getting a research assistant job
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what is an RA?
Unlike a Graduate Assistantship (GA), Research & Development Graduate Assistantships (RDGA), Teaching Assistantship (TA), or Course Instructorship (CI) that are forms of employment arranged between a student and the university, a Research Assistant is arranged between a student and a faculty member. This includes the arrangement of any financial compensation that you receive as a student for the work you agree to do.
how do I get an RA?
Because RAs are arranged between a student and a faculty member, there is no formal application process. This means that you can get a RA in many different ways.
For example, based on the quality of your work you do in a course or your past education and experience, a faculty member might approach you with an offer of assistantship in a specific project. You may be hired to work for a faculty member directly (and be paid out of their research grant) or invited to work alongside a faculty member for a research company.
Because Research Assistantships are not arranged by the university, it is possible to hold a Research Assistantship and a Graduate Assistantships at the same time. You can find out more about the conditions of holding a Graduate Assistantship here:
OISE :: GA FAQ :: Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto
testimonials
LINDSAY (C&P)
I have gotten two RAs so far. The first one I got in my second year by asking a faculty member if I could join his team. I wanted to get to know him better because I was hoping he could be my supervisor. I had OGS so I could not hold a GA, so I asked him if I could hold the role of RA on his team.
The second RA I got in my third year through a prof from another faculty. My name was passed onto to her by a prof I had worked with at OISE.
I would recommend asking people you want to work with if you can be on their teams. You never know -- the worst they say is no, the best they say is yes. Also network, network and network! If people know of you and your work, you are likely to have more opportunities knocking at your door.
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