Are You a Caregiver, Person with a Disability, or Someone Who Works with People with Disabilities? We'd Love to Work with You!
Our research lab is passionate about improving the lives of individuals with physical and complex disabilities through innovative, community-driven research. We are actively seeking partnerships with caregivers, people with disabilities, and the professionals and organizations that support them.
We are especially interested in collaborating with community organizations focused on health and wellness, as well as individuals living with physical and complex disabilities. Your lived experiences and perspectives are invaluable to our work, and your voice can help shape research that truly makes a difference.
Do you enjoy leisure and social activities like video games, group recreation, or other play-based experiences? We are exploring how these activities can promote well-being, connection, and quality of life for people with disabilities. Whether you are someone who loves gaming, a caregiver looking for new engagement strategies, or a professional seeking evidence-based recreational tools, we want to hear from you.
If you or your organization are interested in participating in or partnering with our research, please don't hesitate to reach out. Together, we can create meaningful, inclusive experiences that matter.
Student Opportunities
Contract Research Assistantships: I provide a small number of funded research assistantships to undergraduate and graduate students for helping out with research projects on a term basis. Position availability is based on research needs and funding, typically one position per term.
Master’s and PhD: The Stratford School currently does not offer research graduate programs. However, I co-supervise graduate students in Systems Design Engineering and Management Sciences and Engineering at the University of Waterloo and in the Human-Computer Interaction program at Carleton University. You must satisfy the admission requirements of the program that you are applying to. You can find the official application process on the program’s web pages.
Express your interest to join: If you are interested in joining our lab for either opportunity, please email Professor Karen Cochrane. The email is a statement of interest only and not a formal application to the university.
In your email, please state:
- The type of position you are applying to (see Current Opportunities).
- The research project and topic that you are potentially interested in working on.
- Whether you are a domestic (Canadian citizen or permanent resident) or an international student.
Include the following supplementary materials:
- A resume or curriculum vitae
- A copy of a piece of writing on any topic. It can be academic (published article or class essay) or non-academic (blog post or online article).
I always appreciate interested students in applying. However, due to the volume of emails I get, I will only reply to qualified applicants.
If I am not a good fit, I encourage you to contact other research faculty at the Stratford School.