Applications call for Citizen Lab Fellowship 2020

The Citizen Lab is an interdisciplinary laboratory based at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, University of Toronto, focusing on research, development, and high-level strategic policy and legal engagement at the intersection of information and communication technologies, human rights, and global security.

The Citizen Lab is also aware that the information security community has long-standing problems with diversity. Generally, these problems cannot be allowed to continue unchallenged and we stand firmly in solidarity with calls for structural changes to correct this course. In the absence of deeply integrated and meaningful representation across a spectrum of communities and experiences.

Funding

Moreover, support of $4,000 CAD distributed in monthly payments

• 3 month total: $12,000 CAD
• 6 month total: $24,000 CAD

Project Scope

The scope of the project is up to you and the program duration you choose.

• 3 months is well suited for existing projects or developing an idea. Moreover, you can get a boost needed to complete or amplify an existing project or turn a new idea into a pilot study, proof of concept, beta software release, etc.
• 6 months is for more involved projects that the 3-month duration would not be enough to realize.

Project Topic Areas

Projects can have a technical and/or legal and policy focus. Potential topics could include but are not limited to:

• Technical, legal, and/or policy Investigations of surveillance technologies (e.g., IMSI catchers, drones, facial recognition, CCTV, bodycams, etc.) in communities of color and/or deployed during protests
• Developing privacy-enhancing technologies and tactics (e.g., encryption and anonymity tools, contextualizing these tools for racialized communities).

Eligibilities

In order to be eligible for Citizen Lab Fellowship, candidates must have the following qualifications

• Applicants must identify as Black to be eligible for the fellowship.
• Candidates will work remotely and will collaborate with a team of researchers at the Citizen Lab, University of Toronto
• Applications are open to people from a variety of professional backgrounds and disciplines; and can include students and junior to mid-career practitioners.
• While individuals with unique career paths are encouraged to apply, likely candidates have experience as software developers, systems administrators, information security researchers, computer science and engineering students and researchers, social science students and researchers (e.g., political science, sociology, etc), lawyers and law students, community organizers, and others.

Application Form