Are you interested in pursuing a graduate degree? Do you have a passion for agriculture, food systems, geography and rural studies, and/or science and technology studies? If so, please read this recruitment flyer and feel free to reach out with any questions!
The Research: We are seeking highly motivated graduate students who want to complete a Master’s or PhD and are interested in conducting social science research related to issues of digitalization, financialization, and consolidation in the agrifood sector in Saskatchewan and Ontario.
The research will contribute to a multi-year SSHRC project, led by André Magnan (University of Regina), Sarah Rotz (York University), and Annette Aurélie Desmarais (University of Manitoba), examining three intersecting processes:
1. Digitalization: the growing importance of digital technologies such as satellite and drone imaging, GPS-guided machinery, robotics and Big Data in agriculture
2. Financialization: the increasing influence of financial actors and logics in the agricultural sector
3. Consolidation: the increasing concentration of farmland and other agricultural resources into fewer hands.
Students involved in the project will benefit from working collaboratively with the research team and are invited to pursue their own research interests and develop a project that fits within the overarching project themes.
The Funding: The successful applicants will receive a stipend of $17,500/year (MA) or $20,000/year (PhD) plus research expenses to conduct fieldwork in Saskatchewan or Ontario. Students will be encouraged to pursue additional sources of funding, including scholarships and TAships.
The Opportunities: The research will form the basis of the student’s thesis or dissertation. As key members of the project team, graduate students will have opportunities to collaborate with other researchers, present their work in seminars/workshops, and publish in newspapers/magazines and peer-reviewed journals. Students will be trained in project management, social science research methods, and knowledge mobilization.
How to apply: We are accepting students at programs at either University of Regina or York University. Applicants should email their queries, including a CV, and a letter of interest explaining their interest in digital technologies, rural development, and/or farming to the researchers listed below. Please note that we will consider start dates of Fall 2024 or 2025. Students currently enrolled in a Master’s or PhD program are invited to apply.
Applicants wishing to study at York University will be supervised by Dr. Sarah Rotz (Assistant Professor, Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change). Depending on the interests of the student, it may be possible to complete a Master’s in Environmental Studies, Geography, or Science and Technology Studies. Please contact her at rotzs@yorku.ca
Applicants interested in studying at the University of Regina will be supervised by Dr. André Magnan (Professor, Department of Sociology and Social Studies). Students may complete their MA in either Sociology or Social Studies, depending on their interests and background. The Social Studies program is appropriate for students with a social science or interdisciplinary background and provides a strong grounding in methodology and theory. Please contact him at andre.magnan@uregina.ca
Deadline:
Applicants to York University must apply by February 15, 2024 if looking to apply directly to the program (program details and deadlines can be found on the program webpages). Later applications will be considered if the positions remain unfilled.
Applicants to University of Regina are strongly encouraged to submit their application by March 15th, 2024. Later applications may be considered if the positions remain unfilled.
Sarah Rotz 