The inters will work on one or few projects that mixes tools of big data, LLM, applied econometrics and economic theory to answer policy relevant economic question. One of them will look at data from American immigration courts and study how judges in the US reach immigration decision. Another project will look at data from a large US retailer and will be focused on understanding what determines workers productivity.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: I am a full professor in applied economics and Canada research chair in economics. My research mixes tools of big data, applied econometrics and economic theory to answer policy relevant economic question. My research is published in top economics journal.
Student roles: the student will be involved in all research activities: data collection, data analysis but also review of the literature writing summary of the projects.
Skills required: Student must be motivated to work hard and learn new tools. It would be best to be proficient in Stata.
2. Behaviour in everyday life: the economics of power.
Supervisor: Oscar Zapata
University: University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon campus)
Almost every interaction between people in society involves an imbalance of power. These interactions can involve a social or political authority figure, such as rulers and electors, parents and children, teachers and students, supervisors and supervisees, physicians and nurses, managers and employees, or higher ranks and subordinates. Power imbalances also arise among equals, driven by social and economic differences (e.g., income, education or social recognition), psychological or cognitive factors (e.g., previous successes, self-image or psychological empowerment), or culture and values (e.g., religious beliefs or identity). Whatever its source, an imbalance of this nature affects how people make decisions. Whether empowered individuals exhibit higher overconfidence (i.e., become more risk-seeking), care less for others' outcomes (i.e., become less altruistic or generous), or overweight current benefits over larger future costs (i.e., become more impatient and intertemporally myopic) is still uncertain. Understanding how power imbalances influence decision-making is crucial because it challenges conventional economic analysis, which typically assumes equality among market participants.
This research builds a bridge between economics and other social and natural sciences that study power, including psychology, political science, sociology and biology. The research objectives are to: 1) identify and synthesize existing academic research on the economics of power; 2) uncover gaps in the literature regarding the impact of power on daily economic behaviour; 3) identify how concepts from behavioural economics and social psychology can improve our understanding of how power imbalances form and shape decisions; and 4) design and conduct economic experiments to test hypotheses about how power imbalances influence individual decision-making. The project will combine a structured review of interdisciplinary evidence with the design of laboratory and field experiments that isolate power as a variable, producing realistic models of behaviour that account for the pervasive influence of power in human interactions.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: I am interested in understanding human behaviour and the decision-making process. I study factors that consciously (i.e., prices or endowments) or unconsciously (i.e., identity, beliefs, scarcity, adversity or climate conditions) explain people’s behaviour regarding economic and social outcomes. I am interested in everyday decisions and their effects on well-being, from global problems such as climate change mitigation and adaptation to household-level consumption decisions. I employ both econometric techniques and experimental design methods (i.e., laboratory and field experiments) to identify cause-and-effect relationships between variables of interest and answer important research questions.
Student roles: The student will work as a research assistant and will perform the following activities: • A review of the academic literature, including papers in economics and other social sciences related to power and its effects on individual behaviour. The review will identify existing research, methods employed, information sources used, limitations of the studies, and a summary of findings. • Elaboration of a matrix in Excel summarizing the papers identified (e.g., journal and year of publication, and authors), their methods, datasets and results. • A review of non-technical literature on topics related to power and behaviour (e.g., news articles, popular writing, documentaries, etc.). • In collaboration with the principal investigator, the student will: 1) identify gaps in the literature and formulate hypotheses to fill these gaps, and 2) help design lab experiments to test the hypotheses previously identified. • Participation in meetings with researchers and practitioners in the fields of social sciences. • Organization of datasets identified in the literature review or provided by the principal investigator. Under the supervision of the principal investigator, the project constitutes a learning experience where the student can learn about economics, decision sciences, and the design of laboratory experiments. The student will also have the opportunity to learn about the behavioural science of power and research methods in general.
Skills required: The candidate will have a background in economics or psychology, ideally with knowledge of quantitative techniques, including statistics, econometrics and/or experimental design (i.e., economic or psychological experiments in the lab or field). The candidate will have strong interpersonal, organizational and communication skills, as well as advanced knowledge of software, including Word, Excel, and reference management software such as Mendeley or Zotero. The candidate will be able to work under supervision and independently, and be familiar with academic databases of journal articles and papers. The candidate needs to be creative and have critical and analytical thinking.
3. Cost-Utility of PCSK9 Inhibitors in Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review
Supervisor: Chiranjeev Sanyal
University: Dalhousie University (Halifax campus)
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Start date: 2027-06-01
Disciplines: Economics, Health Studies, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacology, Pharmacy, Public Health, Public Policy and Administration
PCSK9 inhibitors are a class of lipid-lowering medications that have significantly advanced the management of cardiovascular diseases, particularly in patients with elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) who do not achieve target levels with conventional therapies. These drugs—most notably monoclonal antibodies such as evolocumab and alirocumab—work by inhibiting the protein proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9). This inhibition increases the number of LDL receptors on liver cells, enhancing the clearance of LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream.
Clinical trials have demonstrated that PCSK9 inhibitors can reduce LDL-C levels by up to 50–60% beyond what is achieved with statins alone. Importantly, large outcome studies such as FOURIER and ODYSSEY OUTCOMES have shown that these agents not only lower cholesterol but also reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, including heart attack and stroke. As a result, they are particularly beneficial for high-risk populations, such as patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or familial hypercholesterolemia.
