Assistant/Associate Professor (Research), Single Cell Genomics, Department of Psychiatry (2 positions) (C3-231215)

​Please refer to the How to Apply for a Job (for External Candidates) job aid for instructions on how to apply.

If you are an active McGill employee (ie: currently in an active contract or position at McGill University), do not apply through this Career Site. Login to your McGill Workday account and apply to this posting using the Find Jobs report (type Find Jobs in the search bar).

Position Description

The McGill University Department of Psychiatry, in collaboration with the Douglas Research Centre (DRC) in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, invites applications for a full-time Contract Academic Staff position at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor (Research) in the field of Single Cell Genomics applied to the brain and mental disorders. The professorial rank will be determined according to the candidate’s qualifications and experience. This will be a three-year (renewable) appointment and does not confer eligibility for tenure. The role includes establishing an independent research program and supervising students.

The McGill University Department of Psychiatry has a rich history of scientific innovation with sustained expertise in psychotherapy, substance abuse research, psychoneuroendocrinology, psychoimmunology, genetics, epigenetics, advanced brain imaging, and computational and digital psychiatry. It remains a global leader in integrating cutting-edge science with clinical practice to train future psychiatric researchers and clinicians.

With over 55 researchers spanning a full range of mental health research (i.e., neuroscience, clinical services, policy, and epidemiology/population health), the Douglas Research Centre (DRC) has been an international leader in mental health research for more than 40 years. The DRC has been at the forefront of pioneering innovative methods in the field of psychiatry, including single-cell neurobiology, computational and digital psychiatry, (digital) biomarkers, and the use of novel methods and data for assessing mental health. The DRC has recently secured significant funding for a research program focused on using Single Cell approaches to gain insights into the brain and its related disorders. The DRC has a strong history of advancing interdisciplinary research programs, leveraging interdisciplinary approaches to better understand psychiatric disorders and translate these insights into clinical practice.

McGill University is one of Canada’s leading research-intensive universities, with students from over 140 countries. The university is located in Montreal, a cosmopolitan city with great cultural and linguistic diversity. It has long been considered a leader in neuroscience and a strong innovator in methods that support a wide spectrum of basic and clinical research endeavours. The university’s strong training programs in Biological and Biomedical Engineering, Psychiatry, and Quantitative Life Sciences as well as the Integrated Program in Neuroscience favour the development of strong multidisciplinary research teams.

Job Duties

The successful candidate will be involved in the academic activities of the McGill University Department of Psychiatry in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. The incumbent will be expected to conduct rigorous cutting-edge research in the area of Single Cell Genomics applied to the brain and mental disorders. They will develop a fundamental, disease-relevant research program in their own areas of expertise, aligned with the strategic priorities of the Douglas Research Centre and the Department of Psychiatry.

Applicants with expertise and relevant experience developing new methodologies or applying established Single Cell approaches to animal or cell models of mental disorders or in the postmortem brain study of psychiatric disorders are encouraged to apply.

The incumbent will be appointed to the McGill University Department of Psychiatry; they will be expected to establish an independent research program, supervise students, and contribute to formal classroom teaching. The successful candidate will be expected to independently acquire funds to support the training of graduate students at the MSc and Ph.D. level. They will be expected to disseminate research findings through peer-reviewed publications and other knowledge translation and exchange activities, participate actively in all aspects of the Research Centre and McGill’s academic mission, demonstrating a strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in all areas.

The successful candidate will also be expected to be actively involved in all aspects of McGill’s academic mission (i.e., teaching, research, supervision of students and residents, and involvement in academic and administrative committees).

McGill faculty members are expected to contribute to service activities within their units, the University, and the wider scholarly community. A demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion is also expected.

Qualifications and Education Requirements

Candidates must:

• Have a Ph.D. and have completed advanced postdoctoral training in a related field;
• Demonstrate excellent research productivity and the ability to attract competitive funding;
• Have a track record in the field of Single Cell Genomics;
• Demonstrate a commitment to and, in accordance with circumstances, a track record in equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI);
• Fluency in English is essential; a working knowledge of French, or a commitment to acquiring it within few years of appointment is preferred.

Note: For more information about the eligibility for promotion and reappointment, please consult the following link: https://www.mcgill.ca/apo/academic-life-cycle/contract-academic-staff-cas/ranked-cas

Faculty/Department/Unit: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Psychiatry
Employee Type: Contract Academic Staff ('Academic Contractual')
Rank: Assistant/Associate Professor
Salary: Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience
Job Status: Full-time

Posting Period: 30 days from date of posting

The following supporting documents are required:

• Cover letter and curriculum vitae;
• Statement of research interests and goals;
• Statement of teaching philosophy;
• Names and contact information of three referees.

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.

L’Université McGill est une institution de langue anglaise dans laquelle la majorité des activités d’enseignement et de recherche s’effectuent en langue anglaise, rendant essentielle l’utilisation de l’anglais pour la communication orale et écrite.

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.

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, [email protected].

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