3 Mitacs Globalink (GRI) research projects for Summer 2027.
1. Assistance à la production d'un ouvrage (contribution théorique et pratique)
General purpose of the project: to contribute to the preliminary stages of the production of a monograph. The successful intern will have the opportunity to familiarize herself/himself with the main steps required for the publication of a book, from bibliographic collection to the preparation of a manuscript.
The intern will have the opportunity to contribute to the theoretical content of the book.
The first stage of this project might consist in compiling the relevant references, to assist with the transcription of the texts and page layout, to assist in the writing process, to assist in editing the manuscript.
This training will prove useful for those wishing to pursue a career as a researcher, since publication is an essential element in the dissemination of research.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Mélissa Thériault is professor at Department of Philosophy and Arts UQTR-Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières since 2013. She has published "Le vrai et le reste. Plaidoyer pour les arts populaires" in 2015. Her research interests include philosophy of art, popular culture and ethical considerations related to cultural industries and digital productions. She is also interested in the contribution of women to philosophy through literary and artistic contributions.
Student roles:
The tasks will include:
- collect articles in databases
-select relevant titles
-prepare a literature review
-participate to the writing process
- contribute to the preparation (layout) of the manuscript
-prepare and update the bibliography
Skills required:
-Knowledge in the history of philosophy (with interest for feminist theory).
-Writing skills (in French) and excellent grammar.
-English proficiency
-Functional knowledge of word processing software & databases
-Attention to detail.
-Basic knowledge of the usual editorial presentation standards (or a "strong will for learning")
-Professionalism and will to adapt to the host environement
-Ability to meet delivery times (deadlines will be realistic and will respect the capacities of the person selected for the internship).
2. Connaissance et affects chez Spinoza / Knowledge and Affects in Spinoza
Research projects are invited on any aspect of Spinoza's philosophy of mind or of knowledge, notably in relation to his ethics.
Here are some examples of possible topics in Spinoza:
- consciousness
- The emotions or affects
- Truth and error
- Imagination
- common notions
- Intuition
- Fictions and beings of reason
- The ontological status of mind in nature
- Personal identity (ingenium)
- etc.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: My area of specialization is early modern philosophy, particularly the philosophies of Descartes and Spinoza. I have published several books and articles on these authors' theories of knowledge, conceptions of mind-body interaction, and on their views of the passions and sensation. In particular, I have developped a theory of consciousness in Spinoza which is linked to his conception of affects and to the progress in knowledge.
Student roles:
The student will do readings on his or her subject. The professor will share her research with him or her and will initiate him of her to: 1) completing a bibliographical search in electronic specialized catalogs, 2) using electronic bibliographies such as Endnote. The student will be able to participate in a French-speaking reading group in early modern philosophy with other students interested in 17th and 18th-century philosophy. An understanding of how research and teaching work in Canada will also be provided. Although the research can be completely conducted in English with the professor, the student will be able to take advantage of the French-speaking milieu in order to improve his or her linguistic competences in French.
Skills required:
- Being registered in a philosophy degree at the university.
- Desire to specialize oneself on Spinoza.
- Personal qualities: being dynamic and open-minded (UQTR is a very sociable environment in which students activively contribute to departmental life).
3. Préparation d'un manuel universitaire sur la morale à la période moderne (17e-18e s.)
Les stagiaires auront la chance de participer à un projet novateur: la création d'un manuel universitaire numérique ayant un contenu multimédia (texte, vidéos, images) et multidisciplinaire sur la morale à la période moderne, particulièrement la question de l'amour-propre. L'intérêt premier pour soi est-il la trace de la corruption définitive de la nature humaine, comme le croient les jansénistes ou Blaise Pascal, ou un élément neutre moralement conféré par Dieu pour garantir la survie individuelle et qu'il s'agit d'éduquer pour en tirer tous les avantages, comme le croient les jésuites ou les rationalistes cartésiens? Le manuel développera différentes positions philosophiques sur cette question aux 17e et 18e siècles. Le projet de recherche consiste à mettre en forme les chapitres et leurs illustrations multimédias.
Research area, student roles & skills
Research area: Spécialiste de la philosophie de Spinoza, je m'intéresse plus généralement aux passions, aux relations entre l'esprit et le corps et aux sensations à la période moderne, particulièrement au XVIIe siècle.
Student roles:
- Recherches d'informations à la fois textuelles et multimédias reliées au projet éditorial d'un manuel en philosophie morale moderne (XVIIe-XVIIIe s.) centré autour de la question de l'amour-propre.
- Édition formelle (mise en page).
- Préparation de résumés-synthèse de textes.
- Recherches bibliographiques.
- Correction des épreuves.
Skills required:
Les étudiants doivent avoir une excellente maîtrise du français leur permettant de rédiger et de réviser des textes en français. Ils participeront aux recherches de matériel multimédia pour la préparation d'un manuel de cours numérique de niveau universitaire sur la question de l'amour-propre et de l'amour de soi. Des connaissances en philosophie et/ou en théologie reliées au XVIIe siècle sont un atout (querelles entre jansénistes et jésuites autour de la nature humaine et du péché originel). Je souhaite travailler avec des personnes entreprenantes et autonomes.