researchers in collaboration with McMaster’s Community Research Platform
     • Assist researchers to connect with appropriate HPL staff
     • Assist HPL with responding to research questions and requests
   • Manage HPL’s Researcher in Residence webpage and event entry in Communion (training to be provided)
   • Assist HPL staff with components of grant development

Required skills and experience:

• Familiarity with public libraries and the services they provide
• Strong qualitative research skills
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a diverse range of academic and community stakeholders
• Effective writing, oral and organizational skills
• Efficient computer capabilities including Microsoft Office Suite, SPSS, NVivo
• Demonstrated interest in community based, action-oriented research

Duration of Internship: 10 hours per week for approximately 32 weeks.
Value of Award: $12,000
Application Deadline: November 25, 2022

To Apply: Please ensure that you have discussed your interest in this opportunity with your supervisor. As part of your application, we require an email from your supervisor confirming that they support your application. If your supervisor has any questions about the graduate internship program, please encourage them to reach out to the Community Research Platform Program Manager Leora Sas van der Linden (sasvandl@mcmaster.ca). We are happy to meet with you and your supervisor to discuss the CRP graduate internship program.

Please email completed applications to sasvandl@mcmaster.ca. Ensure the subject line includes the internship posting title and attach a Resume and Cover Letter as a PDF.

In the body of the email, include the following:

• Internship Posting Title
• First and Last Name
• Pronouns
• McMaster Email Address
• MacID
• Student Status (MA or PhD)
• Department/Program

The Cover letter (1-2 pages) should describe how your work, volunteer and academic experiences prepare you for this specific internship position. Please include any relevant research experience, highlight knowledge/experience related to working in the community or with a community partner, and highlight other relevant experience as it pertains to the community agency and/ or to the specific job posting. Please also confirm that you are in good academic standing (not on academic probation) and financial standing (no outstanding financial accounts on your student record) with the university.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis based on opportunities available.  All applications will be reviewed by a Community Research Platform committee comprised of McMaster and community organization representatives. Applicants will be notified of a decision within 3 weeks of submitting their application.

For general inquiries about the program, please contact Leora Sas van der Linden, CRP Program Manager at: sasvandl@mcmaster.ca