Post

Published on 20 March 2023

Job ID: 56377

Job Title: Wellness and Self-Care RAY Assistant 2

Application Deadline: Thursday, April 20, 2023 @ 11:59 p.m. ET

Eligibility criteria.

Applications are only accepted through the Career Centre. Go to the Career Centre portal and search for the posting with the Job ID listed above.

Hourly wage: $17.50 per hour

Hours per week: 12 hours per week

Start date: May 1, 2023

End date: September 1, 2023

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 theme is being constructed where Dahdaleh Institute will foster research, education and service initiatives for ‘healing ourselves’ by managing stress and fostering resiliency.  This 4th theme will be operationalized through a new Wellness and Self-Care and Lab. 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 this major new theme. This global health intern would focus on creating a digital presence of the Wellness and Self-Care Lab. This includes researching the best practices related to research communications and dissemination, including creating the YouTube Library of previous Stress Busting videos), and designing social media mechanism for promoting engagement with the Lab initiatives, and redesigning the Stress Busting: 30 Minutes of Magical Practices (Qi Gong and Mindfulness Meditation) website.

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

a) Seminar Series on Eastern Approaches to Global Wellness: Concepts, Evidence, Practices (Fall 2023)

• Traditional Chinese Medicine (eg. acupuncture, qi gong); Ayurvedic Medicine (eg. yoga); Buddhist teachings (mindfulness meditation)
• Preparation work would include conducting systemic reviews of the research literature supporting these mind-body practices (https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/mind-and-body-practices).

b) Mini Conference on ‘Climate Distress Impacts on Health of Children and Youth’ (Fall 2023)

• Assist with the design and development of this conference
• Explore partnering with colleagues leading the Partnership for Youth and Planetary Wellbeing. 

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

• Redesign the Stress Busting website (https://stressbusting.info.yorku.ca/) and integrate it with the Dahdaleh Institute website (https://www.yorku.ca/dighr/)
• Promote the Spring and Fall 2023 series to both local (York) and more broadly global audiences using social media and other methods
• Create a YouTube Library of all video recordings of Qi Gong and Mindfulness Meditation sessions from the 2021, 2012, and 2013 series (over 200 videos).

d) 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 systematic reviews and 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

• 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.

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.

Application materials

• Cover letter
• Resume

If you have any questions, please email James Orbinski

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