Despite their clinical effectiveness, the widespread use of PCSK9 inhibitors has been limited by their high cost, raising concerns about cost-effectiveness and accessibility. Recent price reductions and evolving reimbursement policies have improved their affordability in some settings, but economic considerations remain a key factor in their adoption.
Overall, PCSK9 inhibitors represent a powerful therapeutic option in cardiovascular care, offering substantial lipid reduction and improved clinical outcomes. Their role continues to expand as evidence grows and cost-related barriers are addressed.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Cost–utility studies are a type of economic evaluation used in healthcare to assess the value of interventions by comparing their costs with the health outcomes they produce, measured in terms of utility. The most common outcome metric is the quality-adjusted life year (QALY), which combines both the quantity and quality of life into a single measure. Cost–utility studies are widely used by policymakers, healthcare providers, and reimbursement agencies to determine whether a new treatment offers good value for money. They help inform decisions about pricing, coverage, and clinical guidelines, particularly in settings where healthcare resources are limited.
Student roles: The student will play an active role in supporting the design and execution of the research project, particularly in conducting a systematic review on cost–utility analyses of PCSK9 inhibitors in cardiovascular diseases. Their responsibilities will begin with assisting in the development and refinement of the research question, inclusion/exclusion criteria, and search strategy. A key part of the role involves performing comprehensive literature searches across multiple databases, followed by screening titles, abstracts, and full texts to identify relevant studies. The student will be responsible for extracting data from selected articles in a structured and consistent manner, as well as assisting in assessing the quality and risk of bias of included studies using appropriate tools. The student will also contribute to synthesizing findings, which may include summarizing study characteristics, comparing outcomes, and identifying trends or gaps in the literature. Where applicable, they may assist with basic data analysis and interpretation of economic evaluation results, such as cost–utility ratios and QALY outcomes. In addition, the student will support the writing process by drafting sections of the manuscript (e.g., methods, results, or discussion) and incorporating feedback from supervisors. Maintaining accurate records, organizing references, and ensuring adherence to reporting guidelines (such as PRISMA) are also important aspects of the role. Overall, the student is expected to work both independently and collaboratively, demonstrate attention to detail, meet project timelines, and actively engage in regular meetings and progress discussions.
Skills required: The student should have a strong academic background in a relevant field such as health sciences, pharmacy, medicine, public health, economics, or health economics. In addition, familiarity with research methodologies is essential, particularly in conducting systematic reviews. The student should be comfortable with literature searching, data extraction, and critical appraisal of scientific studies. Proficiency in using reference management software (e.g., EndNote, Zotero) and basic data analysis tools (such as Excel or statistical software like R or SPSS) is desirable. The student should also possess good written and verbal communication skills to clearly present findings in a structured and academic manner.
4. Downtown Economic Recovery: Post-Pandemic Revitalization in Edmonton
Supervisor: Murtaza Haider
University: University of Alberta (Edmonton campus)
The COVID-19 pandemic dealt a severe blow to urban downtowns across North America. Edmonton's downtown is emblematic of this challenge: office vacancy rates remain elevated, retail corridors have contracted, and daytime pedestrian activity has not returned to pre-pandemic levels. Recovery is uneven — some blocks and asset classes are rebounding while others remain distressed. Understanding the spatial, economic, and demographic dimensions of this recovery is critical for municipalities, property owners, and developers as they plan reinvestment strategies. The Cities Institute has conducted prior synthesis research on downtown Edmonton and is expanding this work into a comparative framework that includes Calgary, Winnipeg, and other mid-sized Canadian cities. This project will contribute a rigorous empirical chapter to that ongoing research program.
This project aims to achieve the following specific objectives:
• Compile and analyze a comprehensive dataset on downtown Edmonton's economic indicators from 2019 to 2027, including office vacancy, retail occupancy, pedestrian counts, transit boardings, and business licence data.
• Identify spatial patterns of recovery and distress within the downtown core using GIS mapping and descriptive statistics.
• Compare Edmonton's recovery trajectory with two to three comparable Canadian cities using publicly available data.
• Review the international literature on post-pandemic downtown recovery and identify effective policy interventions.
• Synthesize findings into a policy-relevant research report suitable for release by the Cities Institute and distribution to municipal and provincial stakeholders.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: The Cities Institute at the University of Alberta's Alberta School of Business is a leading applied urban research centre. Under the leadership of Professor Murtaza Haider, the Institute conducts rigorous, evidence-based research on housing markets, downtown revitalization, public safety, transportation economics, infrastructure finance, and municipal policy. Our work bridges academic inquiry and actionable policy, serving municipalities, provincial governments, private-sector partners, and civil society across Alberta and Canada.
GRI interns hosted by the Cities Institute will be embedded in active research projects, work directly with Professor Haider and affiliated researchers, and contribute to polished research reports released by the Cities Institute.
Student roles: The intern will undertake the following activities: • Conduct a systematic literature review on post-pandemic downtown recovery in North American and international cities, producing an annotated bibliography and synthesis memo. • Assemble a longitudinal dataset from municipal open data portals, Statistics Canada, CBRE, Altus Group, and other secondary sources. • Execute descriptive and spatial analyses using R or Stata and ArcGIS or QGIS to identify recovery hotspots and cold zones within the downtown core. • Conduct structured interviews or review policy documents from the City of Edmonton and the Downtown Business Association. • Draft each chapter of the research report, incorporating supervisor feedback, and prepare a final presentation of findings for Cities Institute stakeholders.
