2024 Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) Digital Policy Hub Fellowship

Eligibility

Eligibility Requirements

• Recent graduates with a doctorate are encouraged to apply as post-doctoral fellows (must have graduated within the past four years at a Canadian academic institution to be eligible for funding). Please note that post-doc applicants will be asked to provide documentation verifying post-doc status at their academic institution to qualify for funding.
• Students and post-doctoral applicants must have a supervisor at their academic institution who is willing to supervise them on this project and administer the funds through the home institution (they must be eligible to hold tri-council funding, as funding from the Digital Policy Hub’s external funding partner qualifies as a research grant).
• International applicants and Canadians based at an academic institution abroad please note: At this time, our funding only allows for applicants based at a Canadian academic institution and with existing eligibility to work in Canada. Please visit our website for further information and any updates on program expansion and eligibility.
• Candidates must provide a cover letter and CV outlining their qualifications, a description of their proposed research and how it relates to the Hub’s focus areas (two to three pages), in addition to two letters of support.
• Please see full application instructions on the Digital Policy Hub website.

Summary

The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) is an independent, non-partisan think tank based in Waterloo, Ontario, whose research and analysis influence policy makers to innovate. The Digital Policy Hub at CIGI is a collaborative space for emerging scholars and innovative thinkers from the social, natural and applied sciences. It provides opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students and post-doctoral and visiting fellows to share and develop research on the rapid evolution and governance of transformative technologies.

The program hosts fellows for time periods ranging from four to 12 months in residence at the state-of-the-art CIGI Campus and working remotely, linking to CIGI’s existing network of more than 100 fellows from around the world. Participants join common seminars and other innovative activities that cut across research, analysis and policy, while advancing their career development.

The Hub is founded on transdisciplinary approaches (i.e., research that cuts across disciplines and engages fellows with policy makers and industry professionals) that seek to increase understanding of the socio-economic and technological impacts of digitalization and improve the quality and relevance of related research. Such an approach also broadens the capacity of participants to conduct work across disciplines.

Core research areas include:

• data, economy and society;
• artificial intelligence;
• outer space;
• digitalization, security and democracy; and
• the environment and natural resources.

Program Structure

All fellows will meet (with the option to do so in person or virtually) at a joint biweekly seminar held Tuesday afternoons (Eastern time), two hours in length, where they will share, compare and develop research (through presentations, etc.). The seminars will also feature a guest speaker, who will discuss their research and field experience aligning with one or more of the Hub’s core research areas.

During alternate weeks, there will be additional special sessions/professional development sessions with CIGI experts and external guest speakers; review of research projects; and presentations within the group that are optional but highly encouraged.

In addition to seminars and additional sessions, Hub participants are to prepare research papers for publication during their tenure (minimum one paper for every four months of the fellowship), which will be made available on the Hub’s virtual space.

The expected time commitment is approximately 30 hours per week for doctoral and post-doctoral Hub fellows, for whom this should be their primary commitment.

Specifics can be negotiated on a case-by-case basis, as applicable.
 

Digital Policy Hub Program Info Sessions

The Digital Policy Hub team will be hosting two virtual information sessions to provide an overview of the program, application requirements and research outputs. Those interested in the program can register to attend and meet several members of the Hub team and ask questions.

• First info session: Thursday, February 8, 6:00–7:00 p.m. EST. REGISTER
• Second info session: Thursday, February 15, 12:00–1:00 p.m. EST. REGISTER

Application deadlines

RSO detailed review deadline

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Postdocs, students, and trainees: For fellowships and externally-sponsored research training awards or opportunities, you must complete the Research Funding Application Approval (RFAA) Trainee PDF form, and submit it, along with a complete copy of the application, to Research Services at rsotrainee@ucalgary.ca. Trainees should not use RMS at this time.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.

Application Information

• Applications will be submitted via SurveyMonkey through this link.
• Candidates must provide a cover letter and CV outlining their qualifications, a description of their proposed research and how it relates to the Hub’s focus areas, in addition to two letters of support.
• Current students and post-doctoral applicants will be asked to provide documentation verifying active status at their academic institution in the application portal.
• Research proposals must be two to three pages in length, describing the proposed research and how it relates to one or more of the Hub’s focus areas, and should include the following:
  • clear articulation of research question;
  • alignment to Hub research areas;
  • research topic background;
  • research methods; and
  • policy relevance.

Attachments

• Poster for All Applicants
• Applicant FAQ Doc
• Supervisors Terms of Reference

For additional information or inquiries, please contact the Digital Policy Hub team at digitalhubinquiries@cigionline.org.