The IMHR Forensic Research Unit (FRU) of the Institute of Mental Health Research is fully integrated with the Integrated Forensic Program (IFP) of the Royal Ottawa Health Care Group. The FRU is world renowned for clinical research focusing on the assessment and treatment of deviant sexual interests (sexual paraphilias) and research on violence and risk assessment. New initiatives include studies of co-morbid disorders that may contribute to the trajectories of criminal behaviours such as psychopathy, attention deficit disorder, major mental illness, intellectual disability, Asperger’s syndrome, and sleep disorders.
This a large and active program with research activities on two campuses in Ottawa and Brockville. The FRU maintains large databases from its Sexual Behaviours and Anger Clinics suitable to support Criminology memoires, theses or dissertations, peer reviewed publications and grant applications. It also has a variety of research projects at all stages of completion. The FRU frequently hosts experts from around the world and with the IFP presents courses on a variety of topics in Forensic psychiatry.
Summary of duties
- Students have the opportunity to conduct a clinical research project under the direct supervision of an experienced researcher and within an enthusiastic research team. Research can be conducted at any of the sites listed in the accompanying table. Students are strongly advised to attend one of the regular research meetings to get a better idea of the variety of research projects underway and planned.
- Supervised clinical exposure as part of research projects.
- With permission, student may audit monthly research ethics board meetings in order to see how ethical decisions about research are made from the inside.
- Space permitting, students will be invited to attend and participate in all the interdisciplinary activities offered by IMHR.
- This placement is designed to provide advanced hands-on research experience at the Masters level. Students will be assigned to an IMHR researcher who will supervise their research activities. Students will be expected to participate in research activities resulting in a memoire, theses, dissertation, and/or peer reviewed conference and paper publications.
- Data collected or analyzed during this placement remain the property of the IMHR. Publications must acknowledge the IMHR/IFP affiliation.
- Students must comply with the Research Ethics Board of the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Care Centre.
- Students will be expected to attend and participate in bi-weekly RUD research meetings.
Application process
- Only students registered in the Field Placement Program of the Department of Criminology at the University of Ottawa can apply for this placement.
- Students must obtain security clearance.
- Masters level placement. Undergraduate placement possible by special arrangement.
- Please contact the Field Placement Coordinator for further information on the application process: Joanne Cardinal, Field Placement Coordinator, Department of Criminology, University of Ottawa, 613.562.5800 extension 1808, joanne.cardinal@uottawa.ca