Skills required: We are seeking a highly motivated senior undergraduate student with the following profile: • Strong academic writing skills in English; ability to draft clear, concise, and persuasive prose for a policy audience. • Background in economics, urban planning, real estate, geography, or a related social science discipline. • Quantitative skills including familiarity with descriptive statistics and data visualization; experience with R, Stata, or Python is an asset. • Exposure to GIS software (ArcGIS or QGIS) is desirable but not required; willingness to learn is essential. • Ability to work independently, manage a literature review, and synthesize diverse data sources.
5. Drug Use, Homelessness, and Public Space: Comparative Policy Analysis
Supervisor: Murtaza Haider
University: University of Alberta (Edmonton campus)
The intersection of drug use, homelessness, and the use of public space is one of the most contested and visible challenges facing Canadian city centres. Edmonton, like Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto, has grappled with the rapid expansion of encampments, the proliferation of open drug use in high-traffic areas, and the consequences for the safety, cleanliness, and social vitality of downtown streets, parks, and transit nodes. Municipalities have responded with a wide variety of approaches ranging from harm reduction services and supportive housing to encampment clearance policies and criminal enforcement. The effectiveness and equity implications of these interventions vary considerably, and comparative evidence is limited. This project will produce the first systematic cross-city comparative analysis of municipal responses to drug use and homelessness in the public realm for a Canadian audience, contributing directly to policy discussions in Edmonton and Alberta.
This project aims to achieve the following specific objectives:
• Document and classify the range of policy interventions used by Canadian cities to address drug use and homelessness in public spaces, including harm reduction, enforcement, supportive housing, and social services integration.
• Assess the evidence on the effectiveness of these interventions in reducing public disorder, improving health outcomes, and preserving the safety and vitality of public spaces.
• Analyze Edmonton's current policy mix and identify gaps relative to best-practice comparators.
• Examine the perspectives of affected stakeholders — including business associations, residents, social service providers, and advocacy groups — where data are publicly available.
• Develop a policy framework with recommendations for Edmonton and other mid-sized Canadian cities.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: The Cities Institute at the University of Alberta's Alberta School of Business is a leading applied urban research centre. Under the leadership of Professor Murtaza Haider, the Institute conducts rigorous, evidence-based research on housing markets, downtown revitalization, public safety, transportation economics, infrastructure finance, and municipal policy. Our work bridges academic inquiry and actionable policy, serving municipalities, provincial governments, private-sector partners, and civil society across Alberta and Canada.
GRI interns hosted by the Cities Institute will be embedded in active research projects, work directly with Professor Haider and affiliated researchers, and contribute to polished research reports released by the Cities Institute.
Student roles: The intern will undertake the following activities over the 12-week period: • Conduct a systematic literature review of academic and grey literature on municipal responses to drug use and homelessness in public spaces, with a focus on Canadian and comparable international cases. • Compile a comparative policy dataset coding the interventions adopted by a sample of eight to ten Canadian cities. • Analyze available administrative data from the City of Edmonton, Alberta Health Services, and community organizations on homelessness counts, shelter usage, and overdose events. • Review publicly available consultation reports, council minutes, and stakeholder submissions related to Edmonton's Downtown Safe Streets strategy and related policies. • Draft a research report synthesizing findings across the comparative, empirical, and policy dimensions of the project.
The intern will produce a draft research report of approximately 8,000 to 10,000 words on municipal policy responses to drug use and homelessness in public spaces, with a focus on Edmonton and a comparative analysis of peer cities. The report will include an executive summary, a comparative policy matrix, an evidence synthesis, an Edmonton case analysis, and actionable policy recommendations. The report will be published by the Cities Institute and distributed to the City of Edmonton, Alberta municipalities, and provincial government partners. The intern will be credited as a contributing researcher and will present findings to Cities Institute stakeholders.
Upon successful completion of the internship, the student will have: • Gained direct experience conducting applied urban economics research in a Canadian context. • Developed skills in data collection, quantitative or qualitative analysis, and evidence synthesis. • Produced a research report suitable for public release and professional portfolio use. • Built academic and professional networks in Canada, including connections to municipal, provincial, and industry partners of the Cities Institute. • Gained an appreciation for Canadian urban policy challenges
Skills required: We are seeking a highly motivated senior undergraduate student with the following profile: • Exceptional academic writing skills in English; ability to write clearly and sensitively on socially complex topics for a policy and public audience. • Background in public policy, urban planning, social work, public health, sociology, criminology, or a related field. • Experience with qualitative or mixed-methods research; ability to synthesize diverse sources into a coherent analytical narrative. • Sensitivity to the ethical dimensions of research involving vulnerable populations. • Familiarity with harm reduction policy, housing-first approaches, or urban social policy is an asset.
6. Economic analyses and behavioural modeling of innovative public transit services
The project will explore human factors, theories, system modelling and strategies related to emerging public transit services (e.g., on-demand transit, electric buses, integrated transit system). Without sufficient knowledge of human and operation impacts, new services may also induce costly and less sustainable systems.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Analysis, modeling and optimization of transportation systems, emerging mobility services (electric vehicles, on-demand mobility), warehouse automation, robotics, operation research, human behavior and economics, data mining and decision analytics (statistical model, machine learning/deep learning), mechanism design.
