Tenure track position in comparative physiology – University of Ottawa

The Department of Biology at the University of Ottawa invites applications for a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor. The successful candidate will demonstrate the potential to build an internationally recognized and externally funded research program that fully engages trainees at all levels, building collaborations within and beyond our collegial, research-intensive department. Candidates must be able to teach in both French and English at the time of hiring at undergraduate and graduate levels. The starting date is July 1, 2025.
For this position in comparative physiology, we are seeking candidates interested in physiological mechanisms using integrative approaches linking the cell to the whole animal or at the interface with the field of ecology and evolution. Although our interests are broad, we are particularly interested in candidates researching the physiology of invertebrates in changing environments, one of the established and growing areas of expertise in the Department. The successful candidate will join an established group of comparative physiologists working on diverse research areas using invertebrate and vertebrate models.

The successful candidate will join a research-intensive, growing Department of 40 researchers working in a wide range of fields, including cell and molecular biology, physiology, ecotoxicology, neuroscience, developmental biology, ecology and conservation, evolutionary biology, bioinformatics, and science education. The Department maintains close collaborations with researchers at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, the University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute, the Ottawa Heart Institute, Carleton University, federal science departments and agencies, and the Canadian Museum of Nature. The Faculty of Science provides access to core facilities for molecular biology, genomics, chemistry, microscopy and aquatic animal care to all its members.

Title of the position: Assistant Professor

Duties: Responsibilities include: 1) maintaining a robust, externally funded research program; 2) supervision of graduate and undergraduate student thesis projects in the Department; 3) teaching undergraduate and graduate courses that contribute to the bilingual (English-French) Biology or Biomedical Sciences curriculum; and 4) performing an active role within the Department by contributing to administrative and academic activities of the Department, and Faculty of Science.
Rank and salary: Regular tenure-track academic appointment in the Faculty of Science, with a salary consistent with the collective agreement of the Association of Professors of the University of Ottawa. The base salary for assistant professors is $94,588 (May 1, 2023 salary scale).

Required qualifications: PhD in Biology or a related discipline. Postdoctoral experience is expected. A demonstrated track record of research excellence must be clearly presented, along with commitment and strategies for teaching and graduate training. The candidate must be able to teach in both French and English, the two official languages of the University, at the time of hiring.

Application package: More information regarding Academic Careers can be found online.
Applications must be submitted electronically through the University of Ottawa Careers portal.
Candidates should include the following in their application:

  • A one-page cover letter formally expressing interest in the position and including a statement demonstrating their ability to teach in French and English
  • A full curriculum vitae (please include career interruptions such as parental or sick leaves that may have impacted your record of research. These will be taken into consideration in the selection process)
  • A detailed research plan (3 pages maximum)
  • A statement of teaching interests and how principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion will be included in training of research group members (1 page)
  • Contact information of three references
  • Three peer-reviewed publications
  • Self-Identification Form: The University of Ottawa is committed to ensuring equity, diversity and inclusion in the scholarly and leadership environments of our students, staff, and faculty

Application deadline: Review of applications will begin March 15, 2025. Applications received before this date will receive full consideration. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Contact information:

Chair, Department of Biology, 30 Marie Curie Private, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, biochair.assistant@uottawa.ca. Telephone: 613-562-5729, fax: 613-562-5486

Location of work: Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie Curie Private, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5.

Other information: The University of Ottawa is proud of its more than 160-year tradition of bilingualism. Through its Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute, the University provides training to staff members and to their spouses in their second official language. Located on the unceded ancestral territory of the Anishinabee-Algonquin people, the University of Ottawa is at the heart of Canada’s capital with unparalleled opportunity for collaborations with governmental agencies for funding and samples (e.g., Canadian Museum of Nature, GSC).

In accordance with government policy, all qualified candidates are invited to apply; however, preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. When submitting your application, please indicate if you are legally entitled to work in Canada. The University of Ottawa is committed to ensuring equity, diversity and inclusion in the scholarly and leadership environments of our students, staff, and faculty. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples in Canada, visible minority members (racialized persons), persons with disabilities, women and all qualified applicants with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with equitable, diverse and inclusive communities.
Applicants who wish to be considered as a member of one or more designated groups are asked to complete the confidential Self-Identification Questionnaire when they apply.

The University of Ottawa provides accommodations for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you are invited to proceed in the selection process, please notify us of any accommodations that you require by contacting the Office of the Vice-Provost, Faculty Relations at vra.affairesprofessorales@uottawa.ca. Any information you send us will be handled respectfully and in complete confidence.

