2026 Ward Summer Research Student

Status: Temporary Full Time (1.00 FTE)

Compensation: $17.60/hr

Start Date: May 4, 2026

End Date: July 24, 2026

Supervisor: Dr. Sarah Munce

Program: Bloorview Research Institute

Join us in building a world of possibility for children with neurodevelopmental differences and disabilities

Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital is Canada's largest pediatric rehabilitation hospital and is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto. It has ranked amongst Canada's top 40 research hospitals for more than a decade. Holland Bloorview has won numerous awards including Greater Toronto's Top Employers, Canada's Top Employers for Young People and Canada's Most Admired Corporate Cultures. We offer an inspiring, inclusive, innovative, and collaborative work environment with competitive compensation and benefit packages and programs that support ongoing learning and professional growth.

The Bloorview Research Institute (BRI), embedded within the hospital, is the only university-affiliated research institute in Canada dedicated to pediatric disability, and one of very few around the world. BRI's vision is to be a global leader in transformative, equity-driven research dedicated to enabling personalized versions of a good life across the lifespan, for all individuals with childhood onset disabilities, acquired injuries and developmental differences, their families and communities.

Description

The Ward Summer Student Research program provides an opportunity to experience a unique interdisciplinary mentorship experience. Successful applicants will have opportunities to work with their mentor on a research project, attend our Lunch 'n' Learns and participate in the annual Ward Summer Student Research Day where they will have an opportunity to present their findings to the organization and its visitors. The student must be enrolled as a 3rd or 4th year student in an undergraduate degree program, or any year of an undergraduate medical degree (MD) program.

The successful applicant will work under the supervision of Dr. Sarah Munce, whose research focuses on improving transitional care for youth with complex needs and their families. Dr. Munce's work integrates implementation science, mixed methods, and co-design, and is grounded in close partnerships with youth and families to ensure research is meaningful, practical, and informed by lived experience. In 2025, Dr. Munce was awarded an Implementation Science Chair by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to advance research on meaningful youth and family engagement within learning health systems. The student will contribute to a scoping review examining the extent of the literature on learning health systems that engage patient partners. The student may also assist with other on-going research activities related to youth and family engagement in research/learning health systems.

Compensation Details

The program runs for 12 weeks from May 4, 2026 – July 24, 2026. Students will be paid $17.60 per hour based on a 37.5 hour week (full-time), less statutory deductions, including 4% in lieu of vacation and relevant statutory holiday pay. Students will be paid biweekly through payroll.

Key Responsibilities

• Screening and selecting relevant articles
• Extracting and synthesizing data
• Assisting with data analysis
• Supporting manuscript preparation and writing

Qualifications

• Interest in patient engagement and health services research
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a research team
• Previous experience conducting literature reviews is considered an asset

Application

Please submit the following in one (1) pdf file in the order indicated below:

1. A copy of your most recent curriculum vitae (CV)

2. A copy of your most recent unofficial university transcript

3. A cover letter including the following information:

4. What program of study are you currently enrolled in?

5. What year are you within your program of study?

6. What are your future academic ambitions?

7. A list of two referees (recent professors, previous employers) who may be contacted to provide a letter of recommendation in the event you are shortlisted for the position. Please include the full name of referee, title/position, name of institution, institutional email address and phone number.

Any applications missing this information will not be accepted.