The School of Communication at Simon Fraser University

Starting February 1st, 2025

The School of Communication at Simon Fraser University (SFU) is inviting applications for a three-year extended research fellowship as part of the Transatlantic Partnership Project EDIT: “An Exploration of Independent Journalism’s Epistemologies: Enhancing Democratic Resilience in the Age of Disinformation.” This fellowship is a unique opportunity for a researcher who wants to join the School of Communication as a PhD student to work under the supervision of Associate Professor Dr. Sarah Ganter while engaging in cutting- edge research and gaining experience in an international academic environment. Information about our PhD program can be found here: PhD in Communication Program

Your work

• You will contribute to and actively engage with the EDIT project

• You will actively support the research process by contributing to conceptual and theoretical work, ethics approval, data collection, data administration, data analysis and interpretation

• You will facilitate research documentation and administration

• You will attend the regular team meetings

• You will collaborate with an international team

• You will participate actively in publishing and public engagement activities

• You will work towards the successful completion of your PhD at SFU's School of Communication under the supervision of Associate Prof. Dr. Sarah Ganter

Your qualifications

• You hold a master’s degree in journalism, media and communication studies, or a closely related field. Practical experience as a journalist is a strong asset.

• You are excited about topics related to independent journalism, the safety and protection of journalists, and journalistic resilience. Interest in media governance studies and academic cosmopolitanism as an approach to research is a plus.

• You have first experience in conducting qualitative research

• You are comfortable working with computers and willing to use new software and project management tools

• Your written and spoken English is excellent, and you may be fluent in other languages

• You have excellent communication skills and appreciate teamwork and collegiality

• You are dedicated, curious, and enthusiastic and have distinct organizational skills

What we offer

• Research Fellowship (20 hrs./week) located in the EDIT project for three years, pending annual review

• Fellowship salary is between $29,000/year to $32,000/year

• Acceptance into the PhD program at the SFU School of Communication

• Possibility to work with the data from the Canadian part of the project as part of your PhD thesis

• Additional funding to present work from the project at conferences

• Additional funding opportunities for your PhD accessible via the university

• Workplace on SFU’s Burnaby Mountain Campus

• Training in research design, conceptual work, qualitative methods, and project management

• Access to an international network of scholars and an active local student community

• Professional mentorship beyond the project

• Access to additional training programs as provided by SFU Library

• We advocate for and value work-life balance in academia

• We advocate for and value diversity and collegiality in academia and beyond

Application Requirements

Interested candidates are invited to submit the following documents in a single PDF file:

1. Letter of intent (1page): Please include your motivation for applying, your research interests, and how they align with the fellowship and SFU School of Communication.

2. Academic curriculum vitae: Include academic degrees, achievements, research experience, and professional background. If applicable, include a list of your research publications and conference presentations.

3. Names and contact details of three academic referees

4. Transcript of records: Provide academic transcripts of your degrees.

5. MA thesis: Include a copy of your completed thesis in PDF format.

6. PhD proposal draft adressing questions related to independent journalism, safety of journalists/protection of journalists, and journalistic resilience. The draft (2 pages text plus time plan and references) will include (a) a statement of relevance, (b) a short literature review, (c) research questions, (d) a methodology section, (e) a time plan, (f) references.

Application Process

Please send your complete application as a single PDF file by December 2nd to sganter@sfu.ca with the subject line: Transatlantic Research Fellow Application—[Your Name]. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position call will be closed once a suitable candidate is identified.

About the SFU School of Communication

Located in Metro Vancouver, Canada, the SFU School of Communication is a leading school for research and education in communication studies. Our faculty is committed to fostering a vibrant, diverse academic community that addresses critical issues of public concern through interdisciplinary and collaborative research.

For questions about this call, please contact sganter@sfu.ca.

We look forward to receiving your application and welcoming you to the School of Communication at SFU!