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Strategic Research Associate (Youth Insight & Emerging Society) St George

Strategic Research Associate (Youth Insight & Emerging Society)

Remote | Volunteer / Fellowship | University of Toronto Venture Club Strategic ThinkTank Unit

About the Role

UTVC is recruiting a new cohort of Strategic Research Associates to join our Youth ThinkTank Unit — a national initiative to build Canada’s most future-focused, youth-led insight and foresight network. You will have the chance to select your area of focus, join closed-door research pods and contribute to whitepapers and briefings shared with top-tier stakeholders across policy, finance, innovation and education!

We anticipate the commitment to be the entire semester (4 months)

Research Areas (Choose Your Focus)

Applicants may specialize in one or more of the following tracks:

  • Trends – Monitor shifts in values, identities, and future-of-work directions in areas such as venture investment or government policy updates
  • Personas – Track emerging youth leaders, influencers, thinkers and their networks to identify investment-worthy startups
  • Policy – Observe and interpret education, funding and youth legislation changes
  • Innovation – Map black swan ideas, creative ecosystems and early-stage research movement

What You’ll Do

  • Actively observe specific social/academic/ideological ecosystems in your city, school, or digital niche
  • Submit structured insight briefings (we provide templates + training) once per month to prepare for semi-annual whitepaper distribution
  • Collaborate on trend maps, visual insight decks, and youth-focused whitepapers

Ideal Candidates

  • Current university students (UG/Masters/PhD) or recent grads who want to contribute to an insight report
  • Highly curious, pattern-seeking, and systems-thinking oriented
  • With backgrounds or interests in: research, journalism, policy, venture and social impact
  • Bonus: experience in student societies or innovation networks

Why Join

  • Be part of Canada’s first student-led youth ThinkTank unit
  • Learn structured strategic observation and research tools
  • Gain visibility via publications, whitepapers, and select briefings

To Apply

Submit one of the following:

  • A short insight memo (max 300 words) on any youth-related phenomenon you’ve noticed
  • Your resume + 100-word paragraph on why you’re interested

Apply via email: leo.huang@alumni.utoronto.ca [Titled: Strategic Research Associate + your region + your name]

Deadline: Rolling applications — we recommend applying early for priority consideration