Are you a recently graduated PhD researcher with experience in participatory governance, forced migration, human rights or social justice? A new research fellowship at the University of Ottawa in Canada offers an opportunity to contribute to an innovative project focused on strengthening the participation of displaced researchers and students in Canadian research communities.
The UnborderED Knowledge Research Fellowship – Participatory Governance is a one-year, part-time postdoctoral appointment beginning 1 October 2026. The position is hosted by the University of Ottawa and co-supervised by Dr Christina Clark-Kazak and Dr David Matsinhe of Amnesty International.
The application deadline is 17 September 2026.
UnborderED Knowledge Research Fellowship 2026
The fellowship forms part of the UnborderED Knowledge Research Project, funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). The project is a bilingual, interdisciplinary, pan-Canadian partnership designed to expand access to higher education, research and training opportunities for students and researchers with lived experiences of forced migration.
The successful fellow will help develop and strengthen participatory governance practices within the project. A major focus will be creating and chairing project-wide Assemblies of displaced researchers and students.
This makes the opportunity particularly relevant to researchers interested in migration, displacement, higher education, governance, human rights, social justice and participatory research.
Position Details
The fellowship is based in Ottawa, Ontario, with in-person or hybrid work preferred. Remote work may be considered for candidates who are resident in Ontario.
Key details include:
- Position: Research Fellowship – Participatory Governance
- Host: University of Ottawa
- Term: 1 year, part-time
- Start date: 1 October 2026
- Workload: 0.6 FTE
- Salary: $33,000 per annum
- Location: Ottawa, Ontario; in-person or hybrid preferred
- Application deadline: 17 September 2026
The successful candidate will become a University of Ottawa employee and have access to university resources, including libraries, training opportunities and other facilities.
Who Is Eligible?
The fellowship has specific eligibility requirements.
Applicants must have been awarded a PhD or equivalent within the last five years. Certain circumstances and career interruptions may be considered when assessing this timeframe, including health-related leave, childcare and displacement.
Importantly, candidates must also have recent personal experience of forced migration. This can include experiences as a resettled refugee, Convention refugee, refugee claimant, protected person, humanitarian visa holder or other qualifying immigration status under Canadian measures.
Applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada and must be resident in Canada both when applying and throughout the employment contract.
Candidates must have complete fluency in English. Knowledge of French is an asset, and candidates who are not fully fluent in French may be expected to participate in free French-language training at the University of Ottawa.
Research and Governance Responsibilities
The postdoctoral fellow will lead the design, implementation and knowledge mobilization of several project activities.
A key responsibility will be overseeing the creation of Assemblies of displaced researchers and students. This includes developing terms of reference, organizing and chairing meetings, preparing mentorship materials and identifying challenges and possible solutions.
The fellow will also support monthly online training and mentoring sessions and provide regular updates to project leadership.
Other responsibilities include preparing reports, presentations, research findings and knowledge-sharing materials for stakeholders.
The fellow will also work with Amnesty International to explore how participatory governance within a membership-based human rights movement can inform the design and evaluation of Assemblies for displaced researchers and students.
Expected Deliverables
During the fellowship, the successful candidate will be expected to produce several important research and knowledge products.
These include an inception report, annotated bibliography, lessons-learned report, validation workshop, final report and dissemination plan.
The fellow will also present findings to the UnborderED Knowledge consortium and relevant stakeholders.
Another major deliverable will be a practical learning brief or toolkit on participatory governance for engaging displaced researchers and students.
Qualifications and Skills
In addition to the PhD requirement, applicants should have professional or voluntary experience in participatory governance, including committee work or board membership within nonprofit or academic environments.
The successful candidate should demonstrate excellent research, writing and communication skills, as well as strong project management and organizational abilities.
Experience facilitating group discussions, workshops and stakeholder meetings will also be valuable.
Candidates should be able to synthesize complex research findings and communicate them effectively to non-academic audiences through practical tools, guidelines and other accessible resources.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted through the online application form and should include a cover letter summarizing research experience and relevant experience related to the research topic, together with a CV that includes a publication list.
The application deadline is 17 September 2026.
Applicants should note that AI-generated application materials will not be accepted. Candidates should therefore ensure that their submitted materials accurately reflect their own experience, qualifications and writing.
Final Thoughts
The UnborderED Knowledge Research Fellowship 2026 presents a distinctive opportunity for eligible postdoctoral researchers to contribute to participatory governance, forced migration research and inclusive higher education in Canada.
With the opportunity to work alongside the University of Ottawa and Amnesty International, the fellowship could be particularly valuable for researchers committed to human rights, social justice, displacement and meaningful participation of affected communities in research and decision-making.
Eligible candidates should carefully review the requirements and submit their application before the 17 September 2026 deadline.
