Spring 2023 election results

We are happy to announce the results of the Spring 2023 elections!

We want to thank all candidates who showed interest in serving the community and all those who took the time to vote.

The following members were elected and will take office on June 1, 2023 Continue reading

Postdoctoral Position in Systems Neuroscience at the University of Toronto Scarborough

The Developmental Systems Neuroscience lab (https://devsneurolab.com/) is looking for a highly motivated postdoc to lead a fully funded project intersecting neuronal activity-tagging (engrams), synaptic transmission and behaviour. Our group uses a combination of slice electrophysiology, chemo/optogenetics, fiber photometry and behavior to investigate the neural basis of emotional learning and affective behaviour. Come to our diverse and beautiful campus, and join a supportive, collaborative and mentorship-focused lab!

Contact information Please send a CV, list of references and statement of interests to:
Maithe Arruda-Carvalho
m.arrudacarvalho@utoronto.ca
https://devsneurolab.com

Postdoc positions in visual neuroscience at Université de Montréal

The Neurophotonics lab of the School of Optometry of the University of Montreal is looking for postdocs. Our projects focus on the plasticity of cortical maps and functional connectivity in different models of blindness and stroke affecting visual functions. We are also interested in the spatial coding of information in the context of Brain/Machine interfaces and the development of neuroprosthesis to restore vision.
We use a platform for measuring and manipulating brain functions in mice performing visual cognitive tasks in combination with neurophotonic approaches such as calcium imaging (macroscopic or multi-photon) or optogenetics.
We are also interested in the development of technologies applied to neuroscience, in collaboration with companies.
The support of the lab (CIHR, NSERC) will guarantee a scholarship for trainees who do not yet have the support of funding organizations.

To apply:

  • You must have experience in the field of neurophotonics (such as: calcium imaging, in vivo multiphoton microscopy, optogenetics, etc.)
  • You will also need to have experience in data analysis (with Matlab or Python ideally)
  • Qualifications in the field of rodent behavioral measurements, computational neuroscience or biomedical engineering (3D design/printing, electronics, etc.) could be an important asset

Lab website: https://www.opto.umontreal.ca/cortex/
Contact information Send your CV and cover letter (and any other documents you think could be relevant: transcript, achievement, etc.) to Matthieu Vanni: matthieu.vanni@umontreal.ca

Master’s and PhD positions available in visual neuroscience at Université de Montréal.

The Neurophotonics lab of the School of Optometry of the University of Montreal is looking for students interested to start a MSc or a PhD in Vision Sciences, Neuroscience or Biomedical Engineering. Our projects focus on the plasticity of cortical maps and functional connectivity in different models of blindness and stroke affecting visual functions. We are also interested in the spatial coding of information in the context of Brain/Machine interfaces and the development of neuroprosthesis to restore vision.
We use a platform for measuring and manipulating brain functions in mice performing visual cognitive tasks in combination with neurophotonic approaches such as calcium imaging (macroscopic or multi-photon) or optogenetics.
We are also interested in the development of technologies applied to neuroscience, in collaboration with companies.

The support of the lab (CIHR, NSERC) will guarantee a scholarship for students who do not yet have the support of funding organizations.

To apply:

  1. You will need to have training or lab experience in at least one of the disciplines below:
    – Neurophysiology (including calcium imaging, electrophysiology, …)
    – Computational Neuroscience
    – Behavioral measurement in animals
    – Biomedical Engineering
  2. You must have a preliminary experience in data analysis (with Matlab or Python ideally)

Contact information Send your CV and cover letter (and any other documents you think could be relevant: transcript, achievement, etc.) to Matthieu Vanni: matthieu.vanni@umontreal.ca

Drs. Arkady Khoutorsky and Bratislav Misic win 2023 CAN New Investigator Awards

The Canadian Association for Neuroscience is very proud to present Dr. Arkady Khoutorsky, Associate Professor in the Department of Anesthesia and Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences at McGill University, and Dr. Bratislav Misic, leader of the Network Neuroscience Lab at the Montreal Neurological Institute 2023 CAN New Investigator awards.

Dr. Arkady Khoutorsky is making disruptive contributions in two key areas of neuroscience: translational control in neurological disorders and chronic pain, and his work in both areas is bringing forward new concepts for developing novel types of therapeutic interventions. Read his full profile here: Arkady Khoutorsky wins a 2023 CAN New Investigator award for pioneering research on chronic pain and neurological disorders.

