Electrifying Concordia: A Living Lab on Sustainable and Community-Driven Decarbonization
Funded MSc Scholarship in Geography, Planning and Environment
Last updated: February 2, 2026, 11:43 a.m.
Supervisory details
Supervisors: Damon Matthews
Department: Geography, Planning and Environment
University: Concordia University, Montreal, Canada
Start date: Summer 2026, Fall 2026
MSc Scholarship: 22K CAD per year for 2 years
Project overview
The proposed "Electrifying Concordia" Living Lab will unite campus community members to develop and implement community-driven decarbonization projects. With an initial focus on energy systems, climate resilience, food sustainability and sovereignty, and climate policy, the initiative will also create a collaborative governance model to support long-term sustainable change. This funded MSc project is part of a broader effort to ensure that these changes are in line with Indigenous Directions’ priorities on campus, and to explore how the Sustainability and Indigenous Directions action plans can be better aligned going forward.
Role description
Participate in the co-design of a research project with guidance from the project supervisory committee as well as Concordia Indigenous Directions, community knowledge keepers and peers.
Contribute to a community-driven research process that identifies synergies between the Indigenous Action Plan initiatives and campus electrification, decarbonization, and sustainability initiatives.
Explore and document these synergies to inform both the Indigenous and the Sustainability action plans, including as they relate to policies, programs, and infrastructure initiatives.
With guidance and support from project advisors, develop and implement research methodologies that are aligned with and responsive to diverse cultural and epistemological contexts. These may include, but are not limited to, qualitative and mixed-methods research approaches, community engagement, interviews, workshops, and participatory research sessions.
Contribute to research outputs such as reports, presentations, and knowledge-sharing materials, when appropriate, suitable for both academic and community audiences.
Engage actively in Living Lab activities, interdisciplinary collaboration, and knowledge exchange (when appropriate and in line with Indigenous knowledge-sharing protocols) across campus.
The current and historical impact of sustainability and electrification initiatives on Indigenous communities is an ongoing issue. This role will remain adaptable and reflexive to ensure these issues are not reproduced nor reinforced in the context of the project.
A funded MSc position within a Living Lab research environment, with professional development opportunities including training workshops and interdisciplinary networking.
Mentorship from: (1) Professor Damon Matthews, a leading researcher in climate change, sustainability, and climate policy, with guidance tailored to an evolving, co-designed research project; and (2) a Supervising Committee that aims to include community knowledge keepers and/or Indigenous faculty.
An opportunity to engage in community-driven research, with the support of with Indigenous Directions.
A unique opportunity to develop an Advisory Group of Peers to inform the project development and outcomes while ensuring a strong student-informed design.
Meaningful involvement in campus sustainability, electrification, and decarbonization initiatives, with the potential to inform real-world planning and decision-making.
Access to interdisciplinary research networks across Concordia, including but not limited to sustainability, climate, policy, visual arts and media, engineering, and social science communities.
Opportunities to share research outcomes through reports, presentations, knowledge-sharing activities, and— where appropriate—academic or policy-oriented outputs.
- Campus community decarbonization
- Student-informed action plans
- Indigenous and Sustainability Action Plans on campus
- Climate change
- Cimate impact
- Environmental sustainability
Bachelor’s degree (or near completion) in a relevant field.
Interest in Indigenous-led or Indigenous-informed research, sustainability, climate action, electrification, or decarbonization.
Willingness to engage in community-based, participatory, and culturally appropriate research approaches.
Strong communication skills (written and verbal) and ability to reflect critically on complex social, cultural, and environmental issues.
Openness to interdisciplinary research and evolving project scope as the position is co-designed and inherently dynamic given the nature of the overall Living Lab project.
Commitment to ethical research practices and familiarity with Indigenous data sovereignty principles, First Nations principles of OCAP®, and principles of Respect, Reciprocity, Responsibility, Relevance in research (Kirkness, V. J. and R. Barnhardt (2001).
Please send the following documents in a single PDF file:
Letter of intent aligned with the project and the structure of the graduate position as described here.
- (Please explain why you are a good fit for the position and how you would like to see this role develop)
Academic CV
Transcripts
Names and contact information of 3 referees
Publications if any
Any other documents that might benefit your file
Send your PDF file to damon.matthews@concordia.ca with the subject as:
Indigenous Directions_Your Name
Indigenous students are strongly encouraged to apply, as this position is intended to support Indigenous graduate research.
The deadline to apply for this role is March 1, 2026.
Questions/contact
For all questions, please contact Nilufar Sabet-Kassouf at nilufar.sabetkassouf@concordia.ca.
Volt-Age is funded by a $123-million grant from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund.
