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Research Assistants - AI and the Arts

Department: AI and the Arts
Position supervisor: Dr. Miranda Campbell, Dr. Sandra Jeppesen, and Dr. Neven Lochhead 
Contract length: The positions will run in the Fall 2026 and Winter 2027 semesters.
Hours of work per week:5 hours/ week
Position type: PhD-level Research Assistant (RA) 
Rate of pay: $35/ hr + 17% benefits for a PhD student

About Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University)

At the intersection of mind and action, Toronto Metropolitan University is on a transformative path to become Canada’s leading comprehensive innovation university. Integral to this path is the placement of equity, diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our institutional culture. Our current academic plan outlines each as core values and we work to embed them in all that we do.

Toronto Metropolitan University welcomes those who have demonstrated a commitment to upholding the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion and will assist us to expand our capacity for diversity in the broadest sense. In addition, to correct the conditions of disadvantage in employment in Canada, we encourage applications from members of groups that have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples, Indigenous peoples of North America, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and those who identify as women and/or 2SLGBTQ+. Please note that all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, applications from Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

As an employer, we are working towards a people first culture and are proud to have been selected as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers and a Greater Toronto’s Top Employer for 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. To learn more about our work environment, colleagues, leaders, students and innovative educational environment, visit www.torontomu.ca, check out @TorontoMet (external link)  and @ECItorontomet (external link, opens in new window)  on X, and visit our LinkedIn company page (external link, opens in new window) .

About the program/department/team

The AI and the Arts (AIA) is a SSHRC-funded Knowledge Synthesis research project situated jointly at TMU and Lakehead University Orillia. This 1-year research project aims to deepen our understanding of how artists are responding to AI; what they think, feel, and do when confronted with its opportunities and threats. Rather than polarizing AI as a miracle or menace, the project team examines the complexities of artist engagements with AI—how they use, critique, refuse, negotiate, collaborate, and emote in relation to AI. We aim to synthesize the state of the art on AI and the Arts through qualitative mixed methods. 

The opportunity

We are looking to hire three PhD-level Research Assistants (RAs) to contribute to research activities through all phases of the project, including data collection, data analysis, and dissemination.

  • Two RA positions will each be responsible for two of the following research activities:
    • Scholarly Environmental Scan: Elucidating how researchers in different disciplines (including Humanities, Social Sciences, Science and Technology Studies (STS), and STEM) are framing issues around AI in relation to the arts, creativity, cultural production, and the creative industries, identifying key knowledge gaps.
    • Media Content Analysis: Analyzing public discourse to trace affective responses by artists and others when discussing AI in relation to the arts, artistic production, the creative industries, and cultural futures.
    • Artist Voices Deepening: Analyzing artists' voices in their own existent materials—including grey literature, published interviews, curatorial materials, and creative works—to understand how they navigate the tensions around how AI is transforming the arts.
    • Evaluative Policy Assessment: Surveying and appraising a range of regulatory frameworks within Canada and globally, analyzing how they have aimed (or failed) to protect, support, and empower artists while addressing the ethical and cultural challenges that AI entails.
  • One RA position will be responsible for curatorial activities:
    • Synthesizing results to curate outcomes by developing an online resource that documents and reflects on artist experiments with AI in its current state of emergence. This work brings a range of affective engagements with AI into relation to help think through their impact on the field of contemporary art and artists' lives.

Qualifications

  • Experience researching in at least two of the four areas above (scholarly material, media, policy, artists’ materials), preferably in relation to AI and the Arts
  • Knowledge or experience of the creative industries and how they are being impacted by AI
  • Experience or training with research projects (quantitative or qualitative)
  • Experience and active practice as an artist, graphic designer, or website content creator
  • Experience engaging with broad audiences (e.g. events, general audience publications)
  • Strong communication and collaboration skills
  • Capacity to self-initiative, innovate, and think creatively
  • Lived experience of racialized, gendered, gender diverse, 2SLGBTQ+, disabled, BIPOC, and/or poverty are considered valuable aspects of expertise 

How to apply

Please send a CV and cover letter to Dr. Miranda Campbell (miranda.campbell@torontomu.ca) by the deadline of July 15, 2026. In your cover letter, please clearly outline which RA position you are interested in (research activities or curatorial), and which two of the four streams of research activities you are interested in, if you are applying to the research activities positions.

Toronto Metropolitan University’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

  • We encourage all First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples or Indigenous peoples of North America, to self-identify in their applications. If you are an Indigenous applicant and require support during the recruitment process, please reach out to James McKay, Indigenous HR Lead at james13@torontomu.ca.
  • Toronto Metropolitan University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), and aims to ensure that independence, dignity, integration and equality of opportunity are embedded in all aspects of the university culture.
  • We will provide an accessible experience for applicants, students, employees, and members of the Toronto Metropolitan University community. We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the recruitment process. If you have restrictions that need to be accommodated to fully participate in any phase of the recruitment process, please reach out to to Human Resources: 
  • All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.