Dr. Bratislav Misic studies how cognition and behaviour emerge from the links and interactions among brain areas. His innovative work, integrating in vivo neuroimaging, statistical learning and network science, is profoundly transforming the field’s understanding of multi-scale structure-function relationships in the brain. Read his full profile here: Bratislav Misic wins a CAN 2023 New Investigator Award for ground-breaking work on brain networks

Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Non-human Primate Models of Health and Disease – Queen’s University

The Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) at Queen’s University invites applications from exceptional scholars performing research on non-human primate (NHP) models of health and disease. This appointment is open only to qualified individuals who self-identify as members of one or more of the Four Designated Groups under the Canada Research Chair program (view note 1) : women, Indigenous/Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities and racialized persons/visible minorities.

The successful candidate will be appointed at the rank of Assistant Professor (tenure-track) or Associate Professor (tenured), depending upon level of experience, in the Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences with an anticipated start date of September 1, 2023. They will be expected to submit an external nomination for a five-year term position as a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (CRC), eligible for renewal once, to a maximum of two five-year terms as a Tier 2 CRC in NHP models of Health and Disease.

The incumbent will hold an advanced degree (i.e., PhD or MD or MD/PhD) and post-doctoral training to position them as an emerging leader in the field using NHP Models of Health and Disease. They will have a distinguished innovative record of accomplishment and possess expertise in innovative experimental approaches using NHPs to understand healthy sensorimotor and/or cognitive functions, and/or develop models of disease. They will establish an innovative, independent research program and will be expected to secure external funding from diverse sources, including national agencies such as the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and Canadian Institutes of Health Research. They will supervise, mentor, and train students and other highly qualified personnel.

Our top priority is to provide opportunities for emerging scholars to develop an internationally recognized research profile within a dynamic environment wherein all faculty can thrive. A key criterion is to enhance existing strengths at Queen’s University in systems neuroscience that explore NHPs to study neural circuits supporting sensory, motor and cognitive processes and models of neurological diseases/injury. Queen’s boasts a large, modern non-human primate research facility including over a dozen behavioural assessment labs, surgical suites, and an adjacent and easily-accessible MRI facility that houses a state-of-the-art Siemens Prisma system.

Prior to May 1, 2022, the University required all students, faculty, staff, and visitors (including contractors) to declare their COVID-19 vaccination status and provide proof that they were fully vaccinated or had an approved accommodation to engage in in-person University activities. These requirements were suspended effective May 1, 2022, but the University may reinstate them at any point.

Canada Research Chairs were established as part of a national strategy to foster research excellence (www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca). The successful candidate must submit an external application to the Tri-agency Institutional Program Secretariat that meets the requirements for the successful nomination of Tier 2 Chair as defined by the Canada Research Chairs Program:

  • be an excellent emerging world-class researcher who has demonstrated particular research creativity;
  • have demonstrated the potential to achieve international recognition in their field in the next five to ten years;
  • have the potential to attract, develop and retain excellent trainees, students and future researchers; and
  • be proposing an original, innovative research program of high

 

Candidates more than 10 years from their highest degree at the time of nomination may have their eligibility for a Tier 2 Chair assessed through the program’s Tier 2 justification process. Acceptable justifications are generally limited to breaks in the candidate’s research career due to maternity or parental leave, extended sick leave, clinical training, and family care. Please contact research@queensu.ca if you desire more information on the Tier 2 justification process. In addition, the impact of certain circumstances (including but not limited to parental leave, family responsibilities, illness, disability, research in emerging fields, limited access to resources) that may legitimately affect a nominee’s record of research achievement will be given careful consideration when assessing the nominee’s research productivity. Candidates are encouraged to provide any relevant information about their experience and/or career interruptions to allow for a fair assessment of their application.

People from across Canada and around the world come to learn, teach and carry out research at Queen’s University. Faculty and their dependents are eligible for an extensive benefits package including prescription drug coverage, vision care, dental care, long term disability insurance, life insurance and access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program. You will also participate in a pension plan. Tuition assistance is available for qualifying employees, their spouses, and dependent children. Queen’s values families and is pleased to provide a ‘top up’ to government parental leave benefits for eligible employees on maternity/parental leave. In addition, Queen’s provides partial reimbursement for eligible daycare expenses for employees with dependent children in daycare. Details are set out in the Queen’s-QUFA Collective Agreement. For more information on employee benefits, see Queen’s Human Resources.