Student roles: Students will participate in the following research activities:
- Literature review in innovative transit services and mobility-as-a-service research, technologies and applications - Case study research for cities in Canada including data analysis, technical program summaries, and strategy design - Technical report and manuscript editing and formatting, assistant in conference papers and technical reports - Support research group for mathematical modeling and optimizations - Statistical analysis and econometric model development.
Skills required: - Strong interests in traffic and transportation engineering, microeconomics and econometrics. - Background in modeling and optimization. - Experience in data analysis and statistical models. - Background in econometric theories and analysis. - Skilled in python or other relevant software such as R and SPSS.
7. Economic growth in India and demand for Food Away From Home (FAFH)
Supervisor: Varghese Manaloor
University: University of Alberta (Camrose campus)
In recent decades, India’s economy has grown fast and people's living standards have improved. With the quickening pace of modern life and the change of consumption habits, food consumption patterns have undergone great changes. The purpose of this study is to investigate and analyze the impacts of economic growth on demand for Food Away From Home (FAFH) in India. This study analyzes the effects of income and socio-demographic variables on FAFH expenditure; and an econometric model will be used to analyze the impacts of variables on the extent of demand for food away from home.
The leading contributor to increased FAFH expenditure is India’s strong income growth, followed by the resulting rapid urbanization. There are some possible reasons for why an increase in the proportion of eating away from home could occur: an increase in family population; an increase in income; the possible emergence of more educated wives in households; or a combination of all three.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My research agenda focuses on three aspects of applied microeconomics and quantitative techniques, especially in relation to the environment and development. These are (a) Energy Use in Agriculture and Environmental Impacts, (b) Sustainable Tourism, and (c) Food policy, nutrition and livelihood. My most recent project has been on alleviating poverty and malnutrition in three biodiversity hotspot regions in India.
Student roles: Review literature, collect secondary and primary data, organize and input data to MS Excel. Analyze, interpret and write reports/papers.
Skills required: The intern must have excellent analytical, oral and writing skills. Must be well versed in Excel and econometrics.
8. Gestion de l’hygiène menstruelle en milieu scolaire au Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire et au Sénégal
La gestion de l’hygiène menstruelle (GHM) constitue un enjeu majeur de santé publique, d’égalité des genres et de réussite éducative dans les pays en développement. De nombreuses études ont montré qu’une mauvaise GHM peut entraîner des conséquences négatives sur la santé physique et mentale des filles, tout en contribuant à l’absentéisme scolaire et à la diminution des performances académiques. Malgré l’importance de cette problématique, les données demeurent limitées dans plusieurs pays d’Afrique francophone, notamment au Burkina Faso, en Côte d’Ivoire et au Sénégal.
Ce projet vise à développer une base de données originale et harmonisée sur les pratiques de gestion de l’hygiène menstruelle des filles scolarisées dans ces trois pays. La collecte de données quantitatives permettra de documenter les conditions de GHM en milieu scolaire, d’identifier les principaux obstacles auxquels les élèves sont confrontées et d’analyser les liens entre les pratiques menstruelles, la fréquentation scolaire et les résultats éducatifs. Les connaissances produites contribueront à combler un important déficit de données probantes et à orienter l’élaboration de politiques publiques et d’interventions adaptées aux réalités locales afin de favoriser la réussite scolaire et le bien-être des filles.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Économie du développement, économie du genre, microéconomie appliquée
Student roles: L’étudiante ou l’étudiant participera à toutes les étapes de préparation de la collecte de données secondaires et primaires portant sur la gestion de l’hygiène menstruelle et la scolarisation des filles au Burkina Faso, en Côte d’Ivoire et au Sénégal. Ses responsabilités comprendront la recension de la littérature, l’identification et l’évaluation des sources de données existantes, la conception et l’harmonisation des bases de données, ainsi que l’élaboration des outils de collecte. La personne contribuera également à la définition des variables et indicateurs, à la préparation des protocoles de recherche, à la validation des instruments de collecte, à la planification du travail de terrain et à la mise en place des procédures de gestion, de qualité et de documentation des données.
Skills required: Nous recherchons une étudiante ou un étudiant de premier cycle en économie, statistique, santé publique, sociologie, démographie ou dans une discipline connexe. La personne candidate doit démontrer un intérêt pour les enjeux de développement, d’éducation, de santé et d’égalité des genres. Une expérience en analyse de données quantitatives et une connaissance de logiciels statistiques tels que Stata, R, SPSS ou Python constituent des atouts. Des compétences en recherche documentaire, en synthèse de littérature et en rédaction scientifique sont souhaitées. Le projet requiert également rigueur méthodologique, autonomie, esprit d’analyse et capacité à travailler en équipe.
9. High-Resolution Economics: Mapping Development with Satellite Imagery and Remote Sensing
Supervisor: Oscar Zapata
University: University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon campus)
This project uses cutting-edge remote sensing and satellite imagery to generate high-resolution, spatially explicit proxies for socio-economic conditions, enabling rigorous analysis of development dynamics across diverse global contexts. By integrating data sources such as VIIRS/DMSP nighttime lights, the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), land surface temperature, flood and drought hazard maps, and infrastructure indicators from optical and radar imagery, we will construct time-series datasets that capture environmental and infrastructural change over time. These datasets will be linked with administrative and household-level data to support advanced econometric and spatial econometric analyses, including fixed effects, instrumental variable regressions, difference-in-differences designs, and spatial models that account for spatial dependence and spillover effects. Machine learning techniques can also be employed to extract features and classify land use and infrastructure patterns from imagery.
