Front End Developer & Analyst

Starting September 2022 (renewable up to 5 years)
Open to students in any graduate program in Canada and the United States

Join the Transgender Media Lab and Humanities Data Lab!

We are seeking an incoming or existing MA or PhD student to lead front end development and analysis for the Transgender Media Portal.

Trans, Two Spirit, queer, Black, and Indigenous candidates and candidates of colour are especially encouraged to apply!

The Transgender Media Lab at Carleton University and the Humanities Data Lab at the University of Ottawa are building the Transgender Media Portal (TMP), a website that will act as a kind of IMDb for trans, nonbinary, Two-Spirit, and gender-nonconforming filmmakers and their films. The portal will: a) enable new ways of analyzing trans film production, distribution, and reception; b) share information about trans-made films with educators, students, festival programmers, artists, activists, and the public; and c) model best practices in terms of academic/community digital partnerships and digital sustainability. The TMP uses minimal computing principles to ensure maximum longevity and sustainability of the site and its data. Our workflow involves converting data from CSV to HTML, with a JSON-backed static search, and CSS and JavaScript front end.

Students who will be enrolled in any graduate program in Canada and the United States in Fall 2022 are eligible to apply.

Responsibilities for this position include:

  • Creating the CSS and JavaScript for the TMP static site
  • Maintaining the website
  • Producing documentation and how-tos
  • Determining how to improve the site based on feedback from users and implementing these improvements
  • Conducting data analysis and data visualizations (e.g. maps, timelines, animations, network graphs) to answer the project’s research questions

Previous experience required in the following areas:

  • CSS
  • JavaScript
  • Website stewardship, including producing documentation
  • Analytic visualization

Preferred skills and background:

  • Work with trans communities
  • Experience with community-based projects
  • Experience with collaborative team projects
  • Galleries, libraries, archives, and museums (GLAM) sector experience
  • Metadata
  • Library data standards
  • Scripting, Python or XSLT

Compensation and duration:

  • The position is guaranteed for two years and renewable for up to five years.
  • This position is for 200 hours of research assistance work per academic year (~C$9,000/year). It will be compensated at the CUPE 2626 graduate Teaching Assistantship rates (currently C$46.86/hr, with an annual inflation of 1%).
  • If the candidate is enrolled in a university program, the position includes a Transgender Media Lab Scholarship of C$1,500/year.
  • Funding for travel for research and conferences will also be provided.

Incoming University of Ottawa and Carleton University students:

Interested incoming candidates should apply to a related MA, PhD or terminal degree program of their choice at the University of Ottawa (Communication, Computer Science, Digital Transformation and Innovation, Feminist & Gender Studies, Information Studies) or Carleton University (Communication and Media Studies, Computer Science, Cultural Mediations, Film Studies, Human-Computer Interaction, Information Technology, Women’s and Gender Studies). Candidates may apply for more than one program but will have to pick one if admitted to more than one. We encourage candidates to apply for additional awards and financial support (uOttawa, Carleton).

Enrolled students and students at other universities:

Students who will be enrolled in any graduate program in Canada and the United States in Fall 2022 are eligible to apply. Students not based in Ottawa can work remotely.

The Transgender Media Lab is committed to principles of equality and social justice. We especially encourage trans, Two Spirit, queer, Black, and Indigenous candidates and candidates of colour to apply. Fellows will be expected to agree to a statement of values and abide by a code of conduct to ensure a safe, supportive working environment for all lab members and guests.

To apply:

  • Email the project director, Laura Horak (laura.horak@carleton.ca), to indicate your interest in the position.
  • For students who are applying to graduate programs at the University of Ottawa or Carleton:
    • Follow the online instructions to apply for the program(s) of your choice. In the “Statement of Intent” in your application:
      • Indicate your interest in this position and include the following sentence: “I give permission for the graduate admissions committee to share my application materials and letters of reference with Dr. Laura Horak and Dr. Constance Crompton”;
      • Describe all relevant skills and experience you have;
      • Trans, Two Spirit, queer, Black, and Indigenous candidates and candidates of colour are invited to self-identify.
  • For students who are already enrolled or students at other universities:
    • A cover letter that describes why you are interested in this position and your relevant skills, background, and experience. Trans, Two Spirit, queer, Black, and Indigenous candidates and candidates of colour are invited to self-identify.
    • A CV
    • An unofficial transcript from your most recent academic experience

Deadline:

  • Incoming University of Ottawa and Carleton students: Your graduate program’s application deadline.
  • Enrolled students and students at other universities in Canada and the United States: February 1, 2022

Do you have questions? Feel free to reach out to project director Laura Horak at laura.horak@carleton.ca. For questions about the specific graduate programs, contact the graduate supervisor for that program.

This position is funded by the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada.