An international scholarly network grounded in horizontal cross-mentorship and solidarity, advancing rigorous research and producing high-impact analysis on global affairs.
Tessera is an independent and non-partisan research collective based in Toronto. Operating as an international network, we are dedicated to the rigorous study of global affairs and international security, with particular attention to human security.
We operate on the conviction that macro-level political shifts are best understood through granular attention to local dynamics. This approach requires a commitment to area expertise and fieldwork-based observation, developed in close collaboration with scholars from the communities and contexts under study. Like the tesserae of a mosaic, the collective assembles precise and contextually grounded insights into a coherent picture of complex and evolving security challenges.
Tessera is dedicated to cultivating a collaborative research community and bridging the gap between scholarly inquiry and policy-relevant analysis in global affairs, international security, and human security. We support emerging and early-career scholars in producing rigorous, accessible, and contextually grounded research that speaks to real-world policy challenges across regions and disciplines.
1. The Collaborative Research Lab
At the core of our work is a model of horizontal cross-mentorship. We host regular Work-in-Progress (WIP) sessions where researchers at all levels engage in intensive peer review to ensure that every paper is refined through collective expertise.
2. Applied Research & Analysis
We help translate rigorous scholarship into research reports, policy briefings, and op-eds that address contemporary security dilemmas. By applying academic frameworks to real-world challenges, we produce analysis that is both theoretically grounded and directly relevant to research, policy, and practitioner communities.
3. Scholarly Exchange & Professional Development
We provide a platform for emerging scholars and early-career researchers to develop their professional profiles, share their work across institutional boundaries, and connect with wider academic and policy communities. We support our researchers by:
Navigating high-impact publication pathways, from collaborative submissions to peer-reviewed journals to rapid-response analysis across our own platforms.
Co-organizing conference panels at major international forums to showcase member research.
Hosting cross-institutional seminars and Work In Progress (WIP) sessions that connect our researchers with experts and policy practitioners.
Catherine Moez is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Leicester and King’s College London, currently working on a project on long-run public opinion on immigration in Europe. Previously (2024-2025),
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To complement our internal analysis, we recommend the following briefings and commentary from leading international affairs and global security platforms: The Globalist and The Foreign Desk by Monocle; Independent Thinking by Chatham House; and War on the Rocks.
The invitation link has been circulated by email; if you believe you should have received it but have not, please get in touch with us by email.
Tessera Research Collective is pleased to announce that Associate Professor of Practice Alaa Al-Aridi joins the leadership team as Senior Editor (International Law), overseeing and curating our publications in this field. Furthermore, we are delighted to welcome ten Research Fellows who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to international relations and human security. They will be starting in their roles as of June 1, 2026.
The Tessera Research Collective is pleased to host Joah McGee, founder of the humanitarian non-profit Better Burma and host of the Insight Myanmar Podcast.
Joah has maintained a nearly 20-year relationship with Myanmar, residing in the country from 2003 until 2021. During the period of direct military rule (2007–2011), he served as a Training Coordinator at the American Center (U.S. Embassy Yangon), where he designed educational programs focused on building capacity within an emerging civil society. Since its founding in 2019, his Insight Myanmar Podcast has become a primary English-language resource for in-depth analysis of the country’s political and spiritual landscape. International outlets, including Foreign Policy, The Diplomat, and ABC News, frequently cite the platform’s interviews with activists and local leaders.
Drawing from hundreds of interviews conducted before and after the 2021 coup, Joah will offer reflections on how grassroots agency is leveraged to strengthen human security and resilience in the face of systemic crisis. This 90-minute session is designed for early-career researchers looking to deepen their understanding of humanitarian challenges under military dictatorship.
Space is limited. Please RSVP.
Tessera’s team is organized around three core pillars: research and analysis, publishing and disseminating our work, and community building and strategic partnerships. A shared vision, coupled with active initiative and responsibility, serves as our primary baseline—bringing professors and early-career professionals, including PhD candidates and upper-year undergraduates, to the exact same table.
Tessera Research Collective brings together early-career researchers and practitioners working across international affairs and security studies. Participation involves contributing to Tessera’s research, editorial, outreach, or event activities, depending on the role. Participants attend periodic meetings, may be expected to contribute to work-in-progress sessions, support publications or events, and remain actively engaged with their assigned team. The expected time commitment varies by position, but participants typically spend 5–10 hours per week on their role. In return, participants gain opportunities to develop their research profile, receive editorial and peer feedback, expand their professional networks, and contribute to policy-relevant publications.
Share our vision but don’t see a specific role listed? We are always looking for exceptional talent — reach out.
Applications are open until June 15, 2026, for positions across Tessera’s Communications, Editorial, Strategy & Fundraising, Marketing, Outreach & Partnerships, and Research teams.
For upper-year undergraduate students, these opportunities are offered as three-month internships. For recent graduates and early-career professionals, placements may be arranged in accordance with applicants’ availability, qualifications, and Tessera’s organizational needs.
