Social Sciences at uOttawa | Professor Virginie Cobigo’s Award-Winning Research

The Faculty of Social Sciences is honoured to announce that Professor Virginie Cobigo has been awarded the Excellence in Research Award. This award recognizes her exceptional contributions to the discipline of psychology in the domains of social inclusion and cognitive accessibility.

Virginie Cobigo is a full professor at the School of Psychology of the Faculty of Social Sciences who also serves as a registered clinical psychologist with the College of Psychologists of Ontario. Her outstanding academic career includes 70 peer-reviewed articles in both English and French. Professor Cobigo’s research success is reflected in the funding she has received: over $4 million as principal investigator and over $48 million as a co-investigator. She was also awarded the CHEO (Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario) Research Chair in Children and Youth Mental Health (2015-2022). In 2021, Professor Cobigo was honoured in the “uOttawa More Inclusion, Better Research: Inspiring Stories” competition for her groundbreaking work on inclusive excellence. She was also director of the Centre for Research on Educational and Community Services at the University of Ottawa for two years.

Professor Cobigo has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to inclusive excellence in research. She serves as a member of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for Research Advisory Committee. She has also lent her expertise to uOttawa’s Research Ethics Board by improving the cognitive accessibility of recruitment materials and consent forms. Furthermore, in collaboration with the AGE-WELL Network of Centres of Excellence, she has co-authored a handbook and a series of workshops to help foster the dissemination and uptake of inclusive research practices.

Outside of the Faculty, Professor Cobigo has been a reviewer for a number of peer-reviewed journals in her field and has served as an external reviewer for SSHRC, FRQSC, Mitacs, and other organizations.

Professor Cobigo conducts research that redefines social inclusion for people with cognitive disabilities. Her 2012 paper, “Shifting our conceptualization of social inclusion”, has been cited over 250 times, which testifies to its immense impact in the field. This innovative study has shaped how researchers understand and approach social inclusion.

The paper’s influence is evident in the words of other leading researchers in the field. One American lead author on the concept of social inclusion (Simplican) wrote: “Cobigo defined social inclusion with significant depth.” Similarly, another paper written by Overmars-Marx et al. stated: “We base our concept of social inclusion on the recent work of Cobigo and colleagues (2012) […] A more comprehensive approach is rare.” This research has become a cornerstone in the field, shaping how social inclusion is understood and studied.

Professor Cobigo’s influence extends far beyond academia. As founder and director of Open Collaboration for Cognitive Accessibility, also known as Open, she leads the world’s first and only social enterprise focused on growing inclusive research in cognitive accessibility. Hosted within the Faculty of Social Sciences, Open has already been approached and leveraged by several national government agencies and large private-sector organizations, including the Bank of Canada and Employment and Social Development Canada.

Professor Cobigo’s work has led to tangible improvements in workplace accessibility and digital currency usage for individuals with cognitive disabilities. Her research contributions at uOttawa have not only advanced theoretical understanding but also resulted in practical applications that directly benefit society.

“Our goal is to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and the lived experiences of persons with cognitive disabilities,” said Professor Cobigo. “By doing so, we can create more inclusive and accessible environments for everyone.”

The Excellence in Research Award is designed and managed by the Faculty of Social Sciences. Every year, distinguished teaching personnel are celebrated for their exceptional research work. Candidates are evaluated based on a number of criteria: the quality of their publications, contributions to their field, international reputation, knowledge mobilization efforts, impact on the intellectual life of their unit and the Faculty, graduate student supervision, and unique research characteristics. The recipient receives a research assistantship and funding to support their significant achievements and contributions to the Faculty’s research landscape.

Visit Collabzium to learn more about Professor Virginie Cobigo’s work and other exciting research in the social sciences. Explore the innovative social sciences research at the University of Ottawa's Faculty of Social Sciences, where excellence in research continues to drive positive change in our communities.