University of Toronto

To be eligible to be a Reach researcher, you must be an undergraduate or graduate student who is registered for the full next academic year (Fall & Winter 2026-27) at the University of Toronto. Reach researchers are recruited from a variety of disciplines and academic backgrounds, such as: engineering, business, law, global affairs & public policy, public health, medicine, social sciences, and more. Our research teams are interdisciplinary and collaborative, bringing together diverse perspectives that enrich the research process. Students learn from one another and gain valuable experience that prepares them for future teamwork and leadership in the workplace.

Should you experience any technical difficulties during the completion or submission of your application, please email reachalliance.munk@utoronto.ca with the subject line LastName, FirstName — Application Portal Technical Issue.  

The Reach Alliance is committed to building on initiatives that address systemic and structural barriers that impede access to opportunities for participation in the learning and scholarly activities as outlined in its Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Charter. If you require an accommodation to apply or participate in the interview process, please contact us at reachalliance.munk@utoronto.ca.

Current undergraduate and graduate students from across U of T (must be enrolled during the next full academic year to be eligible) can apply. Past Reach researchers have been recruited from a variety of academic backgrounds, such as: engineering, business, law, global affairs & public policy, public health, medicine, humanities and more.

All researchers are recruited in accordance with Reach’s Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Charter

You will work with a team to conduct secondary, data-driven research on development initiatives that have done well at reaching marginalized, underserved communities. When travel is permitted, researchers then spend 1-2 weeks in the field, conducting in-depth interviews with stakeholders. Once primary research is completed, teams write a case report, highlighting actionable insights uncovered during the research process.

In the event that teams do travel, it depends on which case study team you are placed on.

When teams are permitted to travel, The Reach Alliance pays for your travel costs, including flights, accommodation, vaccinations* and visas. We also provide a per diem to cover expenses that occur on the ground.

This is an unpaid research position. The option to get course credit may be available and is dependent on student’s academic unit. Reach researchers will be responsible for liaising with Reach Alliance staff and their home department to explore this opportunity early in the onboarding process.

During the academic year, you will meet with your case study team on a bi-weekly basis at minimum. These meetings typically take place during business hours or in the evenings, but meetings can also take place in the morning and occasionally on weekends. You will also be expected to attend bi-weekly professional development workshops that are hosted during the workday, in the evenings, and occasionally on weekends. In addition, students are also expected to attend regular performance coaching sessions with their team performance coach. The workload will increase as the primary research period begins in the winter term. This busy time period will overlap with your final exams and assignments in the winter term, so researchers will need to possess excellent time management skills.

After primary data collection is complete, student researchers work with their team to write the case study report. The case study report will be written in the Spring and Summer term (May – June).

When permitted, fieldwork is expected to take place during April or May 2026, so researchers have to be willing to travel during those months. Fieldwork typically occurs for 1-2 weeks.

Due to the demanding workload, and the requirement for ongoing communication among teammates, we unfortunately can’t accept researchers who will be on exchange.

Reach Alliance case studies are not intended for publication in academic journals. Your team will prepare a written report that is made available online for free. After their case study report is completed, Reach researchers may choose to collaborate and produce additional deliverables, including manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals or op-ed articles.