HEAL Spotlight: Josh Grignon

Josh’s research examines how governments and private-sector actors collaborate around climate-resilient infrastructure in Ontario, Canada. This work considers how these relationships are shaped through policy and practice, with particular attention to their implications for infrastructure planning and climate adaptation.

Using a constructivist grounded theory approach, his dissertation moves from analysis of international policy frameworks to municipal and industry documents and then to interviews with professionals across the public and private sectors. His research also explores how generative artificial intelligence can support qualitative analysis while maintaining methodological transparency and researcher oversight. Large language models are used as research aids, while interpretation, reflexive judgement, and final analytic decisions remain researcher-led.

What Josh Enjoys Most About Working with HEAL:

Although HEAL primarily focuses on health geography, the lab has given Josh the flexibility to pursue research that extends into adjacent areas, particularly climate adaptation and infrastructure. He values the space to approach research from a practical and interdisciplinary perspective, including exploring emerging methods such as artificial intelligence and reflecting critically on how graduate training can better prepare researchers for careers beyond academia. HEAL has provided an environment where these interests can be developed alongside more traditional academic research.