Graduate Research Assistant

Rerouting: African Art and/as Infrastructure

OCAD University acknowledges the ancestral territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Haudenosaunee, the Anishinaabeg and the Huron-Wendat, who are the original owners and custodians of the land on which we work, stand and create.

OCAD University, Canada’s largest and oldest art and design university, is a vibrant community of bold, curious and compassionate artists, designers and scholars who are imagining and creating a joyful, equitable and sustainable world. The University is an internationally renowned hub for art, design, digital media, research, innovation and creativity, and arts administration. It embraces collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches to change-making through art, design-thinking curriculum and research, making OCAD U a local, regional, national and global leader in art and design.

It is an exciting time to join the OCAD U community. The University is at a key stage in its institutional transformation, with the implementation of its Academic and Strategic Plan and guiding principles—driving positive impact, decolonization, indigenization, and equity, environmental sustainability, emerging as a vibrant hub, student-centered approaches, innovation in learning, teaching, and research, and financial stewardship.

Project Details: Can a power grid be an artistic medium? What about a water pipe? Or a railway?

Rerouting: African Art and/as Infrastructure asks what happens when artists treat infrastructure itself as raw material, using it to expose how systems distribute resources unevenly and to imagine how those systems can be assembled differently. Earlier case studies explored creative responses to South Africa’s electricity and water crises; the next stage of the project will turn to public transportation, sanitation, and cellular networks across Southern Africa.

The Research Assistant will work closely with Principal Investigator (PI), Dr. Anna Stielau in Fall 2026 to develop the project’s next phase and prepare a SSHRC Insight Development Grant application. Applications are particularly encouraged from MA, MFA, MDes, and other graduate students whose work intersects with contemporary art, media and technology, African studies, infrastructure and the built environment, or postcolonial and decolonial studies.

Expertise in African art or history is welcome but not required.

The position will provide hands-on experience in developing a major humanities research project from its earliest stages. The successful candidate will gain experience in interdisciplinary research, building literature reviews, evaluating case studies,



and the practical mechanics of preparing a competitive grant application in Canada.

Responsibilities

- Working under the supervision of the Principal Investigator, Dr. Stielau, in support of the project's research goals and objectives
- Researching contemporary Southern African artists, artworks, exhibitions, and institutional collections to identify potential case studies
- Conducting interdisciplinary literature searches to assist in developing an annotated project bibliography
- Locating, organizing, and synthesizing relevant scholarship and archival material, and preparing concise research summaries for discussion with the PI
- Assisting with research related to the project’s SSHRC Insight Development Grant application, including fact-finding around the proposed fieldwork budget
- Assisting with reference checking, document preparation, and final assembly of grant materials in accordance with SSHRC requirements
- Participating in the provision of a safe and secure environment for all members of the University community and its facilities

Qualifications

- Current enrollment in a relevant graduate program, with priority given to OCAD University students
- Strong research, reading, and written communication skills
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
- Ability to work independently and communicate clearly and consistently about research progress
- Interest in one or more of the following areas: contemporary art and visual culture; media and technology; infrastructure and the built environment
- African or Global South art and media; postcolonial/decolonial studies.
- Previous experience working with scholarly databases, conducting in-depth research, and using Zotero or other citation-management software is an asset
- Demonstrated commitment to the principles of equity and diversity and experience promoting a respectful work and learning environment for students, staff and faculty

Hours of Work: Approximately 100 hours total over the period of September 2026 to February 2027. Scheduling will be arranged in consultation with the successful candidate. Work Workplace: The position will primarily involve remote research, with occasional in-person or Teams meetings with the Principal Investigator at 100 McCaul St, as required.

Compensation: $37.28 per hour, plus 6% in lieu of benefits plus vacation pay, as applicable,



per the provisions of the Employment Standards Act

Please note the following

- Applicants must be eligible to work in Canada for any employer (with a valid work or study permit, SIN and Canadian bank account).
- If you are a work or study permit holder, please note a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN) and Canadian bank account is a condition of employment.
- Current students at OCAD University will be given priority consideration for all Research Assistant positions, with the highest priority given to those not currently holding any other TA/RA positions at the University.

Applications Should Include

- A one-page cover letter explaining the candidate’s interest
- A curriculum vitae
- The contact information for three (3) referees

Please upload all three (3) components as one PDF. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please name your upload:

FirstName_LastName-Job Code Interested applicants are invited to submit their application in confidence addressed to Dr. Anna Stielau, Assistant Professor of Art History and Visual Culture, Faculty of Arts and Science, online by clicking the “Apply for this Position” button below. Shortlisted candidates may be invited to a brief conversation with the PI to discuss their interests and experience.

The review of applications will begin on September 20, 2026 and will continue until the position has been filled.

If you require application support, please contact the People &

- Culture Office. Please note that People &
- Culture cannot update you on the status of your application as these searches are decentralized. You will only be contacted if you are shortlisted for an interview. If the posting is advertised, we are still accepting applications.

As an employer committed to employment equity, we encourage applications from members of equity-seeking communities including women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities/expressions.

We encourage members of designated equity-seeking groups to self-identify within the voluntary Applicant Questionnaire.

OCAD U is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier free experience to applicants with accessibility needs. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage during the recruitment process. Please contact People &

- Culture for more information or refer to OCAD U’s Policy of Accommodation in Employment for Persons with Disabilities.

All qualified persons are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority. While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those short-listed will be contacted.

📌 Graduate Research Assistant: Rerouting: African Art and/as Infrastructure (Toronto)
🏢 OCAD University
📍 Toronto