Initiatives
Affiliated with the CIHR-PHAC Chair in Applied Public Health on
Interventions in Residential Neighbourhoods & Population Health
The past several years has seen area-based policy emerge as a solution
to a variety of social problems, including spatial concentrations of
socially disadvantaged populations and increasing gaps between these
populations in a variety of social outcomes, including economic, health
and educational outcomes. Known as ABIs, the successful candidate for
this post-doctoral fellowship will conduct theoretically-informed, but
applied research on the social, political and cultural aspects of ABIs.
Specific questions may include: what factors affect the effectiveness of
ABIs in meeting their stated objectives internationally, and what
lessons can be learned for Canada?; in Canada?s limited experience with
ABIs, what factors have led to their adoption and the choices about
specific policy content?; and within ABIs currently in progress in
Toronto, what social and political factors have influenced their
implementation and how are these contributing to the success or failure
of local institution-building for community development and equitable
neighbourhood governance in socially-mixed communities? Examples of
relevant ABIs in Toronto include the Priority Neighbourhoods Strategy
and the redevelopment of Regent Park, a social housing development, into
a socially-mixed neighbourhood.
The successful candidate will work under the supervision of Dr. James
Dunn at the Centre for Research on Inner City Health at St. Michael?s
Hospital. Dr. Dunn holds a Chair in Interventions in Residential
Neighbourhoods & Population Health and has established research
partnerships with agencies involved in ABIs in Toronto. Dr. Dunn is also
appointed in the Department of Geography and Planning and the Dalla Lana
School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. Applications are
invited from candidates with a Ph.D. in a relevant social science
discipline, which may include sociology, geography, political science,
anthropology, or urban studies.
Funding for this post-doctoral fellowship is provided by the Canadian
Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) (www.cifar.ca) through the
Successful Societies Program. After the deadline, one applicant will be
selected and nominated to CIFAR by Dr. Dunn. The appointment will then
be subject to approval by the Research Council and the Board of CIFAR,
based on academic excellence. The successful candidate will be expected
to participate in the activities of the Successful Societies Program of
CIFAR.
The Fellowship will take effect on July 1, 2009. Its duration will be
one year, with potential to renew for a second year.
Applications should include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, the names
and contact information of three referees, and a one-page research
proposal relevant to the research program described above. Please submit
application materials by e-mail by January 26, 2009. Applications should
be sent directly by e-mail to:
Dr. James Dunn,
CIHR-PHAC Chair in Applied Public Health,
Centre for Research on Inner City Health,
St. Michael?s Hospital,
30 Bond St., Toronto, M5B 1W8
(jim.dunn@utoronto.ca)
