Support Competition – Postdoctoral Fellowships (SSHRC, FRQSC, and others)
Deadline: July 11, 2025, 11:59 p.m. EST
The Research Chair on Migrant Protection and International Law at the University of Ottawa is launching a support competition for candidates wishing to apply for a postdoctoral fellowship, such as the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Postdoctoral Fellowship and/or the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture (FRQSC) Postdoctoral Fellowship*.
The results of this competition will be announced before the official deadlines for applying to scholarship programs (see the “Important Dates” section below), so that those selected can mention the Chair's support in their application.
About the Chair
Rooted in a commitment to rights-based, interdisciplinary research that is relevant to public policy, this Chair explores Canada's role in global migration governance and critically examines how its practices align - or fail to align - with international standards of protection.
The Chair was awarded to Professor Delphine Nakache, Full Professor at the Faculty of Law of the University of Ottawa, in recognition of her long-standing research and teaching in immigration and refugee law. To learn more about the Chair, its vision, and its activities, visit our website.
Purpose of the Competition
This competition aims to support a researcher wishing to undertake a postdoctoral fellowship within the Chair. The selected candidate will receive:
- Official support from the Chair (including a letter of recommendation, if required),
- The possibility of being hired as a researcher at the University of Ottawa within the Chair once selected (not conditional on obtaining the postdoctoral fellowship).
The fellowship must focus on a research project related to one or more of the Chair's three research streams:
Stream 1 – Documenting the evolution of Canadian policies and their impacts
Analyze the transformations in Canadian asylum and temporary migration policies over the past 20 years and assess their effects on the trajectories, rights, and protection of migrants.
Stream 2 – Analyzing the gaps between Canada's international commitments and their domestic implementation
Study the gaps between Canada's international commitments and its domestic practices, and make recommendations to better align domestic policies with international human rights law standards.
Stream 3 – Conducting an international comparative analysis
Compare the legal situations of temporary migrants and asylum seekers in Canada and elsewhere, in order to propose recommendations based on international best practices.
*Note: If you wish to apply for another postdoctoral fellowship and receive support from the Chair, please write to us before submitting your application for this competition so that we can verify your eligibility together.
Eligibility criteria
To participate, you must:
- Meet the eligibility criteria set by the agency administering the postdoctoral fellowship (SSHRC and/or the FRQSC and/or other);
- Meet the policies for postdoctoral fellows at the University of Ottawa;
- Have sufficient proficiency in English and French to participate in the Chair's bilingual activities.
Commitment of the Chair
- An official letter of support, signed by the Chairholder, Delphine Nakache, if required by the funding agency;
- Privileged access to the Chair's resources (researcher network, events, administrative support);
- Access to University of Ottawa facilities (libraries, workspaces, etc.);
- The possibility of being hired as a researcher at the University of Ottawa as part of the Chair's activities upon selection, regardless of whether a postdoctoral fellowship is obtained;
- Logistical support in organizing the postdoctoral stay.
Commitments of the selected candidate
- Carry out the proposed research project and maintain a regular presence at the University of Ottawa;
- Actively participate in the Chair's activities (workshops, conferences, seminars, etc.);
- Present the progress of their work at least once as part of the Chair's activities.
Submit your application
To apply, please submit your application by the deadline of July 11, 2025 (11:59 p.m. EST): Fill out this form;
Send the following documents (in PDF format only) to [email protected]:
- Your CV ;
- A cover letter (maximum 1 page, Times New Roman font, size 12, single spacing);
- A presentation of your research project (maximum 2 pages, same format) highlighting the links with one or more of the Chair's research areas.
Please ensure that your application is complete and accessible. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Important Dates
- July 11, 2025 (11:59 p.m. EST): Deadline to submit your application
- July 18, 2025: Announcement of the results of the first selection round (invitation to interviews)
- July 21–25, 2025: Interviews
- August 1, 2025: Announcement of the selected candidate
- September 12, 2025: Deadline for submitting an application to SSHRC
- October 8, 2025: Deadline for submitting an application to the FRQSC
- February 2026: SSHRC competition results
- April 2026: FRQSC competition results
- Internship duration (if funded): September 2026 to June 2027 (flexible dates)
If you have any questions or require clarification, please do not hesitate to contact Mia Dubus, Chair Coordinator, at [email protected].