Additional information about Queen’s University can be found on the Faculty Recruitment and Support website. The University is situated on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe, in historic Kingston on the shores of Lake Ontario. Kingston’s residents enjoy an outstanding quality of life with a wide range of cultural, recreational, and creative opportunities. Visit Inclusive Queen’s for information on equity, diversity and inclusion resources and initiatives.

Queen’s Commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: Queen’s is committed to excellence in research and research training for the benefit of Canadians and to achieving a more equitable, diverse and inclusive Canadian research enterprise.

Queen’s University is committed to diversity and inclusion and has an employment equity program that meets the goals of the Canada Research Chairs program and the requirements of our collective agreement with the Faculty Association. As mentioned above, this appointment is open only to qualified individuals who self-identify as members of one or more of the Four Designated Groups under the Canada Research Chair program: women, Indigenous/Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities and racialized persons/visible minorities. All above-defined eligible applicants for this position will be invited to self-identify once they have applied. Self- identification information will be held in confidence by the Human Rights and Equity Office and one specially trained member of the selection committee. Shortlisted candidates who self- identify as Indigenous will be asked to verify their identity in accordance with the Hiring of Indigenous Specific Positions – Interim Policy prior to being invited to interview. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian Immigration requirements, Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents of Canada will be given priority.

To comply with federal laws, the University is obliged to gather statistical information as to how many applicants for each job vacancy are Canadian citizens / permanent residents of Canada. Applicants need not identify their country of origin or citizenship; however, all applications must include one of the following statements: “I am a Canadian citizen / permanent resident of Canada”; OR, “I am not a Canadian citizen / permanent resident of Canada”. Applications that do not include this information will be deemed incomplete.

Candidates should submit a complete application comprising:

  • a cover letter (including one of the two statements regarding Canadian citizenship / permanent resident status specified in the previous paragraph);
  • a current Curriculum Vitae that includes a comprehensive list of publications, awards, and grants received;
  • a statement of current and prospective research interests and experience;
  • a statement of teaching experience and interests together with a teaching portfolio;
  • a statement of equity, diversity, and inclusion: candidates should identify their strengths and experiences with respect to increasing equity, diversity, and inclusion;
  • the names and contact information of a minimum of three referees, one of whom must be at arm’s length.

Review of applications will commence on May 24, 2023 and continue until a suitable candidate is found. Applicants are asked to send all documents in their application packages electronically as PDFs to:

Dr. Stephen Scott

Vice-Dean Research, Queen’s Health Sciences Queen’s University

Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3N6 QHS_Research@queensu.ca

 

The University will provide support in its recruitment processes to applicants with disabilities, including accommodation that takes into account an applicant’s accessibility needs. If you require accommodation during the interview process, please contact Megan Coleman in the Vice-Dean Research Office at QHS_Research@queensu.ca.

Academic staff at Queen’s University are governed by a Collective Agreement between the University and the Queen’s University Faculty Association (QUFA).

Appointments are subject to review and final approval by the Provost. Only nominees external to Queen’s University will be considered. (Please note that, for the purposes of this competition, Queen’s Term Adjuncts and Adjunct-1s will be considered as external nominees).

Note 1:

The CRC Program currently employs the categories of the four federally designated groups (FDG)

  • Women, Indigenous Peoples, Persons with Disabilities, and Members of Visible Minorities – to monitor progress towards meeting equity Queen’s has an under-representation across the FDG’s among Canada Research Chairholders. The Tri-Agency Institutional Programs Secretariat (TIPS) has established targets for CRC representation, with staggered deadlines for meeting targets between the period of 2020 to 2029.

CAN-ACN’s response to the 2023 budget

Response to the budget tabled March 28, 2023

The Canadian Association for Neuroscience joins its voice to the rest of the scientific community in expressing disappointment in the lack of support for science, research, and students in Budget 2023.

There are some questions left unanswered following this budget:

How can the government fail to recognize that fundamental research drives innovation and economic growth?

