Immigrant Insight Scholar

The Immigrant Insight Scholar (IIS) Initiative is a mentored paid fellowship program for un/underemployed internationally educated researchers/analysts (e.g., epidemiologists, qualitative researchers, statisticians, evaluation experts) to utilize and strengthen their skills, and develop the local experience, track record, and professional network needed to transition to a successful career as a researcher/analyst in Canada. We partner with research institutes and academics to create these fellowships.

IIS Fellows work on one or more research projects under mentored supervision and support from sector leaders and established researchers. Fellowships are usually one year long and a full-time fellowship receives a $30K fellowship stipend. They also receive professional development, networking opportunities and career transition support as part of the fellowship. See below for a list of current fellowship opportunities.

Our first IIS Fellow, Momtaz Begum, worked with Dr Stephanie Premji at McMaster University and with Dr Agnieszka Kosny at the Institute of Work and Health. With their support and through her participation in the ISS Fellowship Program, Momtaz secured employment at the Institute of Work and Health. 

In addition to the IIS Fellowship, we have also created the Immigrant Researchers Support Network (IRSN) to promote professional networking and offer a peer support platform for internationally educated researchers. We have developed an online IRSN portal for this. Please click here to join the online social networking web portal. We also organize in-person IRSN professional networking meetings in Toronto on a quarterly basis. The IRSN web portal and in-person meetings provide opportunities to share helpful resources, job postings, professional development opportunities, as well as a platform for internationally educated researchers to share experiences and organize collective actions.

For more information about the Immigrant Insight Scholar fellowships and the IRSN, contact research@accessalliance.ca.