postdoc jobs in Canada

Department: BMO Newcomer Workforce Integration Lab, Global Migration Institute
Position supervisor: Dr. Anna Triandafyllidou and Dr. Marshia Akbar
Contract length: 2 years
Hours of work per week: 36.25 hours/week, in person
Position type: Postdoctoral Fellow
Rate of pay: $65,000/year + Benefits

About Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University)

At the intersection of mind and action, Toronto Metropolitan University is on a transformative path to become Canada’s leading comprehensive innovation university. Integral to this path is the placement of equity, diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our institutional culture. Our current academic plan outlines each as core values and we work to embed them in all that we do.

Toronto Metropolitan University welcomes those who have demonstrated a commitment to upholding the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion and will assist us to expand our capacity for diversity in the broadest sense. In addition, to correct the conditions of disadvantage in employment in Canada, we encourage applications from members of groups that have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples, Indigenous peoples of North America, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and those who identify as women and/or 2SLGBTQ+. Please note that all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, applications from Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

About the Global Migration Institute and the BMO Newcomer Workforce Integration Lab

The Global Migration Institute, launched in April 2026 at Toronto Metropolitan University, is an international research hub dedicated to advancing research, policy engagement, and public dialogue on migration and integration. The Institute focuses on migration experiences, policies and practices, labour migration, technology and AI, narratives and public discourse, and migrant inclusion across diverse global contexts.

The BMO Newcomer Workforce Integration Lab is an initiative housed within the Global Migration Institute at Toronto Metropolitan University. The Lab brings together researchers, employers, community organizations, policy-makers, and newcomers to conduct action-oriented research and knowledge mobilization on labour market integration in Canada.

The Lab focuses on issues related to labour migration, immigrant employment integration, international students and temporary residents, skills recognition, workplace inclusion, employer practices, and the role of advanced digital technologies and AI in hiring and workforce integration. Through collaborative and interdisciplinary research, the Lab aims to bridge research and practice and support the development of equitable and evidence-based workforce integration strategies.

The opportunity

The Postdoctoral Fellow will contribute to BMO lab’s evidence-based and applied research and knowledge mobilization activities on migration and labour market integration of migrants in Canada. The successful candidate will work under the supervision of Professor Anna Triandafyllidou, Founding Director of the Global Migration Institute, and Dr Marshia Akbar, Director of the BMO Newcome Workforce Integration Lab. The Fellow will collaborate with researchers, graduate students, research assistants, community organizations, employers, and policy stakeholders associated with the BMO Lab.

The position will involve supporting multiple externally funded research projects related to labour migration, employment integration, international students, temporary migration, and employer engagement in Canada, while also contributing to the expansion of the Lab’s research activities and future initiatives.

Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Conducting qualitative research, including in-depth literature reviews, semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and stakeholder consultations.
• Assisting with participant recruitment and coordination with community and institutional partners.
• Conducting literature reviews and policy scans related to migration, labour market integration, international students, and employment pathways.
• Managing and analyzing qualitative data using software such as NVivo.
• Supporting qualitative components of mixed-methods research projects.
• Drafting research reports, policy briefs, academic papers, presentations, and knowledge mobilization materials.
• Supporting research ethics applications, amendments, and research documentation.
• Coordinating meetings, workshops, webinars, roundtables, and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Supporting event organization and broader knowledge mobilization activities.
• Assisting with grant development and project coordination.
• Liaising with academic collaborators, community organizations, employers, and government stakeholders.
• Contributing to social media and public-facing dissemination activities related to the Lab’s research.

The Fellow will also have opportunities for professional development, mentorship, publication development, conference participation, policy engagement, and collaborative research activities through the broader programs of the Global Migration Institute.

Qualifications

Applicants must hold a PhD in Sociology, Geography, Migration Studies, Public Policy, Political Science, or a related social science discipline with a strong focus on migration and labour market integration.

The successful candidate should demonstrate:

• Strong qualitative research skills, including experience conducting interviews and focus groups.
• Experience with qualitative data analysis software such as NVivo.
• Knowledge of migration, labour migration, immigrant integration, international students, or workforce integration in Canada.
• Strong academic writing and publication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively within interdisciplinary and multi-stakeholder research teams.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and event coordination skills.
• Experience conducting policy-oriented and community-engaged research.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and timelines in a fast-paced research environment.

The following are considered assets:

• Experience with knowledge mobilization and stakeholder engagement.
• Research grant writing experience.
• International research experience.
• Fluency in languages other than English.

How to apply

Toronto Metropolitan University’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

• We encourage all First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples or Indigenous peoples of North America, to self-identify in their applications. If you are an Indigenous applicant and require support during the recruitment process, please reach out to James McKay, Indigenous HR Lead at james13@torontomu.ca.
• Toronto Metropolitan University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), and aims to ensure that independence, dignity, integration and equality of opportunity are embedded in all aspects of the university culture.
• We will provide an accessible experience for applicants, students, employees, and members of the Toronto Metropolitan University community. We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the recruitment process. If you have restrictions that need to be accommodated to fully participate in any phase of the recruitment process,please reach out to Human Resources:
  • Current employees can contact HR by logging into AskHR to submit a request.
  • External candidates who do not have TMU login credentials can contact HR by visiting torontomu.ca/human-resources/askhr/.
• All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.