The findings have wide-ranging applications. In policy evaluation, they can assess the effectiveness of infrastructure investments, agricultural subsidies, or disaster relief programs in improving socio-economic outcomes. In development planning, the spatial insights can help identify underserved or vulnerable regions, guiding resource allocation and targeted interventions. For climate resilience, the data can inform risk mapping and adaptation strategies by linking environmental exposure to socio-economic vulnerability. The methodology also offers a scalable framework for monitoring the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in data-scarce regions, supporting international development agencies, NGOs, and governments in evidence-based decision-making. By bridging the gap between spatial data science and development economics, this project contributes to a more data-rich, analytically robust approach to understanding and addressing global development challenges.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: I am interested in understanding human behaviour and the decision-making process. I study factors that consciously (i.e., prices or endowments) or unconsciously (i.e., identity, beliefs, scarcity, adversity or climate conditions) explain people's behaviour regarding economic and social outcomes. I am interested in everyday decisions and their effects on well-being, from global problems such as climate change mitigation and adaptation to household-level consumption decisions. I employ both econometric techniques and experimental design methods (i.e., laboratory and field experiments) to identify cause-and-effect relationships between variables of interest and answer important research questions.
Student roles: The research intern (RI) will play a vital role in supporting the technical, analytical, and organizational aspects of the project. Their work will contribute directly to the development of spatial datasets, the integration of socio-economic and environmental data, and the execution of empirical analyses. This position offers hands-on experience at the intersection of remote sensing, data science, and development economics. The RI will begin by assisting with the collection, cleaning, and preprocessing of satellite imagery and remote sensing data, including datasets such as nighttime lights, NDVI, land surface temperature, and hazard maps. They will use tools like Google Earth Engine, QGIS, or Python libraries to process and align spatial data across time and geography. The RI will also help integrate these spatial datasets with administrative and household-level data, performing spatial joins and preparing data for econometric analysis. In addition to data preparation, the RI will support exploratory data analysis by generating descriptive statistics, visualizations, and spatial maps to identify trends and anomalies. They may assist in running econometric models, such as fixed effects or difference-in-differences regressions, and help construct spatial econometric models under supervision. For students with programming or machine learning experience, tasks may include feature extraction from satellite imagery and classification of land use or infrastructure patterns. The RI will also contribute to documentation, including maintaining organized code repositories, writing clear descriptions of data processing steps, and preparing summary reports or presentations. Depending on their background, they may also assist with literature reviews or community engagement planning. Overall, the RI will gain valuable interdisciplinary research experience while contributing to a project with real-world policy and development implications.
Skills required: The candidate will have a background in geography, geomatics, economics, computer or data science. The candidate will have a combination of technical and analytical skills. These include proficiency in GIS and remote sensing tools such as QGIS, ArcGIS, or Google Earth Engine; programming experience in Python or R; and the ability to manage large, multi-source datasets. Familiarity with econometrics is highly valuable. Strong communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to document work clearly are essential, along with a collaborative mindset and a willingness to learn. These competencies will enable the student to contribute meaningfully to the project's goals.
10. Housing Supply, Affordability, and Neighbourhood Change in Prairie Cities
Supervisor: Murtaza Haider
University: University of Alberta (Edmonton campus)
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Start date: 2027-05-17 (flexible)
Disciplines: Economics, Land Information, Geography
Housing affordability is the defining urban policy challenge of Canada's current decade. Across the country — including in Prairie cities like Edmonton and Calgary, long considered affordable relative to Toronto and Vancouver — house prices and rents have risen sharply, fuelled by population growth, constrained supply, rising construction costs, and investor activity. Understanding the relationship between housing supply and affordability requires careful empirical analysis, because the mechanisms are complex: supply responses vary by housing type, neighbourhood, and regulatory context, and the distributional consequences of supply additions differ across income groups and household types. The Cities Institute is engaged in an ongoing program of empirical research on housing supply, prices, and affordability in Alberta and Canada, including a panel-data study using instrumental-variables estimation. This project will contribute new analysis to that program, with a focus on comparative dynamics across prairie cities.
This project aims to achieve the following specific objectives:
• Compile a longitudinal dataset on housing supply (starts, completions, approvals) and prices (MLS HPI, rental indices) for Edmonton, Calgary, and comparator cities.
• Analyse the relationship between zoning liberalization, construction activity, and price outcomes at the neighbourhood and city level.
• Review the academic and policy literature on housing supply elasticity, exclusionary zoning, and the effects of infill and densification on neighbourhood housing markets.
• Examine the role of municipal regulatory environments — including zoning, development charges, and permitting timelines — in shaping supply responsiveness.
• Develop policy-relevant recommendations for improving housing supply outcomes in Alberta cities.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: The Cities Institute at the University of Alberta's Alberta School of Business is a leading applied urban research centre. Under the leadership of Professor Murtaza Haider, the Institute conducts rigorous, evidence-based research on housing markets, downtown revitalization, public safety, transportation economics, infrastructure finance, and municipal policy. Our work bridges academic inquiry and actionable policy, serving municipalities, provincial governments, private-sector partners, and civil society across Alberta and Canada.
GRI interns hosted by the Cities Institute will be embedded in active research projects, work directly with Professor Haider and affiliated researchers, and contribute to polished research reports released by the Cities Institute.
