MPP Research Assistant — Competition Policy Research

McGill University; Sherbrooke; On-site; CAD 29,000 - 58,000; Part time

Job summary

McGill University’s Max Bell School of Public Policy in Sherbrooke is seeking one Research Assistant to support a project examining Mark Carney’s contributions to competition policy over four decades. The RA will organize and analyze historical sources, produce notes and bibliographies, and help develop a chronology and thematic framework.

Hours are 2–4 per week, at $25.00/hour, start in late October 2026 and end by April 30, 2027. Applicants must be current MPP students; French is an asset.

Qualifications

• Must be a current MPP student at the Max Bell School of Public Policy.
• Strong analytical research and writing skills in English; French is an asset.
• Experience with academic databases and citation management.
• Ability to organize research systematically and work independently.
• Careful sourcing and accurate interpretation of sources.

Responsibilities

• Review and catalogue a substantial collection of primary sources (speeches, interviews, publications, testimony).
• Identify and extract passages related to competition, market structure, regulation, and state role.
• Develop a chronology and framework to trace evolution of ideas across career stages.
• Conduct supplementary research in academic literature and policy history.
• Prepare source summaries, annotated bibliographies, timelines, and memos.
• Assist with fact-checking, citation management, and editing of outputs.

Skills

Analytical writing

MPP student status

French asset

Independent work

Sourcing & research

AI-assisted research tools

Tools

Academic databases

Citation management

AI-assisted research tools

Job description

Applicants must be an MPP student at Max Bell School of Public Policy.

Job Title

Research Assistant (1 position)

Location

Max Bell School of Public Policy, McGill University

Supervisor

Matthew Chiasson, J.W. McConnell Visiting Scholar

Start Date

Late October 2026 (as soon as possible)

End Date

April 30, 2027

Hours

2-4 hours per week

Rate

$25.00/hour

Project Title

Eternal Vigilance, Principled Pragmatism: Mark Carney and Competition Policy (working title)

Position Summary

Matthew Chiasson, J.W. McConnell Visiting Scholar at the Max Bell School of Public Policy, is seeking one Research Assistant (RA) to support a research project examining Mark Carney’s contributions to, and thinking about, competition policy over approximately four decades. Drawing on an assembled collection of speeches, publications, interviews, testimony, and other primary sources from different stages of Carney’s career, the project aims to trace the evolution and underlying continuity of his views on competition, markets, economic institutions, and the role of government. The RA will help organize and analyze historical source material and produce research notes, source summaries, literature reviews, and other supporting materials for a research project whose ultimate format remains flexible.

Key Responsibilities

• Review and systematically catalogue a substantial collection of primary sources, including speeches, interviews, publications, and testimony.
• Identify and extract passages relating to competition, market structure, market dynamism, regulation, and the role of the state.
• Develop a chronology and thematic framework to trace how the relevant ideas evolved across different career stages.
• Conduct supplementary research in academic literature, economic policy history, and relevant public records.
• Prepare source summaries, annotated bibliographies, timelines, and short analytical memos.
• Help assess themes, tensions, and continuities across the material while distinguishing direct statements from interpretation.
• Assist with fact-checking, citation management, and editing of research outputs, as needed.

Qualifications

• Strong analytical research and writing skills in English; French is an asset.
• Interest in economic policy, intellectual history, political economy, economic thought, public institutions, or competition policy; competition policy knowledge is an asset, not a requirement.
• Comfort working with historical and contemporary primary sources and synthesizing large amounts of information.
• Careful attention to sourcing, nuance, accuracy, and competing interpretations.
• Ability to organize research systematically and work independently.
• Experience with academic databases, citation management, and responsible use of AI-supported research tools is an asset.
• Must be a current MPP student at the Max Bell School of Public Policy.

Hourly Salary: $25.00

Hours per Week: 4 (Part time)

Location: Sherbrooke 680

Supervisor: Professor

Position Start Date: 2026-10-26

Position End Date: 2027-04-30

Deadline to Apply: This position is covered by the Association of McGill University Research Employees (AMURE) collective agreement.

McGill University hires on the basis of merit and is strongly committed to equity and diversity within its community. We welcome applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities.

McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated groups to self-identify. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, [e-mail].

Located in one of the world’s great multicultural and multilingual cities, McGill University is internationally recognized for its excellence as a leading institution of higher education and research. For nearly 200 years, through the work of dedicated people, McGill has been breaking ground in diverse fields and contributing solutions to some of the world’s most significant issues. McGillians are proud to be part of a community that is both global and local, inspired by challenge and committed to shaping a better future.

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