Research Associate

University of Toronto – Research Associate

The Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education is looking to hire an experienced, independent and motivated research associate to conduct a critical, comparative analysis between FIFA 2026 (World Cup of football) and LA28 (Olympic Summer Games) to assess questions and issues of migration, mobility, border control, legitimacy and international politics.

The project will combine a mix of policy and document analysis and investigate the roles of international sports organizations (such as FIFA and the International Olympic Committee) in navigating international participation and national immigration and border policies.

Education

• PhD in Social Sciences or relevant field

Experience

• 3-5 years of post-PhD research experience.
• Experience conducting research in post-secondary environments, particularly within Canada.
• Strong understanding of the global sports and political landscape.
• Demonstrated experience researching sports mega-events and their social and political implications.

Other:

• Experience with qualitative research methodologies, including data collection and analysis.

• Demonstrated ability to conceptualize and apply social and political theory to the study of global football and sports mega-events.

• Position Start Date: Expected start date is December 1, 2026; however, the start date is negotiable

• Position End Date: December 1, 2027 with possibility of renewal

• Closing Date: 10/30/2026, 11:59PM ET

• Employee Group: Research Associate

• Appointment Type: Grant - Term

• Schedule: Full-Time

• Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone: R01 - Research Associate (Limited Term): $55,661 - $104,364

• Job Category: Research Administration & Teaching

• Diversity Statement

• The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.

• As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see http://uoft.me/UP.

• Accessibility Statement

• The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.

• The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.

• Indigenous Substantiation Process

• The University of Toronto has implemented a process to substantiate Indigenous Membership/Citizenship/Enrolment for candidates who identify as Indigenous. For more information about this process, please refer to the Indigenous Substantiation Website.

Job Segment:

• Research Associate, Research