Student roles: The intern will undertake the following activities over the 12-week period: • Assemble a housing dataset from CMHC, Statistics Canada, the Real Estate Board, and municipal open data sources, covering supply, price, and regulatory variables. • Conduct descriptive and regression analyses of housing supply and price dynamics using R or Stata. • Review academic literature on housing supply elasticity, the effects of zoning reform, and urban housing market equilibrium. • Analyse Edmonton's recent zoning reform (residential infill) and Calgary's infill rezoning repeal as natural experiments, drawing on available data and policy documents. • Draft a research report integrating empirical findings, literature synthesis, and policy analysis, with clear implications for Alberta municipalities and the provincial government.
The intern will produce a draft research report of approximately 8,000 to 10,000 words examining the relationship between housing supply, regulation, and affordability in Edmonton and comparable Prairie cities. The report will include an executive summary, a data description, an empirical analysis with tables and figures, a literature synthesis, and policy recommendations targeted at the City of Edmonton and the Government of Alberta. The Cities Institute will publish and distribute the report. The intern will be credited as a contributing researcher and will present findings to the Cities Institute and city-building stakeholders.
Upon successful completion of the internship, the student will have: • Gained direct experience conducting applied urban economics research in a Canadian context. • Developed skills in data collection, quantitative or qualitative analysis, and evidence synthesis. • Produced a research report suitable for public release and professional portfolio use. • Built academic and professional networks in Canada, including connections to municipal, provincial, and industry partners of the Cities Institute. • Gained an appreciation for Canadian urban policy challenges. • Strengthened their academic writing, data visualization, and oral presentation skills.
Skills required: We are seeking a highly motivated senior undergraduate student with the following profile: • Strong academic writing skills in English, with the ability to write for both academic and policy audiences. • Background in economics, finance, urban planning, real estate, or a closely related quantitative social science. • Quantitative skills including regression analysis; experience with R or Stata is required. • Familiarity with housing economics, real estate markets, or urban policy is a strong asset. • Ability to work with large datasets, merge multiple sources, and conduct panel data analysis is desirable. • Interest in housing policy and urban economics
11. Improving Transit Accessibility and Ridership in Mid-Sized Canadian Cities
Supervisor: Murtaza Haider
University: University of Alberta (Edmonton campus)
Public transit is a central pillar of sustainable urban development, yet mid-sized Canadian cities like Edmonton struggle to achieve the ridership levels and service quality that justify continued investment. Edmonton's LRT network has expanded significantly over the past decade, yet ridership has been slow to recover post-pandemic and many surface bus routes remain underperforming. Improving ridership requires understanding the determinants of transit use — including service frequency, reliability, safety, accessibility, and land use context — and identifying the interventions with the greatest potential for impact. The Cities Institute has active research programs on transit ridership, ride quality measurement, and the relationship between transit proximity and property values. This project will contribute new empirical analysis to that program, with a focus on making Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) more effective for a diverse and growing urban population.
This project aims to achieve the following specific objectives:
• Compile and analyze Edmonton Transit Service ridership data by route, stop, and time period, identifying underperforming routes and accessibility gaps.
• Model the determinants of ridership using available data on service characteristics, land use, demographics, and built environment factors.
• Conduct a comparative analysis of transit performance metrics across Edmonton, Calgary, and two to three peer cities.
• Review the literature on evidence-based interventions for improving transit ridership and accessibility in mid-sized cities.
• Identify priority routes and stations for service improvement and develop recommendations for ETS and the City of Edmonton.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: The Cities Institute at the University of Alberta's Alberta School of Business is a leading applied urban research centre. Under the leadership of Professor Murtaza Haider, the Institute conducts rigorous, evidence-based research on housing markets, downtown revitalization, public safety, transportation economics, infrastructure finance, and municipal policy. Our work bridges academic inquiry and actionable policy, serving municipalities, provincial governments, private-sector partners, and civil society across Alberta and Canada.
GRI interns hosted by the Cities Institute will be embedded in active research projects, work directly with Professor Haider and affiliated researchers, and contribute to polished research reports released by the Cities Institute.
Student roles: The intern will undertake the following activities over the 12-week period: • Assemble a transit dataset from ETS open data, GTFS feeds, and Statistics Canada, including ridership counts, on-time performance, and accessibility attributes. • Use R or Stata to model ridership as a function of service and land use variables, employing regression analysis or panel data methods as appropriate. • Perform spatial analysis to identify transit deserts, accessibility gaps, and land use contexts with high latent demand. • Review international best practices for transit improvements in cities of comparable size, including service design, fare policy, and first/last mile solutions. • Draft a research report with integrated data analysis, maps, and policy recommendations targeted at ETS planners and City of Edmonton decision-makers.
The intern will produce a draft research report of approximately 8,000 to 10,000 words analyzing transit ridership and accessibility in Edmonton, with comparative context from peer cities. The report will include an executive summary, data and methods section, empirical findings with maps and statistical tables, comparative analysis, and policy recommendations for ETS. The Cities Institute will publish the report and distribute it to the City of Edmonton and ETS. The intern will be credited as a contributing researcher and will deliver a presentation to Cities Institute partners.
