University of Ottawa Research Fellowship 2026: Apply for a Participatory Governance Fellowship

Overview

The University of Ottawa invites applications for a Research Fellowship in Participatory Governance under the UnborderED Knowledge Research Project, which is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. This initiative is a bilingual, interdisciplinary, pan-Canadian research partnership focused on expanding access to higher education, research, and training for individuals with lived experiences of forced migration, connecting displaced scholars with Canadian research communities and labour-market opportunities. The fellow contributes to participatory action research, chairs Assemblies of displaced researchers and students, supports online training and mentoring sessions, develops presentations and reports, and collaborates with Amnesty International to examine how participatory governance within a human rights movement can inform the project.

Who can apply

Applicants must have received a PhD or equivalent within the past five years, though career interruptions such as health, childcare, and displacement may be taken into account. Candidates are required to have recent personal experience of forced migration, which includes being a resettled refugee, Convention refugee, refugee claimant, protected person, humanitarian visa holder, or temporary resident permit holder. Additionally, applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada and reside in the country at the time of application and throughout the employment contract. Complete fluency in English is required, and French is considered an asset, with free French training available at the University of Ottawa for candidates not fully fluent in French.

What you get

The fellow receives an annual salary of $33,000 for a part-time appointment at 0.6 FTE over a one-year duration. The position is based at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, Ontario, where the fellow becomes a university employee with access to university libraries, facilities, and language and skills training. The fellowship also provides co-supervision involving the University of Ottawa and Amnesty International, offering exposure to participatory governance, human rights advocacy, movement building, ethical engagement, and knowledge mobilization.

Requirements

Candidates must demonstrate professional or voluntary experience in participatory governance, such as committee work or board membership in academic or nonprofit settings. Strong analytical, synthesis, project management, and organizational abilities are necessary, along with the capacity to facilitate discussions or workshops and translate research findings for non-academic audiences through practical tools and guidelines. Deliverables include an inception report, an annotated bibliography, an interim report on lessons learned, a validation or interpretation workshop, a final report, a dissemination plan, a presentation to the consortium and stakeholders, and a practical learning brief or toolkit.

How to apply

Applicants must submit an online application form containing a cover letter that summarizes their research and relevant experience, alongside a CV that includes a publication list. The application materials must be prepared by the candidates themselves, as AI-generated application materials are explicitly not accepted.

Key dates

The application deadline is September 17, 2026. The fellowship appointment begins on October 1, 2026, and runs for one year.