Statistics Canada Post-Doctoral Fellowship

Important messages

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Assessment accommodation

The Statistics Canada Post-Doctoral Fellowship provides recent PhD graduates with the unique opportunity to conduct high quality research at one of the world’s leading statistical agencies. The research conducted at Statistics Canada advances knowledge on emerging issues related to Canadian society and informs Canada’s policies and programs.

Post-Doctoral Fellows will conduct research in one of the following divisions within Statistics Canada’s Analytical Studies Branch. Please choose the division for which you want to be considered. Note that you may be offered a position for the other division if you are found qualified.

• Economic Analysis Division has an ongoing research program on topics such as productivity, business dynamics, the links between employee and workplace characteristics, innovation, globalization, firm competitiveness, and economic geography.

• Social Analysis and Modelling Division conducts research on a wide-range of economic and social issues relating to labour economics, immigration, education, pensions and retirement, and well-being.

Duties

The post-doctoral researcher plans, develops and conducts analytical studies using survey, census, administrative data, linked data or micro-simulation models. He/she applies economic, or social theory or frameworks to the analysis of statistical data and applies statistical techniques using statistical software or micro-simulation models. He/she writes and presents research results to a wide audience including the general public, academics and policy departments. He/she provides subject-matter expertise and/or statistical expertise.

Work environment

At Statistics Canada you will have the opportunity to:

• Expand your skill set and knowledge
o build your data analysis skills
o apply theoretical frameworks to new and emerging data sets
o learn from colleagues with expertise in the data sets you are using and broaden your knowledge of Statistics Canada’s data holdings
o strengthen your ability to translate your research into knowledge that is accessible to policymakers and the public

• Extend the reach of your research
o collaborate with government departments, academics, and international agencies
o participate in the research community of the federal public service
o disseminate your research through Statistics Canada’s publicly accessible publication venues which frequently receive media attention
o collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of researchers

• Further your career
o build up your publication record with opportunities to publish in Statistics Canada’s publication venues as well as academic journals
o broaden your networks beyond academia
o contribute to the research agenda at Statistics Canada
o potential to bridge directly into a full-time, indeterminate research position with the federal public service

• Conduct research in an innovative workplace
o at the leading edge of new data development
o a collaborative team environment that supports novel ideas
o a diverse workplace where your unique skills and knowledge will be valued
o an agency that provides a flexible work schedule, work-life balance, and onsite training and career development resources

Intent of the process

The intent of this process is to staff DETERMINATE positions in the Economic Analysis Division and the Social and Modelling Division, within the Analytical Studies Branch of Statistics Canada. However, a pool of qualified candidates may be established and may be used to staff similar positions with various tenures, security and linguistic requirements.

Positions to be filled: Number to be determined

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A covering letter in 1,250 words (maximum) "A covering letter in 250 words (maximum) + A research proposal of 1 000 words in lenght."

Contact information for 2 references.

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

Education:

Recent* graduation with a Ph.D. degree from a recognized university, with a specialization in economics, mathematics, geography, sociology, demography, statistics or actuarial sciences. The specialization may be obtained through an acceptable combination of education, training and/or relevant experience.

* Recent is defined as a Ph. D. degree obtained within the last 2 years or by September 2019.

Degree equivalency

Experience:

Recent* experience as a subject matter expert in at least one of the following domains. (A pool of qualified candidates will be created for each domain; a candidate may be qualified for more than one pool depending on his/her domain);

1-Productivity
2-Economic Geography
3-Applied Microeconomics
4-Labour Economics
5-Economics of Education
6-Public Economics
7-Applied Microeconometrics
8-Energy Economics
9-International Trade and Finance
10-Time Series and Forecasting

Recent* experience conducting advanced statistical analyses using survey, census, administrative or other data sources;

Recent* experience in working with statistical analysis software, such as Statistical Analysis Software (SAS), Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), STATA, or R;

Recent* experience presenting research findings through oral or poster presentations or publication in peer reviewed journals.

*Recent experience is defined as approximately acquired in the past 2 years.

Knowledge:

Knowledge of Statistics Canada data sources for use in microeconomic research.

Abilities:

Ability to make oral presentations to non-specialist audiences.

Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

The following will be applied / assessed at a later date (essential for the job)

English or French

Information on language requirements

Personal Suitability:
Demonstrating integrity and respect
Thinking it through
Working effectively with others
Showing initiative and being action-oriented

The following may be applied / assessed at a later date (may be needed for the job)

Assets:
Recent* experience in applying machine learning techniques in economic research.

Recent* experience applying Geographic Information System.

Recent* experience conducting research using employer-employee matched data.

Recent* experience with microsimulation models.

*Recent experience is defined as approximately acquired in the past 2 years.

Other information

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the Canadians we serve. We promote employment equity and encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the designated groups when you apply.

Information on employment equity

You must provide the following information when submitting your application:

• Your degree, institution, date of graduation or anticipated date of thesis defense and graduation.

• Your current Résumé that clearly indicates start and end dates by month and year, position, responsibilities and accomplishments. Recently published research articles should be listed in bibliographic form.

• You must also submit the names of at least two (2) references (name, relationship, phone number and email) one of whom must be your thesis supervisor. Experience, abilities and asset qualifications may be verified with these references.

• A Research Proposal (1000 words maximum).

Please submit a research proposal using Statistics Canada (STC) data to address a policy relevant topic in one of the ten areas that are mentioned above.

The proposals must provide the following details:
a) a research question or hypothesis;
b) theoretical framework;
c) a STC data source that will be used;
d) methods and
e) potential policy relevance.

Proposals will be evaluated based on the extent to which they:
• articulate a research question/hypothesis;
• demonstrate knowledge of relevant literature and theoretical frameworks;
• display policy relevance of research for decision-makers;
• convey awareness and knowledge of relevant data source(s);
• convey awareness and knowledge of quantitative methods.

Candidates who pass the screening phase may be invited to an interview.

Candidates who are invited to an interview should be prepared to make a 15 minute oral presentation of a research project and be prepared to respond to questions. The presentation should be designed to demonstrate how the candidate meets the knowledge and abilities criteria set out above.

Candidates should also be prepared to elaborate on the research plan for their proposed post-doctoral project at the interview.

A pool of qualified candidates may be established to staff similar or identical positions.

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled, diverse workforce reflective of Canadian society. As a result, it promotes employment equity and encourages candidates to indicate voluntarily on their application if they are a woman, an Aboriginal person, a person with a disability or a member of a visible minority group.

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans and to Canadian citizens, in that order, with the exception of a job located in Nunavut, where Nunavut Inuit will be appointed first.

Information on the preference to veterans

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.