Job Opportunity: Community-Engaged Research (CER) Graduate Student Internship

About the Job Opportunity

CMHA Hamilton is seeking a graduate student intern to support the second phase of the Emotions Matter study.

Emotions Matter, launched in Winter 2021, is led by Dr. Diana Singh (Executive Director, Advanced Research on Mental Health and Society, McMaster University) in collaboration with the CMHA Hamilton clinical team.

The project is focused on understanding emotional labour-intensive work and its associated health consequences for frontline service and care workers in community work contexts. This project is the first of its kind to bring together expertise in community-engaged research methodology, emotional labour, and psychotherapy to develop evidence-based research at the community-level that directly informs the development of supportive workplace resources and strategies to promote emotional resiliency among frontline emotional labourers.

The project has been extended to library staff through a partnership with the Hamilton Public Library (HPL) and its partner library systems (Grimsby, Burlington & Brantford).

NOTE: Qualifications for this internship, the award value, qualifications and expected hours are outlined in this posting specific to the organization and its research objectives.

About the CER Graduate Student Internship Program

The 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.

Internships will take place over 1 or 2 academic terms. The value of the internship award varies somewhat by position (minimum $6,000). The expected hours depend on whether the intern is an MA or PhD student, and whether the internship spans 1 or 2 terms.

Interns will work under the supervision and mentorship of community-engaged scholars, community and social service leaders and CRP staff.  Internships provide applied research experience for students and increase the capacity of CRP partners to engage in and use research to inform and advance their programs, services, and policies.

CER Grad Interns will have the opportunity to:  

• Increase knowledge, skills, and expertise in Community-Engaged Research
• Gain a deeper understanding of the non-profit sector and its role in civil society
• Expand professional networks
• Contribute to the advancement of social impact research and knowledge mobilization

Eligibility

To be eligible for an internship, students must:

• Be registered as a student in the Faculty of Social Sciences (in exceptional circumstances, students in other Faculties may be eligible).
• Be in good academic standing, and good financial standing, with the university

NOTE: Further qualifications for this internship, the award value, qualifications and expected hours are outlined in this posting specific to the organization and its research objectives.

How 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 questions or support please contact the CRP Program Manager, Leora Sas van der Linden, at sasvandl@mcmaster.ca.

Application Deadline: Nov. 14, 2022

 

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About CMHA Hamilton

CMHA Hamilton Branch is a non-profit community mental health agency which provides services to adults with serious mental illness within the Hamilton region.

Each year the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) provides direct service to more than 100,000 Canadians through the combined efforts of more than 10,000 volunteers and staff in locally run organizations in all provinces and territories, and branches in more than 135 communities. The CMHA is dedicated to the promotion of the mental health of all people, and ensuring the provision of the best possible services for people with mental health problems.

Visit www.cmha.ca for more information.

About ARMS

ARMS takes a unique interdisciplinary approach to lead the way for advanced research on mental health from a social science perspective.