MSc: iCARE Platform
Project summary:
The iCARE Study (International Assessment of COVID-19-related Attitudes, Concerns, Responses and Impacts in Relation to Public Health Policies, http://www.icarestudy.com/) is a multi-wave international study of public awareness, attitudes, concerns and behavioural responses to public health policies implemented to reduce the spread of COVID-19, as well as the multidimensional impacts of the pandemic on people around the world. It also links this behavioural survey data with policy, mobility and case data to understand how to optimise policy strategies to reduce the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada and around the world. ICARE is currently transitioning to become an international data collection, analysis, synthesis, and mobilisation platform capable of rapidly generating and translating the best behavioural science evidence and tools to strengthen Canada’s pandemic and health emergency response strategies.
Position summary
The individual who is selected for this position will be expected to work with the study PI’s, Drs. Kim Lavoie (UQAM) and Simon Bacon (Concordia), with contributing to the international coordination of the study, participating in the activities of our sub-platforms (e.g., data collection, data modelling, knowledge transfer), and leading specific sub-projects. They will also have the opportunity to work with the international investigative team, consisting of over 180 collaborators from around 40 countries, on a variety of study-related aspects including:
- Quantitative methods and analyses
- Epidemiological analyses
- Participating in collaborator and stakeholder engagement activities
- Development and dissemination of policy briefs
- Knowledge translation and reporting
Required Qualifications
- A bachelor’s degree in a related discipline (e.g., Psychology, Physiology, Kinesiology/Exercise Science, Medicine)
- Effective oral and written communication skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Demonstrated research productivity (peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations)
- Ability to work autonomously and take a lead role on projects under the supervision of the principal investigators
Preference will be given to candidates with:
- Experience with advanced statistical methods and ability to work with a variety of analytic software
- Openness to learn new methods and techniques in an applied clinical setting
- Ability to communicate (orally) in both English and French
Provincial, national and international candidates are encouraged to apply
Start date, Duration, Stipend, and Location
The MSc will start in September 2026 (though there is also the possibility of starting during the summer of 2026); funding has already been received.
The funding package consists of a minimum 2-year stipend (consistent with FRQS funding levels) plus conference / training funding.
The successful candidate will be registered either at Concordia University in the Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Applied Physiology (www.concordia.ca); the actual work would be conducted at the CIUSSS-NIM, Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montreal (https://rechercheciusssnim.ca/). Please note that the language of instruction at Concordia is English.
To apply, please forward the following:
- A complete curriculum vitae, including summary of GPA’s, a full publication list (including hyperlinks where possible) and email contact details for two referees
- A letter of motivation and statement of research accomplishments and future research goals, which should be no longer than 2 pages.
- At least one written example of a research focused output, e.g., research article, honours thesis, class-based research paper.
How to apply:
- The complete application package must be emailed to: apply@mbmc-cmcm.ca.
- Please include “MSc iCARE” in the subject line.
- Queries about the application should be sent to either Dr. Lavoie (lavoie.kim@uqam.ca) or Dr. Bacon (simon.bacon@concordia.ca).
- The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday November 28, 2025, 5 pm EST. Interviews will be conducted in December 2025 and January 2026 and the successful candidate will need to apply to the University by the official application deadline.