Upon successful completion of the internship, the student will have: • Gained direct experience conducting applied urban economics research in a Canadian context. • Developed skills in data collection, quantitative or qualitative analysis, and evidence synthesis. • Produced a research report suitable for public release and professional portfolio use. • Built academic and professional networks in Canada, including connections to municipal, provincial, and industry partners of the Cities Institute. • Gained an appreciation for Canadian urban policy challenges and the role of applied research in addressing them. • Strengthened academic writing skills
Skills required: We are seeking a highly motivated senior undergraduate student with the following profile: • Strong academic writing skills in English; ability to communicate quantitative findings clearly in prose, tables, and charts. • Background in transportation engineering, urban planning, economics, geography, or a related quantitative discipline. • Quantitative skills including regression analysis; experience with R, Stata, or Python is required. • Familiarity with GTFS data or transit performance measurement is an asset. • Experience with GIS (ArcGIS or QGIS) for spatial analysis and mapping is desirable. • Interest in sustainable transportation, urban mobility, or the economics of public service delivery.
12. La gestion hygiénique des menstrues des personnes déplacées internes à Ouagadougou au Burkina Faso
Supervisor: Salmata Ouedraogo
University: Université du Québec à Chicoutimi
Location: Chicoutimi, Québec
Start date: 2027-05-03 (flexible)
Disciplines: Economics, Development Studies, Womens Studies, Sociology
La gestion hygiénique des menstrues (GHM) a une incidence sur la santé physique et psychosociale des femmes, sur l'exercice de leurs droits et la réponse à leurs besoins socioéconomiques, de même que sur leur santé sexuelle et reproductive, notamment dans les cas où elles se voient contraintes d'échanger des relations sexuelles pour des produits menstruels; problématiques aggravées par les réalités du déplacement forcé. Sommer et al. 2021 avancent aussi que la GHM est directement et indirectement liée à l'ensemble des 17 Objectifs de développement durable 2030, bien qu'elle continue à être sous-financée et sous-investie en contexte de développement international. Peu de recherches ont été effectuées à ce jour concernant la GHM des personnes déplacées internes (PDI) dans le monde (Ivanova, Rai & Kemigisha 2018), et à notre connaissance aucune n'a encore été conduite au Burkina Faso, qui compte près de 440 855 femmes déplacées internes concernées directement par la GHM. Question de recherche: Quels sont les besoins, objectifs et réalités spécifiques des PDI menstruées de Ouagadougou, et comment peuvent-ils guider des interventions multi-sectorielles adaptées et pertinentes pour la GHM dans ces camps? Par une approche de recherche féministe et participative, cette recherche souhaite: 1. Soutenir la production de données probantes sur les besoins, objectifs et réalités spécifiques concernant la GHM des PDI participantes à partir de leurs témoignages mais aussi en sollicitant les points de vue d'informateurs-clés. 2. Accompagner des organisations de promotion des droits des femmes et des filles pour mobiliser des interventions multi-sectorielles en soutien à la GHM dans les camps à Ouagadougou.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Économie du développement, économie du genre.
Student roles: Dans ce projet, la personne étudiante sera formée à analyser des données d’entrevues. Il devra également participer à la présentation et discussion des résultats. Avant le début des tâches du projet, l’étudiant recevra une formation sur les normes et règlements en matière de santé et de sécurité, le cas échéant. La personne étudiante apprendra à fonctionner au sein d’une équipe de chercheurs et de professionnels hautement qualifiés et sera encouragée à parler librement avec les autres membres de l’équipe. La personne étudiante devra présenter les résultats du projet à un groupe de chercheurs et à d’autres personnes étudiantes diplômées à la fin du trimestre.
Skills required: Maîtrise de la recherche qualitative; connaissance des logiciels : Excel et NVIVO. La connaissance d’autres logiciels de recherche qualitative est un atout.
13. Leadership for Learning: Principal Time Allocation to Improve Student Learning
The goal of ensuring that all children are learning is a central challenge to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 4. However, students in the Global South are not learning foundational skills, leading to a cumulative skills deficit referred to as the “learning crisis”. Research consistently positions instructional leadership as a powerful predictor of school effectiveness as it enables principals to move beyond administrative management and actively shape a coherent academic environment to address students’ learning needs. Despite robust evidence that instructional leadership, focused on teaching and learning, is a key driver of school improvement, principals are overwhelmingly consumed by administrative and managerial tasks. Data from the OECD’s TALIS survey confirms that principals spend a majority of their time on compliance-oriented paperwork. This misalignment between evidence-based instructional leadership practices and on-the-ground reality of principals’ daily tasks creates a barrier to improving student learning. The aim of this project is to conduct a proof-of-concept study with Global School Leaders (GSL), an international non-profit that strengthens school leadership across 15 countries through training, coaching, support, research, and advocacy. The study aims to understand and address the constraints preventing school leaders from fulfilling their instructional leadership role and support them to address the learning crisis. Building on a longstanding relationship with GSL, the project will use a participatory co-creation approach to pursue the research in Brazil, where GSL has worked on building capacity of more than 4000 school leaders in 18 states since 2022.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My research is focused on the role of educational leadership and management on educational access. I build on scholarship which argues that improving educational outcomes in settings constrained by material resources requires improving leadership and management of education systems. Theoretically, my research draws from the disciplines of economics, organizational sociology, public policy, and international and comparative education that together, offer a deep understanding of the individual and organization-level factors that contribute to inequality in educational systems and provide insights into the ways in which these inequalities can be addressed.
