July 2016: Professor Mieke Koehoorn (Co-Director, Partnership for Work, Health and Safety and Head, Occupational and Environmental Health Division, CIHR Chair in Gender, Work and Health, University of British Columbia) and Associate Professor John Calvert (Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University) are seeking Expressions of Interest for a one-year postdoctoral fellowship funded by the Centre for Research on Work Disability Policy (CRWDP). The funded postdoctoral position will be located at Simon Fraser University and will focus on the Canadian work disability policy system.
The Canadian work disability policy system includes federal, provincial and territorial programs, in the public and private sectors. Collectively, these programs shape income security and labour-market engagement for work-disabled individuals. A key challenge of the current system is lack of coordination and navigability of programs, which can create barrier to accessing needed supports for Canadian workers when disabled.
The successful candidate should be interested in researching topics related to the Canadian work disability policy system. Cross-jurisdictional comparative policy analysis is also within scope, as long as the research plan has a substantial Canadian component. A focus should be given to improving access to supports and/or facilitating participation in the paid labour force. The research can explore a wide range of work-disabled individuals/populations in a variety of employment settings.
CRWDP is a partnership of academics and representatives from various organizations and groups within the work disability policy system. As such, it is important that all research includes active engagement of partners. The British Columbia (BC) cluster within CRWDP works closely with employers, trade unions, disability advocacy organizations and others groups that have an interest in work disability and return to work policy. One of the strengths of the BC cluster is the support it has received from trade union partners who have indicated that they welcome research on policy issues affecting their members. The successful candidate would be expected to draw upon the knowledge and resources of labour, disability community groups and other partner organizations in carrying out her/his research.
Applicants from a range of social science/occupational health/disability-related disciplines and fields are encouraged to submit Expressions of Interest including resume/curriculum vitae and a research plan. The successful candidate will need to have completed a Ph.D. prior to taking up the postdoctoral fellowship. Ideally, the candidate should be available to begin no later than December 1, 2016. Please submit your Expression of Interest to Dr. John Calvert (jrc@sfu.ca) by September 15, 2016.
