Vacancies for two (2) Research Assistants

The Institute of African Studies is looking to hire two Research Assistants to support the following project: Unlocking Sustainable Solutions for Employment and Entrepreneurship: Empowering African Youth Through Indigenous Knowledge starting June 1, 2024. The ideal candidates will be PhD students in Anthropology, Economics, Political Science or Business. Women and students from racialized communities with knowledge of Africa are specially advised to apply. Each of the two Research Assistants will have 110 hours to work with the Principal Investigator, Professor Samuel Ojo Oloruntoba.

Background to the project.

This project  builds on our successful first partnership, which initiated a series of trust-building processes with potential partners, undertook a general mapping of the literature on Indigenous knowledge and entrepreneurship in marginalized communities in Africa, convened an international conference on Indigenous knowledge and youth entrepreneurship, and formed the African Indigenous Knowledge Research Network (AIKRN) – a network of university research centers, Indigenous institutions and Indigenous communities and NGOs that currently spans across Benin Republic, Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda.  The systematic marginalization of the valuable insights and wisdom of Indigenous communities across Africa have led to missed opportunities for sustainable growth and development. Embracing the enduring wisdom of Indigenous traditions and their forward-thinking applications, this project aims to connect researchers, Indigenous knowledge keepers, and Indigenous youth across Africa to address questions related to youth unemployment and entrepreneurship.

Position: Research Assistant

Supervisor: Professor Samuel Ojo Oloruntoba

Research Areas: African Indigenous Knowledge systems and Entrepreneurship, sustainable development, informal economy, economic development.

Contract period: June 1-Septmber 30, 2024

Qualification: While candidates with MA in Anthropology, Political Science, Economics and Business are eligible to apply, these positions are for current Carleton University PhD students in these disciplines.

Attributes:

  • Excellent interpersonal skills
  • Strong analytical skill
  • High level of motivation
  • Interest in working on Indigenous knowledge issues

Roles of the Research Assistants

  • Conduct desk-review of related literature on Indigenous youth employment and entrepreneurship in Africa.
  • Collection and analysis of secondary data on the following related issues: Indigenous knowledge and sustainable development in Africa, Indigenous knowledge and western knowledge system, Indigenous knowledge and decolonization of entrepreneurship in Africa, Indigenous knowledge and entrepreneurship in Africa, Indigenous knowledge and education in Africa. Indigenous knowledge and intellectual property rights, Indigenous governance and democracy, Indigenous knowledge and the ‘informal’ economy, Indigenous knowledge and climate change.
  • Co-author two journal articles with the Principal Investigator

All applications, including a motivation letter and current curriculum vitae should be submitted to AfricanStudies@cunet.carleton.ca by May 15, 2024