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Postdoctoral positions: neural circuits underlying motor skill acquisition – Chen lab – University of Ottawa

The Chen Lab at the Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Ottawa is seeking candidates for two postdoctoral positions in molecular/system neuroscience.
The Chen lab is specialized in combining chronic in vivo imaging (two-photon microscopy, fiber photometry, GRIN lens imaging) with genetic and molecular approaches to dissect how cell type- and projection-specific plasticity orchestrate long-lasting structural and functional reorganization of the brain’s circuitry in normal and disease brains (Yin et al., Nature Neuroscience 2021; Lee et al., eLife 2022; Yang et al., Neuron 2022).
https://www.schenlabuottawa.com/

Key Responsibilities:

  • Lead a project that identifies the roles of specialized gene expression programs in distinct excitatory and inhibitory neuron subtypes during motor learning.
  • Utilize in vivo imaging techniques to monitor neural activity in cortical and/or subcortical regions
  • Analyze data from molecular, genetic, and behavioral experiments.
  • Collaborate with lab members and interdisciplinary teams within uOttawa’s growing neuroscience community.

Qualifications:

  • PhD in neuroscience or a related field.
  • Experience with molecular biology, RNAseq, and mouse behavior
  • Experience with coding is an asset (e.g., Python, MATLAB).
  • A strong track record with neuroscience research in peer-reviewed journals.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.

The researcher will join uOttawa’s Brain and Mind Research Institute (Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine; Faculty of Medicine). The neuroscience community is fast expanding, highly dynamic and offers a rich array of collaborative opportunities. For more information about the Brain and Mind Research Institute, visit: https://www.uottawa.ca/research-innovation/brain

Ottawa, the capital of Canada, is a green, vibrant, multi-cultural city that offers the highest standard of living in the country and ranks second worldwide for quality of life (Numbeo index, 2015). The city features numerous parks, including the UNESCO World Heritage Rideau Canal and is surrounded by an extensive greenbelt. This bilingual, culturally-rich city lies at the border of Quebec and Ontario and is within driving distance of Montréal and Toronto.
Interested candidates should submit electronically as a single PDF file to Dr. Simon Chen at schen2@uottawa.ca. Applications will be considered until a suitable candidate is found.

Please include:

  • A personal statement describing research interests, experience, and goals (<2 pages)
  • A complete curriculum vitae
  • Names and contact information of three references

Contact information

Dr. Simon Chen
schen2@uottawa.ca

Principal Investigator in neurodevelopment/Assistant Professor – CHU Sainte-Justine Azrieli Research Centre, Université de Montréal

The CHU Sainte-Justine Azrieli Research Centre (CHUSJ-ARC), in partnership with the Department of Neurosciences of the Université de Montréal (UdeM; Montreal, Quebec, Canada), is seeking applicants for a principal investigator position at the rank of Research Assistant Professor in the field of neurobiology, with a focus on linking neurodevelopment to neural circuit function and dysfunction.

CHUSJ-ARC and UdeM are committed to developing world-class expertise in developmental neurosciences. The new principal investigator will play a pivotal role in complementing the research strengths of CHUSJ-ARC in this area. With clinical programs specialized in neurodevelopmental disorders, including intellectual disabilities, autism, and epilepsy, CHUSJ has identified the study of the mechanisms leading to neurodevelopmental diseases as a priority and has made substantial investments to support large initiatives and institutional platforms for the study of these disorders. Its “Brain and Child Development” research axis assembles experts studying cellular and network mechanisms underlying normal behavior, learning, and cortical plasticity, as well as the biological bases of epilepsy, intellectual disability, autism, and CNS malformations.

We are seeking an outstanding scientist to establish and build an internationally competitive program in the areas of neurodevelopment using novel, cutting-edge approaches. The applicant’s research program should address fundamental biological questions relevant to developmental brain disorders at the circuit, cellular, or molecular levels, and complement and/or extend the CHUSJ-ARC and Department’s existing research strengths in nervous system development and neurodevelopmental disorders. We are interested in all aspects of neurodevelopment, ranging from the molecular regulation of early development to probing synaptic and network functions in vivo.

The candidate will have the opportunity to collaborate with other research groups within the network of the Faculty of Medicine and the larger Montreal neurosciences community. Montreal has one of the largest neuroscience communities in North America and is a vibrant, international, and welcoming city full of “joie de vivre,” with great food, diverse and creative musical and cultural scenes, and inspiring outdoor activities.

We expect appointees to conduct vigorous independent research and to participate in undergraduate and graduate teaching and training.

Applicants must hold a Ph.D. degree, with postdoctoral experience and a strong publication record. Candidates will be expected to develop an innovative, internationally recognized, externally funded research program and to contribute to teaching and to the academic life of the CHUSJ and UdeM.

