Molecular Clinical Scientist / Chercheuse ou chercheur clinique en sciences moléculaires

Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario; Ottawa; Remote; CAD 55,000 - 83,000; Part time

Job summary

CHEO hosts Newborn Screening Ontario (NSO) and seeks a temporary casual Clinical Scientist – Molecular for its remote laboratory team. The role focuses on interpreting molecular data, reporting findings, and collaborating with clinical content specialists to ensure high-quality newborn screening services.

The position requires a PhD or MD with CCSG credentials (or equivalent), strong data analytics skills, and excellent communication.

Qualifications

• PhD or MD in molecular genetics or equivalent professional certification.
• Strong knowledge of genetic laboratory screening and pediatric diagnostics.
• Excellent data analytics, statistics, and scripting abilities.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Criminal record check (Level 1) required.
• Bilingualism (French/English) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Interpret and report data from the molecular laboratory of NSO.
• Collaborate with laboratory leadership to foster a productive environment.
• Evaluate genetic variants identified in tests and/or newborn screening.
• Draft/Review diagnostic and screening reports with clinical content specialists.
• Identify errors or improvements in diagnostic/screening workflows.
• Maintain flow of diagnostic and screening volumes to avoid delays.
• Participate in QA and proficiency testing.
• Assist in periodic review of newborn screens and follow-up practices.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Data analysis

Programming

Oral and written communication

Bilingual: French/English

Collaboration

Education

PhD or MD

Tools

Statistical analysis tools

Job description

Molecular Clinical Scientist, Newborn Screening Ontario – Temporary Casual (until March 2028) / Chercheuse ou chercheur clinique en sciences moléculaires, Dépistage neonatal Ontario – poste temps occasionnel (jusqu’à mars 2028)

***Le français suit***

Ottawa is built on un-ceded Algonquin Anishinaabe territory. The peoples of the Algonquin Anishinabek Nation have lived on this territory for millennia and we honour them and this land. Their culture and presence have nurtured and continue to nurture this land. CHEO also honours all First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples and their valuable past and present contributions to this land.

CHEO is one of the few stand‑alone, global leaders in pediatric health and is home to more than 6,500 staff, clinicians, scientists and researchers, as well as volunteers – all of whom work together to help children and youth achieve their best lives. Within its own walls and through partnerships with community providers, CHEO has transformed from a 20th century acute care hospital into a 21st century integrated child and youth health system.

Ranked in the top 1% of Canadian hospitals for the digitization of its clinical infrastructure, CHEO combines excellence in clinical care, research, and education to advance seamless care that’s provided where, when, and how it is needed. CHEO’s Research Institute is dedicated to world‑class clinical, translational, and basic science research covering a wide range of children’s health concerns. CHEO has been named Canada’s best health‑care employer by Forbes in 2024, 2025 and 2026 and is ranked second among Canadian hospitals on its list of Canada’s Best Employers for multiple consecutive years. For the 14th consecutive year in a row, the editors of Canada’s Top 100 Employers has recognized CHEO as a top employer in the National Capital Region. Every year CHEO helps more than 500,000 children and youth from Eastern Ontario, western Quebec, Nunavut and Northern Ontario.

POSITION SUMMARY

CHEO hosts several provincial and federal programs including Newborn Screening Ontario (NSO). NSO provides a comprehensive program of analysis, follow‑up, education, research and development, ensuring that every newborn receives the highest quality screening and care. At NSO, we are leaders in screening through research, development, education, and innovation. The multidisciplinary team at NSO comprises dedicated clinical, laboratory, management, and administrative staff.

We are seeking a temporary casual clinical scientist within the molecular laboratory. The position is remote.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

The core responsibilities of the Clinical Scientist – Molecular are the interpretation and reporting of data from the molecular laboratory of Newborn Screening Ontario. This includes:

• Collaboration with molecular laboratory leadership to foster a positive and productive working environment.
• Evaluation of variants identified on molecular diagnostic testing and/or through newborn screening.
• Review and/or draft diagnostic and screening reports in collaboration with clinical content specialists.
• Working with other clinical scientists and the Laboratory Director to identify errors, problems, or areas for workflow improvement or enhancement in the molecular diagnostic or screening pathways.
• Maintaining the flow of diagnostic and screening volumes to prevent service delays.
• Participating in quality assurance and proficiency activities.
• Participate in periodic review of newborn screens including assay performance, disorder logic, and follow‑up/diagnostic practices.
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

• A PhD (or MD) scientist with certification or eligibility for certification by the Canadian College of Medical Genetics (or equivalent) in Molecular Genetics or Genetic and Genomic Diagnostics (essential)
• Demonstrated knowledge and skill in the genetic laboratory screening and diagnosis of pediatric disease (essential)
• Excellent data analytic skills, including experience in statistical analyses and programming and interpreting custom reports, scripts, and algorithms (preferred)
• Excellent oral and written communication skills (essential)
• Criminal Record Check (Level 1) (essential)
• Bilingualism (French/English) (preferred)

*Timeline may be extended or shortened based on operational needs.

