Location: Remote, within Canada 

Position Type: Contract, part-time 

Project Period: April 2026 to October 2026  

Project Title: Skill, fields, or both? Explaining the field of study employment premium 

Reports to: Academica Group, in collaboration with project co-investigators 

Academica Group is seeking an early career researcher to support a research project examining the relationship between postsecondary fields of study, skills proficiency, and labour market outcomes.  

The successful candidate will contribute to a targeted literature review, data preparation and analysis using the 2023 PIAAC public use microdata file, drafting of methods and findings sections, and support for knowledge mobilization outputs.  

This position is ideal for an upper-year doctoral student, recent PhD graduate, or post-doctoral fellow with demonstrated experience working with complex survey data and an interest in postsecondary education, skills, and labour market research.   

The project team has deep expertise working with Statistics Canada datasets and conducting policy-oriented quantitative research, and the position includes close mentorship throughout the project.   

Key Responsibilities  

The successful candidate will support several stages of the project, including:  

• Conducting a literature review of Canadian and international research using PIAAC and related datasets to study the relationship between field of study, skills, and labour market outcomes  
• Conducting descriptive and regression analyses using the 2023 PIAAC using Stata, including models using the REPEST package.  
• Maintaining clear and reproducible Stata syntax and analytic documentation  
• Drafting sections of a policy report (e.g., literature review, methods, findings)  
• Participating in regular project meetings with the research team  
• Contributing to knowledge mobilization products such as a policy brief, accessible article, or academic manuscript draft   

Required Qualifications  

• Current enrolment or recent graduation from a PhD program in a quantitative discipline, such as economics, public policy, sociology, or a related field  
• Completion of graduate-level training in quantitative methods 
• Experience with ordinary least squares, binary/multinomial logistic regression  
• Demonstrated experience using Stata for data cleaning and analysis  
• Strong writing skills  
• Ability to work independently and meet tight deadlines  

Preferred Qualifications  

• Direct experience working with the PIAAC, LISA, or other large-scale survey data with skills measurements 
• Experience conducting research on employment, skills, and labour markets  
• Interest in policy-relevant and public-facing research communication  

Compensation  

• $60 per hour; Approximately 15 hours per week for 24 weeks  
• Pay rate is inclusive of 4% vacation pay  

How to Apply 

To apply for this position, email the following materials to hr@academicagroup.com with “Researcher” in your e-mail subject line:  

• Cover letter describing their relevant experience 
• An up-to-date academic CV 
• A sample of sole-authored writing or analysis  
• A syntax file from a previous project 
• Contact information for two references, with at least one being a previous employer   

Application Deadline  

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.  

We encourage you to apply early to this posting, as we will be conducting rolling interviews (interviewing applicants as the interviews come in). We appreciate all submissions; however, only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. This posting is for a vacancy that will be filled.  

Academica Group is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and are committed to providing an inclusive environment for all employees. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. 

About Academica Group 

Academica Group is the Canadian leader in higher education market research and institutional consulting. For more than 25 years we have worked with postsecondary institutions from across Canada, helping them to recruit the best-fit students, launch innovative new programs, optimize admissions and enrolment processes, organize departments, and so much more. Our success is based on a deep understanding of client objectives, developing innovative research solutions, and providing dedicated client service.