Applications must be submitted electronically atannie.theoret.hsj@ssss.gouv.qc.ca . Applications received by February 15, 2025 will be given priority consideration, but the position will remain open until filled. Applications should include a cover letter, curriculum vitae and a statement of research interests (3-page limit). Applicants will also need to give the name of three references that can be contacted by UdeM and CHUSJ-ARC.

About the CHU Saint-Justine Azrieli Research Centre

CHUSJ is the largest mother-child center in Canada. With more than 1,400 researchers, students and employees, the dynamic and cutting-edge research performed at CHUSJ-ARC aims at deciphering the mechanisms underlying disease as well as developing new diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive tools to continually improve quality of life and care for children and their mother. For more information, please visit us athttp://recherche.chusj.org/en/Home

About Université de Montréal

The Université de Montréal is one of the leading research universities in Canada. Together with its two affiliated schools, HEC Montréal and École Polytechnique, it constitutes one of the largest centres of higher education in North America. For more information, please visit www.umontreal.ca.

About Faculty of Medicine

An internationally renowned institution the Faculty of Medicine has the threefold mission of education, research and the improvement of health in the areas of clinical sciences, basic sciences and health sciences. It has 16 departments, two schools and more than 700 professors (excluding clinical professors), serving more than 6000 students. A third of the physicians in Québec and a large number of health professionals in the province have been trained at the Université de Montréal’s Faculty of Medicine.

Contact information

Mrs. Annie Théoret
e-mail: annie.theoret.hsj@ssss.gouv.qc.ca

Graduate Student position at the Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan.

Are you passionate about understanding the mechanisms of neurological diseases? The Myelin in Neurotoxicity and Neurodegenerative Diseases Lab (MynndLab) at the Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences (DVBMS), University of Saskatchewan, is recruiting motivated graduate trainees (MSc or PhD).

About MynndLab: Our research focuses on unraveling the mechanisms behind myelin sheath disruption caused by exposure to potentially toxic elements. We investigate how environmental neurotoxicants contribute to oxidative stress, oligodendrocyte vulnerability, and the pathogenesis of demyelination. We also seek to unravel the molecular and cellular mechanisms surrounding myelin sheath disruption in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Our goal is to contribute to the development of strategies for preventing and repairing myelin damage (Visit our lab website at olamideadebiyi.org for more details).

Requirements: : A bachelor’s (for MSc candidates) or Master’s (PhD applicants) degree in neuroscience, biology, biomedical sciences, or a related field. Applicants should have a background in molecular and cellular biology techniques, stereotaxic surgery, imaging, microscopy, behavioural and statistical analysis.
Applicants are encouraged to review our previous and current research at olamideadebiyi.org and demonstrate how their skills and passion align with the MynnDLab. To apply, please send your CV, academic transcripts, a brief statement of research interests, and the contact information of two references to olamide.adebiyi@usask.ca

Shape the future of neuroscience research with us at MynndLab. Together, we can unlock the mysteries of myelin biology —its role in neurotoxicity and neurodegenerative diseases!


Contact information:

olamide.adebiyi@usask.ca

CAN Hill Day 2024

The Canadian Association for Neuroscience was proud to host its annual CAN Parliament Hill Day in Ottawa on November 5, 2024.

It was a full day of meetings with elected officials and representatives of the main federal funding agencies to discuss how to better support scientific research in Canada.

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M.Sc. & Ph.D. Positions in NeuroAI with a focus on System & Behavioral Neuroscience – Douglas Research Centre / McGill University

Position Overview

The Mohajerani Lab (https://douglas.research.mcgill.ca/majid-mohajerani/) at Douglas Research Centre/McGill University is seeking prospective M.Sc. or Ph.D. students to join our lab for the Fall 2025 semester. Our research focuses on analyzing animal behavior and brain dynamics through advanced AI-driven methodologies, particularly deep learning tools. The student’s project will involve studying the neural mechanisms underlying memory formation, social behavior, and societal structures in mice. By integrating brain activity data and behavioral analysis, we aim to uncover how neural circuits influence both individual and group behaviors.

Successful candidates will explore the intersection of brain dynamics and behavior, leveraging tools like computer vision and machine learning to decode how brain states are tied to cognitive and social interactions in mice. Applicants should be passionate about exploring how brain activity shapes memory, learning, and social structures, and will work on projects designed to provide insights into how neural plasticity and network connectivity contribute to these behaviors.

As part of this role, students will complete coursework for McGill’s neuroscience program (www.mcgill.ca/ipn/), a world-renowned research hub offering an intellectually stimulating and inspiring academic and career growth environment. Collaboration is at the heart of our lab, and successful candidates will work with a diverse team of researchers and institutions to advance the frontier of neurobehavioral research.

