Student Research Assistant

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Job: MPP Student Research Assistant

Location: Max Bell School of Public Policy
Supervisor: Kyle Matthews, McConnell Professor of Practice
Start Date: February 16, 2026
End Date: June 1, 2026
Hours: 6 to 10 hours per week
Rate: $25.00/hour

Project Title

Monitoring Foreign Interference, Disinformation, and the Amplification of Separatist Narratives in Canada

Position Summary

Kyle Matthews, McConnell Professor of Practice at the Max Bell School of Public Policy, is seeking a Research Assistant (RA) to support a non-partisan research initiative examining how foreign actors, particularly authoritarian states and affiliated networks, use disinformation and information manipulation to amplify divisive political narratives inside Canada.

This project focuses specifically on how online narratives, media ecosystems, and coordinated information campaigns originating outside Canada may seek to amplify, legitimize, or exploit separatist movements and regional grievances, with particular attention to Alberta and Quebec.

The RA will help conduct ongoing monitoring and analysis of media reporting, online accounts, and digital narratives to identify patterns of foreign amplification, narrative coordination, and information manipulation targeting Canadian audiences.

The work will contribute to a series of policy briefs and analytical memos intended for policymakers, researchers, and civil society actors concerned with democratic resilience and foreign interference.

Key Responsibilities

• Monitor Canadian and international media reporting related to foreign interference, disinformation, and separatist narratives in Canada.

• Track online accounts, networks, and narratives originating outside Canada that engage with or amplify Alberta and Quebec separatist themes.

• Identify patterns of narrative coordination, messaging similarities, and amplification tactics across platforms.

• Maintain a structured tracker/database of relevant accounts, narratives, media references, and key incidents.

• Review government reports, parliamentary studies, security assessments, and investigative journalism related to foreign interference and information manipulation.

Qualifications

• Strong research, analytical, and writing skills in English; French is a strong asset.

• Interest in international security, foreign interference, disinformation, digital politics, or democratic resilience.

• Comfort working with online content, media ecosystems, and social media analysis.

• Ability to identify patterns across sources and synthesize information clearly.

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

• Ability to work independently and meet deadlines.

• Must be a current MPP student at the Max Bell School of Public Policy.

Application Process

Please submit a CV and brief statement of interest through McGill Workday.

Hourly Salary:

$25.00

Hours per Week:

10 (Part time)

Location:

Sherbrooke 680

Supervisor:

Professor

Position Start Date:

2026-02-16

Position End Date:

2026-06-01

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, [email protected].