What works, for whom, and under what circumstances in supporting cross-disciplinary research: a realist evaluation

Project Description

Academic setting:
The Recherche désenclavée Team at the University of Sherbrooke is conducting research funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) on the effectiveness of collaboration in cross-disciplinary research contexts. 

The team is composed of specialists in cognitive and socio-organizational integration as well as experts in supporting cross-disciplinary research teams. Co-supervision with another team member may be offered depending on the candidate's profile.

The research project:
The mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of cross-disciplinary research remain poorly understood. It is therefore difficult to know which approaches to supporting cross-disciplinarity work, for whom, and under what circumstances. This project aims to develop and deploy a research-intervention protocol on the effectiveness of cross-disciplinary research using a realist evaluation approach. The intervention will adapt the support strategy developed by the Toolbox Dialogue Initiative, enhancing it with methods from the td-net toolbox and recommendations from the Science of Team Science. Multimodal data will be systematically collected throughout the intervention: questionnaires, observation notes, transcripts of focus groups and realist interviews. Analysis of this data will provide a better understanding of the mechanisms responsible for the effectiveness of cross-disciplinary support. The project results will equip cross-disciplinary support specialists (integration experts, research services, consultants) with tools to inform their decisions regarding the support tools to use in the various contexts they encounter in their practice. 

Responsibilities:
The candidate who joins the team will be responsible for the “realist evaluation” component of the project. 

More specifically, their main responsibilities will consist of:
1.    Under the supervision of the principal investigator, preparing and carrying out data collection (focus groups, realist interviews);
2.    Analyzing the evaluation data collected using relevant qualitative or quantitative methods;
3.    Participating, in collaboration with the team, in the process of theorizing the mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of cross-disciplinary research;
4.    Participate in the writing of scientific communications and publications 
5.    Participate in the development of knowledge mobilization tools for cross-disciplinary research support specialists.

Qualifications:
-Hold (or about to complete) a PhD in a discipline relevant to the project, obtained within the last five years.
These disciplines include, but are not limited to: philosophy, social studies of science and technology, management, organizational psychology and cognitive sciences, and administration of health sciences.
-Ability to work in a French-speaking work and collaborative environment.

Selection criteria:
-Ability to work independently and as part of a team;
-Excellent oral and written communication skills;
-Excellent qualitative data analysis and theorization skills, supported by previous publications in peer-reviewed journals;
-Experience in qualitative data collection (e.g., interviews) and motivation to learn new methods;
-Knowledge of realist evaluation methodology, an asset;
-Knowledge of scientific literature related to the project (Science of Team Science), an asset;
-Knowledge of quantitative methods, an asset.

Submitting your application:
To apply, send your resume (including the contact information of at least two references) and a cover letter to francois.claveau@usherbrooke.ca before January 31, 2026.
Your application will be evaluated solely based on your responses to the selection criteria.

Funding offered

Yes

$50,000/year, benefits included. One-year contract, renewable for one year.

The last update was on 21 November 2025. The University reserves the right to modify its projects without notice.