September 3, 2025
Research Associate, Centre for Migration Studies
The Centre for Migration Studies at UBC advances excellence in migration and mobilities research, training, public understanding, and community engagement. The Centre, a community of faculty members, practitioners, students, research and support staff, serves as an incubator for transformative, inclusive, collaborative, interdisciplinary, and intersectoral research. We seek to understand the causes, consequences, and experiences of human mobility through research, education, and outreach. In doing so, we aim to facilitate publicly engaged dialogue that fosters inclusive and just communities. For information about the Centre, visit: https://migration.ubc.ca/.
Job Summary
The Centre for Migration Studies (CMS) at UBC – Vancouver invites applications for a full-time Research Associate position commencing as early as October 2025. The successful candidate will play a key role in advancing the Centre’s mandate to foster policy-relevant research, public outreach, and migration training. They will monitor migration and integration policy developments across multiple levels of government, translate academic research into accessible formats, and support the production and dissemination of CMS research, policy, and data briefs. The role will also include coordinating policy roundtables and maintaining partnerships with government and NGO stakeholders, planning and supporting public events on policy and policy-relevant research, and contributing to the Centre’s presence on social media (e.g., LinkedIn) and in public discourse (e.g., through Op-Ed or blog writing for The Conversation) related to migration and citizenship. The successful candidate will also help oversee the existing Graduate Certificate in Migration Studies, develop pedagogical content for specialized migration workshops for academic and practitioner audiences, and explore opportunities for externally facing educational initiatives, including fee-paying training programs. In support of the Centre’s training mission, they will also help develop and deliver professional development programming for graduate student affiliates.
Organizational Status
The Research Associate will report directly to one of the Centre Co-Directors. They will also work closely with Centre staff and other stakeholders in the university and broader community.
Qualifications
The successful candidate is required to hold a PhD degree in a relevant social science or professional school discipline with at least two years of demonstrated experience engaging in policy-relevant analysis and in educational training activities. The successful candidate must also demonstrate strong team-work skills and the ability to manage multiple, time-sensitive tasks. They must demonstrate excellent written and oral communication skills, for both academic and non-academic environments. The Research Associate will be expected to contribute to the Centre’s academic research output, and will work as part of a multidisciplinary team. Postdoctoral experience is highly desirable.
This full-time Research Associate position is for an initial term of one year, with the possibility of renewal pending availability of funding and strong performance. Review of applications will begin soon after October 3, 2025, and will continue until the position is filled. The expected pay range for this position is $8,200 – $9,200/month. Salary will be commensurate with qualification and experience.
To Apply
Interested candidates must apply online at https://air.arts.ubc.ca/?p=39559. Applicants are asked to provide: Cover letter explaining their fit with the position, an updated CV, a statement of research interests (max. 1 page), two samples of public-facing writing that draws on or refers to research-based scholarship, e.g., an op-ed, a podcast, a policy report, research brief, etc. (2-5 pages), and contact information for three references (at least one academic and one non-academic).
Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority.