Research Assistant
Assists TMU principal investigators by carrying out research-related tasks associated with research projects or activities (e.g., conduct literature reviews, collect and analyze data, etc.).
Research assistant decision tree
Please refer to the following decision tree in order to determine which employee group is appropriate.
A research assistant is an individual hired to assist Ryerson principal investigators by carrying out tasks associated with research projects or activities. Is the research assistant a student? If no, the research assistant is hired as OPSEU. If yes, is the source of funding OWSP or other special employment program? If yes, the research assistant is hired as work study. If no, what is the academic term? If the term is fall/winder the research assistant is hired as OPSEU, if the term is summer the research assistant is hired as non-union casual.
| Employee group | Work Study | Non-Union (summer students only) |
OPSEU |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hiring approvals | PI plus one level above PI and ORS, if research account | PI plus one level above PI and ORS if research account | PI plus one level above PI and ORS if research account |
| Hours of work | As per applicable Work Study program | Up to 36.25 hours per week | Up to 36.25 hours per week |
| Hiring method |
PIs process the hire through eAppoint. PIs may delegate this task to RASOs by completing the (PDF file) Research Hiring Form | PIs process the hire through eAppoint. PIs may delegate this task to RASOs by completing the (PDF file) Research Hiring Form | PIs process the hire through eAppoint. PIs may delegate this task to RASOs by completing the (PDF file) Research Hiring Form |
| Funding source | Departmental operating budget and/or funded research | Departmental operating budget and/or funded research | Departmental operating budget and/or funded research |
| Benefits | No health and dental benefits | No health and dental benefits | No health and dental benefits |
| Minimum salary | As per applicable Work Study program | Pay grade for NUC | Grade 2 minimum of OPSEU pay scale or greater |
| Vacation | Additional 4% of gross pay | Additional 4% of gross pay | Additional 6% of gross pay, 8% after 1885 hours |
| Additional cost of employment (statutory benefits; EI, CPP, etc.) | Additional 8% of gross pay To determine total salary including vacation and additional costs, use the Research Salary Estimator. |
Additional 9% of gross pay To determine total salary including vacation and additional costs, use the Research Salary Estimator. |
Additional 9% of gross pay To determine total salary including vacation and additional costs, use the Research Salary Estimator. |
| Offer letters | (google doc) Work Study conditional offer (external link) | (google doc) Non-union casual research assistant offer letter template (external link) | (google doc) OPSEU research assistant offer letter template (external link) |