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Santéships

About

"Santéships" are opportunities for first-year students enrolled at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law to be mentored as a research assistant under a professor in the Centre for Health Law, Policy and Ethics in January–April 2023. The time commitment for the student is estimated at 5 hours/week, 60 hours total during the semester. Students are paid a bursary of $1,000 during this time. Students engage in a research project that fits into the professor's broader research program. It's a great way to get experience outside the classroom, make connections, contribute to a lasting product, learn about the cutting edge of an exciting topic that interests you, and develop research skills that will serve you regardless of your future path in law.

Eligibility

Year 1 students in the Common Law program, Year 2+ students in the Civil Law program.

Application

Please submit a cover letter, c.v., and unofficial undergraduate transcript to healthlaw@uottawa.ca by the end of Friday 25 November (11:59 pm). Cover letters may be addressed "To whom it may concern" or similar. Official transcripts are not require

IMPORTANT: At the top of your application letter, please list the available topics ranked from 1 (most interested) to 7 (least interested).

While prior knowledge of law, policy, and the specifics of a research topic is an asset, no specific knowledge or experience is required. We are more interested in finding brilliant, curious, and motivated students with high potential. That said, please do mention in your letter any relevant experience or exposure you may have.

Follow-Up

After the application deadline, CHLPE will forward applications to professors. Professors will reach out to their top candidates. The interview and hiring process then depends on the professor. Unfortunately due to the large number of applications we receive for a limited number of spots, we cannot guarantee all applicants an interview or a match. Only candidates whom professors select for an interview will be contacted. Offers will be sent out on December 16.

Available Projects

TRAUMA SYMPTOMS DUE TO POLICE VIOLENCE

We are conducting a research study to see if we can measure distress in people of colour related to watching racially charged events in the media involving police violence, and also explore factors that might mitigate this distress, such as compassionate messaging about such events from law enforcement institutions. We are hoping to find a Santéship student who is interested in being involved with all parts of the project, including data collection and write-up of findings.

Supervisor: 

Monnica Williams

PANDEMIC RESPONSE & HUMAN RIGHTS

Professor Flood is offering a Santéship placement for research on Canadian and international pandemic response measures, with a particular focus on their human rights implications. Students with an interest in civil and human rights, and/or public health law, are especially encouraged to apply.

Supervisor: 

Colleen M. Flood

NEUROSCIENCE / NEUROTECHNOLOGIES

Professor Chandler invites applicants interested in questions related to law and ethics of brain sciences and neurotechnologies, including the regulation of invasive and non-invasive neuromodulation therapies, neuroprosthetics, and artificial intelligence in neurology.

Supervisor: 

Jennifer Chandler

MEDICARE & ACCESS TO CARE

Professor Flood is offering a Santéship placement for research on law and policy solutions to access issues in Canadian medicare. Students with an interest and/or background in health law and policy are especially encouraged to apply.

Supervisor: 

Colleen M. Flood

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS & RELIGION/NON-RELIGION

The student will assist with the work of the Nonreligion in a Complex Future Project (NCF) at the intersection of reproductive health, religious and nonreligious moral frameworks, and legal discourse. With the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade in the United States and subsequent reactions in Canada and globally, the NCF is turning its attention to the ways that moral frameworks shape the discourse around access to reproductive rights. In this role, the student will conduct literature reviews and a socio-legal discourse analysis of cases.

Supervisor: 

Lori Beaman

MAID & MENTAL ILLNESS

Professor Chandler invites applicants interested in law and policy questions related to medical assistance in dying in the context of mental illness.

Supervisor: 

Jennifer Chandler

ASSISTED REPRODUCTION

The Santéship student will work on research regarding the regulation of assisted reproduction in Canada. The research will focus on legal, policy and ethical issues relating to surrogacy and egg donation in Canada.

Supervisor: 

Vanessa Gruben

COVID-19 TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canadian government enacted various travel restrictions, limiting who could enter and transit through Canada. Different categories of people were at times exempted, while others were required to undertake a mandatory 14-day quarantine, stay at government-approved accommodations (“quarantine hotels”), and undergo PCR testing. These restrictions posed particular challenges for humanitarian workers and organizations. This Santeship project will help us document the various iterations of these restrictions by reviewing Orders in Council and other documents, to create a record of the Canadian legislation in order to inform advice on how to ensure that humanitarians and medical personnel who need to continue to travel during global public health emergencies are able to do so.

Supervisor: 

Jason Nickerson