Zoe McKnight
Precarious employment, labour, the future of work
Before beginning your studies at the Institute of Political Economy where did you study and what program(s) were you enrolled in?
I have a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Waterloo and a Master of Journalism from Ryerson University.
What is it specifically that attracted you to study Political Economy at Carleton?
Its interdisciplinary structure. It’s also one of the very few Political Economy programs offered in Canada.
My areas of research interest include…
The future of work, especially precarious employment and its social consequences.
What other activities have you been involved in lately?
Professionally, I’ve been researching labour rights protection in global supply chains for the Canadian Labour Congress, mining employment in the North for a Carleton professor, and aspects of modernizing the federal labour code for a government department. Academically, I am starting to tackle my thesis.
What advice would you give to a prospective Political Economy graduate student?
Spend some time thinking about your thesis or MRP topic very early on, because it can help guide your decision-making and priorities, and make sure it’s a topic you won’t get bored with.