Graduate Student Assistant

Since 1878, Western University has been committed to serving our communities through the pursuit of academic excellence and by providing students, faculty, and community members with life-long opportunities for intellectual, social, and cultural growth. We seek excellent students, faculty, and staff to join us in what has become known as the "Western Experience" - an opportunity to contribute to a better world through the development of new knowledge, new abilities, new connections, and new ways to make a difference.

The Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) is committed to bettering the human condition through outstanding training of health professionals, the education of students in the fundamentals of health, disability, and sport, and through the actions of our graduates who integrate the art and science of their disciplines.

The Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing generates knowledge and prepares nurses to be transformative leaders and innovators through equity-promoting research, education, and practice, locally and globally.

We are seeking a GSA to work with us at the PEPR Partnership. PEPR—standing for Partnership for the Engagement of People in Pain Research—is a SSHRC funded research project led by Fiona Webster, Professor in the Arthur and Sonia Labatt Family School of Nursing. Grounded in critical social science approaches, PEPR aims to determine what meaningful engagement should look like based on the knowledges and experiences of people with situated experience of chronic pain and marginalization. In doing so, PEPR aims to raise questions about social and health equity by highlighting the workings of institutional and social power and oppression as currently embedded within already existing patient engagement in research practices. By centering the subjugated perspectives of people with situated experience of chronic pain and marginalization, our Partnership yields a potential to re-frame how

certain conditions/diseases are normatively understood, leading to the democratization of research and health in benefit of people with situated experience.

About the role:

The GSA will be involved in one of PEPR's projects, tentatively titled: Engaging Black communities in patient engagement in chronic pain research, led by Dr. Anna Hood at the University of Manchester and Fiona Webster. Existing models of engagement often neglect to consider the structural, cultural, and historical contexts that shape Black Canadians' participation in research. This project therefore seeks to reconceptualize engagement through a health equity and social justice lens, recognizing that traditional approaches often reinforce the very inequities they aim to address. The primary aim is to co-create a sustainable and culturally grounded community partnership framework that amplifies the voices of Black Canadians living with pain.

The GSA will:

• conduct interviews and focus groups with Black Canadian residents living with pain
• take part in co-production workshops
• manage data collection
• assist with data coding and analysis
• assist with manuscript development
• contribute to the development and dissemination of various research outputs, including presentations, etc.

Qualifications:

We're looking for someone who:

• self-identifies as Black
• has training in qualitative research
• has training in critical qualitative approaches to research
• has experience in conducting qualitative interviews/focus groups
• is familiar with chronic pain and/or patient engagement
• has experience with community engagement (preferred)
• is a person living with chronic pain (preferred)

Western offers a broad and exciting variety of part-time and temporary employment opportunities with ample room for job exploration and growth. Within our beautiful campus, you are part of a progressive work environment that promotes work/life balance including access to our state-of-the-art recreation centre. Apply for an opportunity to be part of the Western community and contribute to its success

To ensure that your application is given full consideration, please complete all relevant sections of the application. In addition, you can choose to supplement your application with a cover letter and current resume.

Consideration of applicants will include an assessment of previous performance, experience, and qualifications. Applicants should have oral communication skills in English.

The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Western is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from women, members of racialized groups/visible minorities, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, and persons of any gender identity or gender expression.

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you require accommodations for interviews or other meetings, please contact Human Resources or phone

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those chosen for an interview will be contacted.