Research Intern , Institute for Northern Housing Innovation (INHI)

Required Position

Grant appointment until September 08, 2027 This position is designated as one that requires a variable work schedule. However, it is understood that your work week will consist of 35 hours.

Responsibilities

 

This opportunity is proudly supported by Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation and is funded through the Workforce Development Program. Eligibility requirements of the program can be found here: https://nohfc.ca/en/pages/programs/people-talent-program/workforce-development-stream

Laurentian University’s Institute for Northern Housing Innovation (INHI), located at the McEwen School of Architecture, is seeking a Research Intern to support interdisciplinary research and development focused on sustainable, affordable, and technologically advanced housing solutions for the North. 

Working with faculty researchers, students, technical staff, industry partners, and community organizations, the Research Intern will contribute to projects involving prefabricated construction, bio-based building materials, building-performance analysis, automation, robotics, machine vision, and sensor-based monitoring. The position combines applied research, digital design, prototyping, testing, data analysis, and knowledge mobilization within the Institute’s living lab environment. 

• Support the design, development and testing of prefabricated building assemblies.
• Assist in the design and implementation of automated construction processes, including robotic systems and CDPR-based assembly workflows.
• Assist in the development and integration of machine vision and sensor systems to support real-time monitoring and precision placement of building components.
• Conduct research on sustainable housing models, including embodied and operational carbon analysis, bio-based materials, and regional supply chains.
• Collect, analyze, and visualize data from material testing, environmental sensors.
• Contribute to prototyping activities, including digital fabrication, assembly, and iterative design processes.
• Support community-based and industry-facing demonstration projects showcasing innovative housing solutions.
• Assist in the preparation of reports, research publications, and presentation materials. 
• Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings. 
• Support knowledge mobilization efforts, including workshops, training sessions, and public outreach activities. 
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• A degree in Architecture, Engineering or Computer Science
• One (1) to two (2) years of relevant  experience.
• Experience with computer-aided design, computational design and building information modelling OR experience with programming (Python, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript) and familiarity with robotic systems, industrial automation, cable robots, machine vision, sensors, or control systems.
•  An interest in sustainable housing, prefabrication, low-carbon construction, advanced manufacturing, robotics, and building-performance research.
• Experience with, or a willingness to learn, research methods, prototyping, material testing, digital fabrication, data collection, and technical documentation.
• Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within an interdisciplinary research environment. 
• Ability to work fluently (verbal and written) in both official languages, French and English, is an asset.

Applications are being accepted to fill an active vacancy within the University.

***We are aware that some applicants are experiencing difficulty using our careers portal. Should you complete an application through our online form and receive an error, please submit your application to careers@laurentian.ca***

The official University hours of operation shall be from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, during, and including, the months from September to April, and from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m Monday through Friday during and including May to August., amounting to thirty-three and three-quarter (33.75) hours per week. 

At Laurentian University, we recognize that work-life balance is essential for both personal well-being and professional success. Our policy offers employees some flexibility to better balance personal needs while maintaining effective service delivery.

Laurentian University is an inclusive and welcoming community committed to employment equity. Applications are encouraged from members of equity-seeking communities including women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities/expressions. Laurentian University’s bilingualism policy provides a provision regarding the language requirement for persons self-identifying as First Nations, Métis or Inuit. 

Laurentian University is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free experience to applicants with accessibility needs. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage during the recruitment process. Please contact Human Resources for more information (careers@laurentian.ca).

Apply Now

Applications will only be accepted through our online form.