About the Digital Policy Hub Program
The new Digital Policy Hub at the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) will host a diverse group of emerging, innovative thinkers from the social and natural sciences, providing opportunities for them to further develop their own research, analytical and policy skills. The Hub, in partnership with universities, governments and the private sector, offers a highly collaborative space for undergraduate and graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and visiting fellows.
Launching in fall 2023, fellows will spend periods ranging from four months to two years in residence at the state-of-the-art CIGI Campus and working remotely, linking to CIGI’s existing network of more than 100 CIGI fellows from around the world. Participants will join common seminars and other activities that bring together innovative perspectives on research, provide an interface between research and policy, and advance career development. Full funding for fellowships is available; please email us for more details.
Research Focus Areas and Approaches
Transformative technologies are rapidly reshaping our world. Many are widely known — although often not well understood — for example, new hyper-connected social media platforms such as TikTok, mRNA vaccines, electric vehicles, blockchain, quantum computing and artificial intelligence large language models. In parallel, the digitization of almost everything has created a more interdependent, data-driven world.
While broad technological change is nothing new, many current developments are moving at an accelerated pace, on a global scale and with little or no coherent governance framework nationally or internationally. There is, therefore, a pressing need for transdisciplinary understanding on governance issues across the range of technologies and digitization.
The Hub’s research focuses address this need, centring on digital ethics and rights frameworks that assist in identifying and mitigating the gaps between rapid technological disruption and diffusion, and the lack of governance frameworks at the national and international levels.
Core research areas include:
- data, economy and society;
- artificial intelligence;
- outer space;
- the digitization of security and democracy; and
- the environment and natural resources.
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 digitization, as a means to improve the quality and relevance of research. Such an approach also broadens the capacity of participants to conduct work across disciplines.
Eligibility and Application Information
- Recent graduates with a doctorate are encouraged to apply as post-doctoral fellows.
- Canadian, permanent resident and international graduate students (doctorate or master’s level) based at a Canadian academic institution can apply as graduate fellows.
- Government practitioners and private sector professionals are also encouraged to apply and will serve as visiting fellows (interchange).
- Candidates must provide a CV outlining their qualifications, a description of their proposed research and how it relates to the Hub’s focus areas, and two letters of support. To apply, please contact Reanne Cayenne, Research Coordinator, at [email protected].
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis with the aim to have cohorts begin in September 2023 and January 2024. (Alternative start dates may be negotiated.)
Contact
For additional information or inquiries, please contact Reanne Cayenne, Research Coordinator, at [email protected].