Mark Mattner

Mark Mattner completed his PhD in Political Science at McGill University in 2012. His research explored the role of multinational oil companies in local governance, service delivery and violence in the Niger Delta. During the academic year 2011/12, Mark was a Visiting Scholar at the Institute for the Study of Human Rights at Columbia University, where he focused more broadly on corporate social responsibility in the extractive industry sector. Prior to commencing his PhD, Mark worked with the World Bank and UNHCR on programs in conflict-affected and fragile states. He holds an M.Phil. in Development Studies from the University of Oxford and a BA in Politics and Economics from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).

Experience as a Trudeau Scholar

Being a Trudeau Scholar has been a wonderful opportunity. Both the quality of my research and my personal experience as a doctoral student benefitted tremendously from this experience. The generous financial support allowed me to engage deeply with my research and to conduct extensive fieldwork. In doing so, I was able to “look beyond” and ask questions that were related to my research area but not necessarily a component of my dissertation. Attending Foundation events also exposed me to many interesting issues that I had previously known only very little about. I learned a great deal from interacting with fellow scholars and mentors. This was not only enjoyable but also resulted in a number of very tangible improvements to my research. I look forward to continuing these interactions in the future.