Continue reading

Two Members of Parliament visit the Trudeau lab at Université de Montréal

Dr. Louis-Eric Trudeau, neuroscientist at the Université de Montréal and his research team hosted on April 4 two federal MPs, M. Yves-François Blanchet, leader of the Bloc Québécois, and M. Maxime Joncas-Blanchette MP for the Rimouski region and in charge of science issues at the Bloc. The goal was to discuss the funding of neuroscience and biomedical research in Quebec and in Canada and also the challenges of sharing research discoveries in French. Both expressed strong support for increased federal funding for research.

Lab visits are a great way to engage with elected officials and promote science in Canada – Congratulations Dr. Trudeau!

 

Research Technician – Hazrati lab, McGill University

About the Role:

We are seeking an enthusiastic, organized, and experienced research lab technician to help run the Hazrati research lab at McGill University. Our lab studies the pathology and pathophysiology of mild traumatic brain injury using human brains, animal models, and cell culture experiments. In particular, we focus on cellular senescence and seek to explore the early molecular underpinnings of brain dysfunction associated with trauma. This lab has recently been relocated, and so part of this job will be setting up a new research lab space.

Responsibilities:

  • Optimize and develop molecular assays for assessing human tissue, mouse tissue, and cell culture experiments
  • Statistically analyze data and use critical thinking to interpret results
  • Keep track of inventory and ordering reagents and supplies for the lab
  • Support graduate students by running assays and helping with data analysis
  • Manage electronic lab notebook for the lab
  • Manage brain bank research IDs
  • Present lab updates regularly at weekly lab meetings
  • Lab safety management
  • Management of regulatory paperwork (Health Canada exemptions, animal use protocols, SOPs, REBs and legal paperwork within the institution)

Requirements:

  • Minimum MSc in a relevant biological science field (neuroscience background is preferred)
  • Experience with nucleic acid and protein isolation protocols
  • Experience with protein assays (Western Blots. ELISA, etc.), qPCR, and immunoassays
  • Experience with microscopy (brightfield, confocal)
  • Experience with mammalian cell culture is an asset
  • Previous experience working with mice  and surgical and behavioral testing skills are an asset
  • Preferably experience with tissue cutting using microtome and/or cryostat
  • Bioinformatics experience is an asset (bulk or single cell RNAseq, for example)
  • R or Python programming language experience is an asset

Employment type: Full-time, 1-year contract

Contact: lili-naz.hazrati@McGill.ca

Postdoctoral Researcher – Hazrati lab, McGill University

We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher to advance projects within our lab studying the molecular mechanisms driving brain dysfunction after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). In particular, we are interested in discovering novel molecular mechanisms associated with trauma which may reflect clinicopathology and/or serve as potential biomarkers.

This position will involve studies using human brain tissue, mouse models, Stereotaxic animal surgery,  mammalian cell culture, and thus our lab emphasizes the importance of translational science. The successful candidate will develop a novel research project using these materials to further our understanding of mild traumatic brain injury, and will contextualize findings to other projects within the lab and across collaborations.

The postdoctoral researcher in this lab will receive strong mentorship and career support, along with a competitive postdoctoral salary and benefits package. There is opportunity for travel to national and international conferences with a successfully funded project.

Qualifications:

  • PhD in relevant biological sciences field of study (neuroscience preferred)
  • Research expertise and hands-on experience with the following: experimental design, nucleic acid and protein assays, microscopy/imaging techniques, animal studies, mammalian cell culture, single cell sequencing .
  • Expertise and knowledge about cellular senescence, fat metabolism, mitochondrial dysfunction and/or role of BRCA1 in brain will be also an asset
  • Preferred (not required, but an asset) skills: bioinformatic data analysis, R programming language
  • Ability to work both independently with minimal supervision and in a team setting (collaborative in nature)
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills (must be able to present project ideas and data effectively to experts and non-experts)
  • Track record of publications in peer-reviewed journals
  • Experience with grant writing (including budgets) is an asset

Responsibilities:

  • Initiate new projects in the lab and collect/interpret data for grants (CIHR) and publications
  • Get involved with ongoing lab projects as much as possible, providing scientific expertise and technical assistance where needed
  • Collect data for CIHR and other grants, assist in grant writing including budgets
  • Assist graduate students in the lab with projects
  • Assist with regulatory paperwork such as REBs, AUPs, SOPs, and lab notebooks.

If you are interested, please send your CV and cover letter to lili-naz.hazrati@mcgill.ca with the contact information for two references.