Student Opportunity FW23-24 – Wellness and Self-Care RAY Assistant 1

Post

Published on September 19, 2023

Job ID: 60006

Job Title: Wellness and Self-Care RAY Assistant 1

Application Deadline: Monday, September 25, 2023 @ 11:59 p.m. ET (Updated)

Eligibility criteria.

To apply, please submit your application to this form: https://airtable.com/app056pBy3C9IrZE1/shrw2jjXx494GiqLT

Hourly wage: $19 per hour

Hours per week: 5.5 hours per week

Start date: October 2, 2023

End date: April 26, 2024

Job description

The Dahdaleh Institute has a bold vision for achieving global health through 1) planetary health, 2) humanitarianism and 3) foresighting themes. One might characterize these as ‘healing others, healing our world’. An additional cross- cutting foundation is being developed whereby Dahdaleh Institute will foster research, education and service initiatives for ‘healing ourselves’ by fostering resiliency and managing stress. This will be operationalized through the Global Health: Wellness Impact Lab (WIL) which will reduce barriers to wellness and promote integrated physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health local-to-global. Under the supervision of Prof. James Orbinski (Director, Dahdaleh Institute) and co-supervised by Prof. Harvey Skinner (Senior Fellow, Dahdaleh Institute), the RAY student will support the development of Wellness Impact Lab.

The student will focus on reviewing the literature and help design the materials for youth engagement and research dissemination activities, such as a mini Conference and/or series on ‘Climate Distress’ health impacts on youth and their actions.

Specific research activities the student(s) will be engaged in:

a) Mini Conference and/or Seminar Series on ‘Climate Distress Health Impacts on Youth and their Actions’

• Assist with the design and development of this conference and/or seminar series
• Explore partnering with colleagues leading the Partnership for Youth and Planetary Wellbeing
• Pilot test a ‘Climate Café’ for engaging youth at York University around climate distress and actions.

b) Stress Busting: 30 Minutes of Magical Practices. Qi Gong and Mindfulness Meditation.

• Promote the Spring and Fall 2023 series to both local (York) and more broadly global audiences using social media and other methods (https://stressbusting.info.yorku.ca/)
• Conducting a scoping review of the research literature supporting mind-body practices such as: mindfulness meditation and Qi Gong – Tai Chi. (https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/mind-and-body-practices).

c) Global Mental Health Online, Open Access, Modularized 90 Minute Mini-Course. This course discusses how mental health and mental illness are understood and acted upon globally through three different worldviews: Eastern, Indigenous and Western. Access at: https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/psychologycommons/chapter/global- mental-health-eastern-indigenous-and-western-perspectives-skinner-h-a-10-04-2022

• Design and evaluate strategies for promoting the use of this online course for University and College students in Canada and internationally
• Help create and evaluate a Digital Badge credential a representation of the learning acquired through completion of the course.

Type of research experience the student(s) will receive:

• Critical thinking, wholistic perspectives, integrative science
• Understanding distinctions among Western and Eastern health practices and ways of knowing (science evidence)
• Conducting literature review; Creating annotated bibliography; Tabulating data
• Preparing presentations and written outputs of research; Editing and formatting drafts; Correspondence with partners and workshop invitees
• Professional communication, including international and cross-cultural professional interaction and communication.

Type of training and support that will be provided to the student(s) in carrying out these research activities:

• Methodological training on data analysis
• Subject matter training on global health, especially exposure to different health and wellness practices based on Eastern, Indigenous and Western Worldviews
• Mentoring on career opportunities and aspirations through regular meetings with supervising faculty

Qualifications

• Current undergraduate York student. Applicants from diverse programs of study are encouraged. The Dahdaleh Institute welcomes applications from all qualified individuals, including, but not limited to women, persons with disabilities, visible minorities (racialized), Indigenous Peoples and persons of any gender identity and sexual orientation. York University is committed to a positive, supportive, and inclusive environment.
• Strong interest in global health.
• Demonstrated skills, experience, and familiarity with conducting literature reviews.
• Research methods skills (quantitative and/or qualitative and/or integrative).
• Analytic skills for understanding, sorting, and categorizing complex information.
• Note-taking, journal-keeping, and filing skills.
• Sound communication skills: professional written and interactive correspondence, public speaking and presentation.
• Extensive social media and computer skills (word processing, email, database, spreadsheets, forms, and slides; facility with Office 365 Apps). WordPress editing skills are an asset. Social media communication skills are an asset.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including international and cross-cultural communication. Ability and willingness to work both independently and as part of a team with researchers, students, and staff.
• Demonstrated organizational and time management skills.
• Eagerness to learn, support, and take on initiative.

Application materials

• Cover letter
• Resume

If you have any questions, please email Harvey Skinner

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