McCall MacBain Chair in Kinesiology and Health Integration
80McMaster University
1280 Main St W, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada
$99,981 - $99,981
Research positions in higher education, commonly known as research jobs, play a pivotal role in advancing knowledge across disciplines. These roles focus on conducting experiments, analyzing data, and publishing findings to contribute to academic and societal progress. Unlike faculty positions that balance teaching and research, research jobs prioritize investigative work, often within university labs, institutes, or collaborative projects. In Canada, these positions are abundant at leading institutions, supporting everything from climate studies to medical breakthroughs.
Historically, research positions emerged prominently in the mid-20th century as universities expanded post-World War II, with increased government funding for science. Today, they form the backbone of innovation, employing thousands in roles that bridge academia and industry.
Postdoctoral researcher (postdoc): A transitional role after obtaining a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy), typically lasting 1-5 years, where individuals conduct independent research under a senior mentor to build expertise for tenure-track positions.
Principal investigator (PI): The lead researcher responsible for designing, funding, and overseeing a project, often holding a faculty position but supervising research jobs.
Research assistant: An entry-level role supporting data collection and analysis, usually held by master's or bachelor's graduates.
Grant: Competitive funding awarded by agencies to support specific research projects, crucial for sustaining research jobs.
Canada boasts a vibrant research ecosystem, with universities like the University of Toronto, University of British Columbia (UBC), and McGill University leading in output. Funding flows from the Tri-Council agencies: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). For instance, a research team at UBC might investigate renewable energy solutions, employing postdocs and assistants funded by NSERC grants exceeding CAD 1 billion annually across the country.
These positions offer opportunities to work on globally relevant issues, such as Arctic climate research or AI ethics, in a supportive environment with multicultural teams.
A PhD in a relevant field is standard for advanced research jobs like postdocs or research associates. Research assistants typically hold a master's degree or bachelor's with honors, ensuring foundational knowledge in methodologies.
Expertise aligns with the project, such as molecular biology for health research or econometrics for social sciences. In Canada, high-demand areas include quantum computing and indigenous studies.
Candidates with 3+ peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, or grant-writing success stand out. Prior lab or fieldwork experience, like managing datasets in a multi-year study, is highly valued.
Core skills include critical analysis, statistical software proficiency (e.g., R, SPSS), scientific writing, and ethical research practices. Soft skills like teamwork and adaptability are essential for collaborative grants. Actionable tip: Practice grant proposals using templates from CIHR sites to boost competitiveness.
Starting as a research assistant, professionals progress to postdoc roles by publishing impactful work. From there, many secure faculty positions or industry research jobs. Networking at events like the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences in Canada accelerates this path. Tailor applications with a strong academic CV and explore postdoctoral success strategies.
Interdisciplinary collaborations and tech integration, like AI in data analysis, are booming. For thriving as a research assistant, focus on emerging fields. Recent boosts in defense-related higher education research signal growth opportunities.
Explore openings on research jobs boards, postdoc positions, and university jobs. Get career tips from higher-ed-career-advice, and if hiring, post a job to attract top talent in higher education.
If you are searching for research jobs in Canada, you need more than a keyword dump of “scientist” ads. You need openings that match how universities actually hire: postdoctoral fellowships, research assistant and associate roles, research fellows, lab technicians, research coordinators, and faculty researcher lines. Academic Jobs (AJ) is built for that search. Every listing on this page is already filtered to university and institute research roles, so you spend time on fit — lab, method, contract length, and location — instead of wading through unrelated industry postings.
Job seekers come here with a clear intent: find a funded research post they can apply to this week. Use the filters above to narrow by city, institution, employment type, or a keyword such as CRISPR, ethnography, or clinical trials. On a country page the region is pre-set, so the count in the heading is the live number of research openings in Canada, not a global total. That is the number you should trust when you are deciding whether to relocate, stay local, or keep a worldwide search open.
AJ aggregates research jobs from universities, medical schools, national labs, and research institutes in one board. That matters because most research hiring is still posted on a single employer career site and easy to miss if you only check two or three campuses. A postdoc in public health, a research technician in a core facility, and a research professor line will not sit on the same faculty page — they will sit on AJ if the employer posted or syndicated the role. You can also save a job alert with the same research filters so new fellowships hit your inbox instead of disappearing after a short closing window.
Compared with general job boards, AJ’s research collection is scoped to higher education. You will still see staff research and faculty research together, which is useful when your next step could be either a fellowship or a research-track faculty post. Pair this page with Science Jobs if you want scientist titles, or Professor Jobs if you are targeting a teaching-and-research chair. For most candidates asking “where do I find research jobs in Canada that I can actually apply for?”, the short answer is this listing: live count, research-only filters, and a board that employers in higher education already use.
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