Geoffrey and Erika Bruce Postdoctoral Fellowship in Canadian Water Politics and Policy
The Bruce Postdoctoral Fellowship supports Canada’s future scholarly researchers and policy leaders to focus on critical water politics and policy topics. Candidates are committed to leading-edge scholarly and policy contributions through scholarly and policy publications and submissions, interdisciplinary and inter-institutional initiatives, contributions to public forums and discussions, and media commentary related to freshwater governance in Canada.
“The Bruce Postdoctoral Fellowship is an exceptional opportunity for a freshwater policy researcher in Canada,” said Dr. Carolyn Johns, Chair of the Bruce Fellowship, and Professor in the Department of Politics and Public Administration at TMU. “Too often, early career researchers struggle to get the resources they need to do high-impact research - the support offered by the Bruce Postdoctoral Fellowship generates important research on emerging freshwater policy challenges in Canada.”
The establishment of the Bruce Postdoctoral Fellowship is a further commitment of Erika v.C. Bruce to support the next generation of Canada’s environment and freshwater policy leaders and practitioners.
“I am very proud of what we have been able to accomplish with the Bruce Fellowships,” said Erika v.C. Bruce. “The goal is to enhance our impact and influence on freshwater public policy by creating the Bruce Postdoctoral Fellowship and supporting candidates doing innovative and important research that will shape Canada’s freshwater future.”
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The Bruce Postdoctoral Fellowship is a full-time position with an annual salary of $70,000 plus a research stipend and benefits.
The position will start in 2026 for a period of one year with the possibility of a second-year renewal. The position requires engagement in research projects, initiatives and events in person and using online technology. The candidate must be able to work in Toronto, Canada with flexible hybrid work arrangements.
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
The Bruce Postdoctoral Fellowship in Canadian Water Politics and Policy is a unique position in Canada established to attract a leading-edge researcher to conduct applied research and generate innovative scholarship and recommendations related to Canadian water politics and policy. The Postdoctoral Fellowship is an exciting opportunity for an emerging scholar who wants to engage in contributions at the interface of scholarship on water politics, political economy, international relations, foreign policy, Canada-US relations and public policy.
Examples of eligible areas of research include (but are not limited to):
• political economy of water
• water sovereignty, international relations and diplomacy
• geopolitics of water
• water, political institutions and agreements
• politics of freshwater protection and sustainability
• transboundary water politics and governance
• climate change and water politics
• Indigenous leadership and engagement in water politics and governance
• water, food, energy nexus challenges
• water innovation and sustainable industrial/commercial/agricultural water use
• water data, technology and security
• freshwater as a political, economic, social, cultural and strategic resource.
Candidates from political science, political economy, international relations, public policy or law are encouraged to apply. Applications from other social science disciplines will also be considered including: economics, environmental studies, geography, business, and interdisciplinary studies provided they have strong foundations in environmental politics and policy.
Application Requirements:
Interested applicants should submit an application package including:
• a CV/résumé
• copies of academic transcripts
• 2-page statement of qualifications, description of proposed water politics and applied policy research interests and alignment with goals of the Bruce Postdoctoral Fellowship
• Contact information for two referees.
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Applications should be submitted to Dr. Carolyn Johns, Department of Politics and Public Administration, cjohns@torontomu.ca
A more detailed description of the position is also available on request. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.