Student roles: 1. Map roles and responsibilities of school leaders: Conduct a desk review of national and selected state and municipality-level policy documents on school leadership roles, responsibilities, and expectations, with a focus on teaching and learning tasks. 2. Analyze time-use information from school-leaders: Analyze the time-use data using core metrics, such as proportion of total workday or week spent on a certain task, frequency and duration of particular tasks, and fragmentation i.e., the number of task switches per day. Compare these statistics across different individual, school, and institutional level characteristics using simple correlational analysis and t-tests. Merge time-use data data with publicly available assessment data (Sistema Nacional de Avaliacao da Educacao Basica (SAEB)) for lower-secondary grades 5 and 9 for math and language-Portuguese and support the principal investigators in running school-level regressions to understand which tasks predict learning achievement. 3. Reports and knowledge mobilization: Draft reports based on the analysis of roles and responsibilities of school leaders and how they align with their time-use data. Make suggestions on how school leader support and training materials can incorporate the findings of the study.
Skills required: 1. Knowledge synthesis: Ability to review and map national/state policy documents on school leaders’ instructional roles using rudimentary qualitative coding. 2. Quantitative data analysis: Proficiency in Stata/R to analyze time-use metrics, merge datasets, run t-tests, correlations, and school-level regressions predicting outcomes. 3. Policy writing & knowledge mobilization: Skill in drafting reports that compare policy vs. actual time-use, translating regression findings into actionable recommendations. Knowledge of Portuguese is an asset.
14. Urban Crime, Disorder, and the Gap Between Perception and Reality
Supervisor: Murtaza Haider
University: University of Alberta (Edmonton campus)
Urban safety is a defining concern for residents, businesses, and municipal governments across Canada. In cities like Edmonton, public discourse about crime often diverges sharply from what official statistics reveal. Perceptions of disorder — shaped by media coverage, social media, and personal experience — frequently exceed measured rates of crime, yet these perceptions have real consequences: they suppress downtown activity, deter investment, reduce transit ridership, and undermine the social fabric of neighbourhoods. Understanding this gap between perceived and actual safety is analytically and practically important. The Cities Institute is engaged in ongoing research on public safety perceptions in Edmonton, including the production of fact-checking materials and policy briefs. This project will extend that work into a rigorous empirical and comparative analysis.
This project aims to achieve the following specific objectives:
• Compile and analyse Edmonton Police Service crime data by neighbourhood and offence category for the period 2015 to 2026.
• Review public perception survey data, media content, and social media discourse on crime in Edmonton to characterize the perception-reality gap.
• Conduct a comparative analysis with Calgary and at least one other Canadian city to assess whether Edmonton's safety challenges are distinctive or representative of a broader pattern.
• Identify the neighbourhood, demographic, and socioeconomic factors most strongly associated with elevated crime rates and elevated fear of crime.
• Review evidence-based municipal interventions — including CPTED, community policing, social services integration, and lighting improvements — and assess their applicability to Edmonton.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: The Cities Institute at the University of Alberta's Alberta School of Business is a leading applied urban research centre. Under the leadership of Professor Murtaza Haider, the Institute conducts rigorous, evidence-based research on housing markets, downtown revitalization, public safety, transportation economics, infrastructure finance, and municipal policy. Our work bridges academic inquiry and actionable policy, serving municipalities, provincial governments, private-sector partners, and civil society across Alberta and Canada.
GRI interns hosted by the Cities Institute will be embedded in active research projects, work directly with Professor Haider and affiliated researchers, and contribute to polished research reports released by the Cities Institute.
Student roles: The intern will undertake the following activities over the 12-week period: • Assemble a spatially referenced crime dataset from Edmonton Police Service open data, Statistics Canada, and comparable sources for peer cities. • Perform neighbourhood-level statistical analysis to identify spatial clustering of crime and to test associations with land use, demographic, and economic variables. • Conduct a structured review of media and public perception data, drawing on available surveys (e.g., the Edmonton Social Planning Council's Citizen Dashboard) and news content analysis. • Review the academic literature on crime perception gaps, urban disorder, and place-based safety interventions. • Draft a research report structured around the key analytical questions, with integrated tables, maps, and policy-relevant conclusions.
The intern will produce a draft research report of approximately 8,000 to 10,000 words examining the gap between actual and perceived safety in Edmonton, with comparative reference to peer cities. The report will include an executive summary accessible to a non-specialist audience, a data section with original maps and tables, a policy analysis section, and actionable recommendations for the City of Edmonton. The intern will present findings to Cities Institute partners. The report will be published as a Cities Institute research brief, with the intern credited.
Upon successful completion of the internship, the student will have: • Gained direct experience conducting applied urban economics research in a Canadian context. • Developed skills in data collection, quantitative or qualitative analysis, and evidence synthesis. • Produced a research report suitable for public release and professional portfolio use. • Built academic and professional networks in Canada, including connections to municipal, provincial, and industry partners of the Cities Institute. • Gained an appreciation for Canadian urban policy challenges and the role of applied research in addressing them. • Strengthened their academic writing, data visualization, and oral presentation skills.
Skills required: We are seeking a highly motivated senior undergraduate student with the following profile: • Strong academic writing skills in English, with demonstrated ability to write for both academic and policy audiences. • Background in criminology, sociology, urban planning, public policy, economics, or a related discipline. • Quantitative skills; experience with statistical analysis (R or Stata preferred) and basic spatial analysis is an asset. • Ability to work with large administrative datasets and to clean, merge, and summarize data from multiple sources. • Critical thinking skills sufficient to distinguish between empirical evidence and popular narrative. • Interest in urban public safety,