Career Center

Position Description:

The McGill University Department of Human Genetics seeks an outstanding researcher and teacher for a full-time tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor. The research program will be based within the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research (LDI), Jewish General Hospital, at McGill University. The professorial rank of the candidate will be determined according to their qualifications and experience.

The successful applicant will be expected to build on their existing independent research program in RNA Biology, especially as it pertains to human genetics. This position is aligned with the recent $165M federal grant on “DNA to RNA” (D2R) and the successful applicant will likely be able to apply for research funds made available by this award.  The successful applicant will work closely with colleagues at other McGill research institutes. They will also contribute to classroom teaching and graduate training (MSc and PhD).

The LDI is the research arm of the Jewish General Hospital (JGH) which is affiliated with the CIUSSS du Centre-Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal (CCOMTL) and is part of the McGill Integrated University Health Network. Over the years, the LDI has been remarkably successful in attracting outstanding investigators with recognized excellence in areas such as Cancer Therapeutics, Molecular Oncology, Cell and Gene Therapy, AIDS/HIV, Aging, Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease, Clinical Epidemiology, and Psychosocial Aspects of Disease. The LDI boasts more than 200 researchers, 450 administrative and support staff, and about 275 post-graduate students and post-doctoral fellows who receive their research training at the Institute yearly. McGill University is Canada’s most international university and is the LDI is part of a series of distributed research centres located in the vibrant, multicultural city of Montreal.

The D2R award builds on substantial expertise in RNA biology at McGill. Many of these experts are from the McGill University Department of Biochemistry, and close collaboration with colleagues in this Department will likely be developed by the successful candidate.

Job Duties:

The successful candidate will build on, or create an internationally recognized, innovative research program in RNA biology that focuses on:

1. Developing and implementing scalable methodologies for investigating post-transcriptional mechanisms that regulate gene expression;
2. Investigating how RNA condensates regulate mRNA biology;
3. Collaborating with other groups at McGill, nationally and globally to further develop and apply novel technologies for systematic functional RNA biology studies, particularly with relevance to human genetic diseases.

The successful candidate will be expected to teach both in the classroom and by assure an inclusive, supportive training environment that will attract top graduate students from around the world.

All McGill faculty members are expected to contribute to service activities within their units, the University and the wider scholarly community. The successful applicant will be expected to contribute to the scientific environment of the LDI and will be required to participate in classroom instruction and graduate student supervision within the guidelines of the Department of Human Genetics. A demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in all areas is expected, including integration of EDI considerations into research design and practices, and creating equitable and inclusive research environments.

McGill University is an English-language university where most teaching and research activities are conducted in the English language, thereby requiring English communication both verbally and in writing.

McGill University is committed to equity and diversity within its community and values academic rigour and excellence. We welcome and encourage applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to engage productively with diverse communities.

At McGill, research that reflects diverse intellectual traditions, methodologies, and modes of dissemination and translation is valued and encouraged. Candidates are invited to demonstrate their research impact both within and across academic disciplines and in other sectors, such as government, communities, or industry.

McGill further recognizes and fairly considers the impact of leaves (e.g., family care or health-related) that may contribute to career interruptions or slowdowns. Candidates are encouraged to signal any leave that affected productivity, or that may have had an effect on their career path. This information will be considered to ensure the equitable assessment of the candidate’s record.

McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated equity groups to self-identify. It further seeks to ensure the equitable treatment and full inclusion of persons with disabilities by striving for the implementation of universal design principles transversally, across all facets of the University community, and through accommodation policies and procedures. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, accessibilityrequest.hr@mcgill.ca.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Qualifications and Education Requirements:

• Candidates must have a Ph.D. in Biochemistry or related field, or M.D., with significant postgraduate or post-doctoral training;
• Evidence of strong research productivity and a publication record in the field of RNA Biology, with a demonstrated ability to attract competitive funding;
• Prior work in human diseases that are the result of perturbations in RNA would be seen favourably;
• Fluency in English is essential;
• A working knowledge of French, or a commitment to acquiring it within a few years of appointment is preferred.

Faculty/Department/Unit:  Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Human Genetics, Lady Davis Institute.

Employee Type:  Tenure-Track (Academic Tenure Stream)

Rank:  Assistant/Associate professor

Salary:  Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience

Job Status:  Full Time

Posting period:  30 days

The following supporting documents are required:

• Cover letter and curriculum vitae
• A brief description of the future research program (max 5 pages)
• Names and contact information of three referees

Use a personal email address when creating an account in Workday to submit your application. Do not use @mail.mcgill.ca or @mcgill.ca email accounts to apply.