Qualifications:

  • Degree in computer science, neuroscience, psychology, or related fields
  • Strong background in coding (Python, MATLAB, etc.)
  • Experience with AI, deep learning, and machine learning tools (especially for behavioral analysis)
  • Solid understanding of neuroscience concepts related to brain activity and memory
  • Previous research experience in neuroscience, computer vision, or behavior studies
  • Proven ability to work in a collaborative team environment
  • Excellent problem-solving skills and motivation to tackle complex scientific challenges
  • High academic achievement (GPA)
  • Effective communication skills, both written and verbal

Deadline: Oct 31, 2024

What we offer:

A Focus on System & Behavioural Neuroscience: Dive deep into research that aims to unravel the complexities of behaviour and brain dynamics through AI. Our projects span various aspects of the field, offering a rich academic and personal growth environment. 

Collaborative Environment: Work alongside leading scientists in a supportive, interdisciplinary team where your ideas and contributions are valued.

Resources: Access to cutting-edge technology and resources to facilitate your research, experimentation, and learning.

Academic Excellence: As part of McGill University, you’ll be immersed in an environment known for its high standards of research and education.

How to Apply: 

If you’re passionate about this position and want to work in a dynamic and exciting environment, please apply with your resume and a cover letter describing your relevant experience and why you’re the right fit for this role. We strive to ensure that our team is diverse, equitable, and inclusive. All qualified applicants, including women and members of visible minority groups, are welcome to apply. If you meet all the requirements, please fill out this form. 

Note: Your responses should follow the instructions (file names, etc.) We will only review applications submitted using the following link.

https://forms.gle/zgJoAvnW62YiGoKX8

Mouse functional neurogenetics of rare diseases – Université de Montréal

Project Overview

Since 2020, we have collaborated with a patient association with whom we have discovered new genetic variations in a gene that had never before been implicated in neurological diseases. We have access to patient cells and have generated numerous lossof- function models in this gene: KO mouse model, humanized mouse model, conditional KO mouse model, KO zebrafish models, KO cell lines, iPSC-KO… Our recent work has validated the pathogenicity of patient variants and, more broadly, the loss of function of this gene in neurodevelopmental diseases. Over the next few years, we aim to decipher the yet unknown function of this gene during neurodevelopment and central nervous system function. The project will focus on the analysis of neurodevelopment in different conditional KO mouse models. The project will also investigate how perturbations in this gene can affect the function of the central nervous system, particularly causing seizures.

Expertise

We are looking to recruit a passionate post-doctoral fellow with extensive expertise in the study of neurodevelopment in mice and in-depth knowledge of neurogenesis. Expertise in molecular biology analytical techniques applied to mice is required. Expertise in behavioural analysis and EEG recording in mice is a plus. Expertise in bioinformatics data

Why joining?

  • All models are already generated
  • Working on an entirely new subject with a gene whose function is totally unknown
  • Project funded for 3 years
  • Participation in one international congress per year to present research data
  • A young, dynamic lab autonomy to thrive
  • A vast network of collaborators (clinicians, geneticists, researchers)
  • Modern premises in the heart of downtown Montreal

Our Lab

Our laboratory is interested in dissecting the molecular mechanisms underlying rare neurological diseases. We take advantage of the ease of use of the zebrafish model, but also combine it with mouse models and human cells.

Find out more about our lab: https://www.samlab.ca/

  • Provincial tax exemption with post-doc status at Université de Montréal
  • Technical support from more than 19 platforms at the CRCHUM

Contact information Send a cover letter, CV and at least two letters of recommendation to eric.samarut@umontreal.ca

There are no closing dates for applications, and analysis of the files may stop as soon as a candidate has been selected.

Postdoctoral Fellowship in Neuroimmunology and Neurodevelopment – Dong and Howland Laboratories, University of Saskatchewan

Applications are being considered for a new postdoctoral fellow who will work in the laboratories of Drs. Jeff Dong and John Howland at the University of Saskatchewan. The successful applicant will lead two collaborative projects with funding secured from CIHR and the US Department of Defense: 1) the roles of oxidized phosphatidylcholines in brain aging and multiple sclerosis, and 2) the long-term effects of gestational cannabis exposure on offspring brain and behavioural development. The ideal applicant will have experience with single cell and/or spatial transcriptomic analysis as well as proficiency in molecular biology and/or behavioural neuroscience techniques. Applicants are expected to have strong written and oral communication skills, as evidenced by their academic record or previous research experience. We encourage applications from individuals that have been traditionally under-represented in the life sciences. Salary will be commensurate with past experience and external scholarships/awards.

Please contact Jeff Dong (jeff.dong@usask.ca) and John Howland (john.howland@usask.ca) with:

1) a brief statement of research interests, and

2) a CV with the names of at least two references.

The review of applications will begin in early fall, 2024.