Research Associate in Data Science and Immigration
Last updated: January 16, 2026, 11:19 a.m.
Location: Concordia University, Montreal, Canada OR University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Hours per week: 30 Hours, Monday to Friday, during office hours.
Duration: One (1) year, subject to satisfactory performance. Extension possible, based on funding availability.
Salary: CAD $90,000–$110,000 plus benefits, depending on experience
Application deadline: We will start reviewing applications on Feb 1, on a rolling basis, until the position is filled
Start date: May 2026 (flexible)
Description and context
Dr. Mireille Paquet (Concordia University) and Dr. Vince Hopkins (University of British Columbia) are hiring a full-time Research Associate for a one-year appointment jointly based at Concordia’s Institute for Research on Migration and Society and UBC’s Department of Political Science.
The job
This position is designed for a quantitatively strong PhD who is ready to work at a peer level. The Research Associate will play an active role in shaping analyses, driving manuscripts forward, and making strategic decisions about publication. The expectation is close intellectual collaboration, with substantial autonomy in day-to-day research and writing.
The work
The research program studies immigration, political behaviour, and labour market perceptions. We're especially interested in how immigrant “skill” gets stereotyped, and how these ideas shape public opinion and policy attitudes. The work relies heavily on large-scale surveys and randomized experiments, with an emphasis on rigorous design and open, reproducible science.
What you will spend your time doing
- Take intellectual ownership of analyses and manuscripts
- Lead and co-author peer-reviewed journal articles
- Design, implement, and analyse randomized survey experiments
- Develop measurement strategies related to skill, labour markets, and attitudes
- Travel to conferences/workshops and presenting research
- Enjoy life in one of North America's great cities: Montreal, Quebec or Vancouver, British-Columbia
Who is this for
- PhD in Political Science, Economics, or a related field (completed or near completion)
- Excellent quantitative skills, including fluency in R
- A demonstrated ability to move projects from idea to submission
- Interest in immigration, political behaviour, or labour economics
- Someone comfortable working as a collaborator rather than a supervisee
What we're offering
- One year to focus full-time on research and publishing
- Salary range: CAD $90,000–$110,000 plus benefits, depending on experience
- No teaching and minimal administrative responsibilities
- Access to high-quality survey and experimental data
- Research and conference travel support
- A collegial, collaborative environment with clear expectations around publication
Application procedure
Send CV (no references, no cover letter) to irms@concordia.ca
Eligible applicants will receive additional information about specific funding amounts.
Employment Equity
Concordia University is strongly committed to employment equity within its community, and to recruiting a diverse faculty and staff. The University encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including women, members of visible minorities, Indigenous persons, members of sexual minorities, persons with disabilities, and others who may contribute to diversification; candidates are invited to self-identify in their applications.
Accessibility
Concordia desires to increase diversity among its community members and we strive to make our recruitment processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants. If you are contacted for an interview and anticipate needing accommodations during the process, please contact, in confidence, irms@concordia.ca.
Territorial Acknowledgement
Concordia University is located on unceded Indigenous lands. The Kanien’kehá:ka Nation is recognized as the custodians of the lands and waters on which we gather today. Tiohtià:ke/Montreal is historically known as a gathering place for many First Nations. Today, it is home to a diverse population of Indigenous and other peoples. We respect the continued connections with the past, present and future in our ongoing relationships with Indigenous and other peoples within the Montreal community.
