Undergraduate Research Assistant: Pilot Catalogue Documenting Lenape Quillwork

Research Assistant

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 live, work 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: The Research Assistant will support the creation of a pilot catalogue documenting Lenape quillwork in museums and select private collections across Lunaapahkiing (traditional Lunaape homelands, including New York City/ New Jersey) and select additional relevant collections. This project aims to advance research and reclamation of Lenape artistic knowledge.

Responsibilities:

• Working under the supervision of the Principal Investigator, Vanessa Dion Fletcher, in support of the project's research goals and objectives.
• Attend regular meetings to review project timelines, monitor progress, and support the achievement of departmental goals and objectives.
• Assist with data collection, literature searches, and data compilation, processing, and entry
• Participating in the provision of safe and secure environment for all members of the University community and its facilities.

Qualifications:

• Completion of a relevant undergraduate degree, or current enrollment in a relevant undergraduate program, and/or equivalent training and professional experience
• Strong independent organizational, interpersonal, oral and written communication and problem-solving skills
• Experience with data entry and cataloguing is an asset
• Introductory knowledge of Indigenous collections in institutional settings
• Demonstrated attention to detail and commitment to producing, reviewing, and maintaining accurate, high-quality data sets
• Demonstrated strong reading comprehension skills and exceptional attention to detail when reviewing written materials and documentation
• Where relevant, sound knowledge of, and commitment to, healthy and safe work practices

Hours of Work: 8 hours per week over the period between Monday, June 22nd, 2026 to Friday, August 28th, 2026. Up to 100 hours total.

Work Environment: This is a remote work position with regular synchronous meetings.

Compensation: $23.54 (Undergrad Rate) per hour with an additional 4% in lieu of vacation and 6% in lieu of benefits

Please note the following:

• The period of employment may be extended, conditional upon continued funding of the Project by OCAD U's external funding partner(s), and upon satisfactory execution of duties

Applications should include:

1. A one-page cover letter explaining the candidate's interest and any prior experience with data entry/ cataloguing or familiarity with Indigenous museum collections
2. A curriculum vitae
3. The names and contact information of three references.
4. One post-secondary academic reference (former professor, research supervisor, etc)

Please upload all four (4) 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 Vanessa Dion Fletcher, Lecturer, Faculty of Arts & Science, online.

The review of applications will begin on June 3, 2026, and will continue until the position has been filled.

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.

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.