Effective March 29, 2021, CHEO will conduct a more comprehensive pre‑screening and evaluation process. This process may include more varied and multidimensional testing such as a written test, practical exam, or other assessment. All candidates who meet the essential and preferred qualifications may be tested.

Bilingualism (French/English) will be validated by a language proficiency assessment conducted by a third party provider. Candidates will be required to meet the minimum linguistic profile prior to the date of hire.

Should you require accommodation during any phase in the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources at [e-mail]. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential and will be handled in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

RÉSUMÉ DES FONCTIONS

Le CHEO héberge plusieurs programmes provinciaux et fédéraux tels que Dépistage néonatal Ontario (DNO). DNO est un programme complet d’analyse, de suivi, d’éducation, de recherche et de développement qui vise à ce que chaque nouveau-né reçoive les meilleurs soins et la meilleure qualité en matière de dépistage. En outre, DNO est un chef de file en dépistage grâce à la recherche, au développement, à l’éducation et à l’innovation. L’équipe multidisciplinaire de DNO est composée de personnel clinique, administratif, de laboratoire et de gestion dévoué.

Nous sommes à la recherche d’une chercheuse ou d’un chercheur clinique pour un poste occasionnel à temps partiel au laboratoire moléculaire. Le poste est à distance.

RESPONSABILITÉS PRINCIPALES

• Collaborer avec la direction des laboratoires moléculaires pour favoriser un environnement de travail positif et productif.
• Évaluer les variantes identifiées lors des tests de diagnostic moléculaire ou par le dépistage néonatal.
• Examiner ou rédiger des rapports de diagnostic et de dépistage en collaboration avec les spécialistes du contenu clinique.
• Collaborer avec d’autres chercheuses ou chercheurs cliniques et la directrice ou le directeur du laboratoire, pour repérer les erreurs ou problèmes éventuels et les améliorations possibles dans les diagnostics moléculaires ou le processus de dépistage, ainsi que les points à améliorer dans les flux de travail.
• Gérer le flux des volumes de diagnostic et de dépistage pour éviter les retards de service.
• Participer à des activités d’assurance de la qualité et de contrôle de compétence.
• Participer à l’examen périodique des tests de dépistage néonatal, y compris le rendement des tests, la logique du trouble et les pratiques de suivi et de diagnostic.
• autres tâches assignées

QUALIFICATIONS

• Doctorat ou maîtrise en génétique moléculaire, et agrément (ou admissibilité à l’agrément) du Collège canadien des généticiens médicaux (ou l’équivalent) en génétique moléculaire ou en diagnostics génétiques et génomiques (essentiel)
• Connaissance et compétences avérées en matière de dépistage génétique en laboratoire et de diagnostic de maladies pédiatriques (essentiel)
• Excellentes compétences en analyse de données, ainsi qu’une expérience des analyses statistiques et de la programmation et de l’interprétation de rapports, de scripts et d’algorithmes personnalisés (atout)
• Excellentes aptitudes en communication orale et écrite (essentiel)
• Vérification du casier judiciaire (de niveau 1) (essentiel)
• Bilinguisme (français et anglais) (atout)

*Le poste peut être prolongé ou raccourci en fonction des besoins opérationnels.

À partir du 29 mars 2021, CHEO mènera un processus de présélection et d’évaluation plus complet. Ce processus peut comprendre des tests plus variés et multidimensionnels tels qu’un test écrit, un examen pratique ou une autre évaluation. Tous les candidats qui satisfont aux qualifications essentielles et préférées peuvent être testés.

La validation du bilinguisme (français‑anglais) se fera au moyen d’une évaluation des compétences linguistiques menée par un fournisseur externe. Les candidats devront satisfaire au profil linguistique minimum de leur poste avant la date d’embauche.

Si vous avez besoin de mesures d’adaptation pendant une phase du processus de recrutement, veuillez communiquer avec les Ressources humaines à [e-mail]. Tous les renseignements reçus concernant les mesures d’adaptation resteront confidentiels et seront traités conformément à la Loi sur l’accessibilité pour les personnes handicapées de l’Ontario.