"Santéships" comprise an experiential learning-based research training program for first-year students at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law. The purpose of the program is to help students develop skills that will support them in their ongoing studies and/or better position them for future employment in law or policy related work. Each Santéship student is paired with a professor in the Centre for Health Law, Policy and Ethics who will act as a mentor. Under the mentor’s guidance and training, the student gains experience in conducting research through a project compatible with the mentor’s broader research program. This experience is supplemented by a small number of lunchtime training seminars.
The program runs from January–April 2024. We anticipate that each student will devote approximately 60 hours total (5 hours per week) to the program to optimize their training potential. Each student will be provided with a bursary of $1,000.
Santéships are a great way to get experience outside the classroom, make connections, learn about the cutting edge of an exciting topic that interests you, and develop research skills that will serve you regardless of your future path in law.
Year 1 students in the Common Law program, Year 2+ students in the Civil Law program.
Application to the program is competitive. Please submit a cover letter, c.v., and unofficial undergraduate transcript to healthlaw@uottawa.ca by the end of Friday 8 December (11:59 pm). Cover letters may be addressed "To whom it may concern" or similar.
IMPORTANT: At the top of your application letter, please list the available topics ranked from 1 (most interested) to 6 (least interested).
While prior relevant experience may be an asset in some cases, no specific knowledge or experience is required to apply. We are much more interested in finding curious and motivated students with high potential. That said, if you have relevant experience or exposure, we encourage you to mention it in your letter.
After the application deadline, CHLPE will forward applications to professors. Professors will reach out to their top candidates. The selection process then depends on the professor. Unfortunately, due to the large number of applications we receive for a limited number of mentors, we cannot guarantee all applicants a match. Only candidates whom professors select will be contacted.
Supervisor:
Audrey Ferron Parayre
In COVID-19's wake, countries are reforming public and global health laws to ensure that the world is better prepared for the next global health emergency. This Santéship offers the student an opportunity to engage with these reform processes and contribute to them through human rights research and advocacy.
Supervisor:
Roojin Habibi
The student will assist with the work of the Nonreligion in a Complex Future Project (NCF) at the intersection of reproductive health, religious and nonreligious moral frameworks, and legal discourse. With the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade in the United States and subsequent reactions in Canada and globally, the NCF has turned its attention to the ways that moral frameworks shape the discourse around access to reproductive rights. In this role, the student will have the opportunity to conduct socio-legal discourse analyses of cases, and in particular to be involved in developing a coding framework for landmark cases in Canada and the United States about reproductive rights and abortion. They will attend team meetings (online) and participate in research conversations in which religious and nonreligious moral frameworks are considered.
Supervisor:
Lori Beaman
During the santeship, students will be provided with an opportunity to learn more about and participate in a qualitative study on surrogacy. The Surrogates’ Voices project is working to generate a picture of surrogacy practices and women's experiences as surrogates in Canada. You can learn more about the project here.
Supervisor:
Vanessa Gruben
The student will develop research skills through a project investigating the human rights problems and solutions relating to the use of artificial intelligence in mental health care.
Supervisor:
Sophie Nunnelley
Professor Chandler invites applicants interested in questions related to law and ethics of brain interventions and neurotechnologies.
Supervisor:
Jennifer Chandler
