Postdoctoral Fellow, Microbial community engineering

National Research Council Canada / Conseil national de recherches Canada; Montreal; On-site; CAD 84,000 - 117,000; Full time

Job summary

National Research Council Canada (NRC) invites applications for a two-year Postdoctoral Fellowship in Engineering resilient synthetic microbial consortia for high efficiency ethanol production from syngas. The project aims to create microbial teams with complementary metabolism to convert syngas to ethanol more efficiently than monocultures.

You will join a multidisciplinary team, lead design and testing of consortia, and work toward scalable bioprocess solutions for sustainable fuel production

Qualifications

• PhD in Microbiology, Bioinformatics, Environmental Biology, or another relevant discipline.
• Self-declare language as English or French.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, construction, and evaluation of synthetic microbial consortia in a multidisciplinary team.
• Isolate and adapt microbial strains for syngas environments.
• Design synthetic consortia with complementary functions for efficient ethanol production from syngas.
• Evaluate performance in laboratory-scale bioreactors.

Skills

Microbiology

Genomics data integration

Metabolic modeling

Bioinformatics

Programming (R/Python)

Education

PhD in Microbiology

Job description

Priority may be given to the following designated employment equity groups: women, Indigenous Peoples* (First Nations, Inuit and Métis), persons with disabilities and racialized persons*.

• The Employment Equity Act , which is under review, uses the terminology Aboriginal peoples and visible minorities.

Candidates are asked to self-declare when applying to this hiring process.

City: Royalmount (Montréal)

Organizational Unit: Clean Energy Innovation

Classification: RO

Tenure: Term

Duration: 2 years

Language Requirements: English or French

Work arrangements

• Due to the nature of the work and operational requirements, this position will require full-time physical presence at the NRC work location identified.

At the NRC, we recognize that Indigenous candidates may have important connections to their communities and you may be eligible for an exception to this work arrangement. Alternative work arrangements may also be considered to accommodate candidates as required. To learn more about these options, please contact the NRC Hiring team using the contact information below.

The program

The NRC's Postdoctoral Fellowship program offers PDFs access to unique world-class facilities and the opportunity to work alongside multi-disciplinary teams of expert researchers and technicians on projects of critical importance to Canada. PDFs will carry out research on innovative research projects, with opportunities for career development (publications and/or industry interaction).

PDFs will be offered appointments to the staff of the National Research Council on a term basis and will be offered salaries and benefits currently available to Research Officers. Salaries commensurate with experience are taxable and subject to other deductions. As a guide, the current annual PhD recruiting rate is $83,985. In addition PDFs will be allocated a travel fund to support their work.

Project title

Engineering resilient synthetic microbial consortia for high efficiency ethanol production from syngas.

The role

The NRC is currently working on syngas fermentation for ethanol production, to serve as a replacement for fossil fuels, thus strengthening low-carbon fuel value chains in Canada.

The objective of this project is to develop synthetic microbial consortia with complementary metabolic functions and capable of converting syngas into ethanol with higher efficiency and stability than conventional monoculture systems. The research will comprise three research components:

• Isolate and adapt microbial strains capable of thriving in syngas environments using enrichment and adaptive laboratory evolution;
• Design synthetic microbial consortia composed of microorganisms with complementary metabolic functions;
• Evaluate the performance of these consortia in laboratory-scale bioreactors.

The outcomes of this work will advance the emerging field of microbial community engineering and support the development of scalable technologies for sustainable fuel production and carbon circularity.

Within a multidisciplinary team, the successful candidate will lead the design, construction, and experimental evaluation of synthetic microbial consortia.

Education

Ph.D. in Microbiology, Bioinformatics, Environmental Biology, or another relevant discipline.

For information on certificates and diplomas issued abroad, please see Degree equivalency

Experience

• Essential: Microbiology or molecular biology or microbial ecology with experience in integrating genomic/metagenomic data.
• Assets: Additional experience in metabolic modeling, or microbiome engineering, or bioinformatics, or programming (R or Python).

Language requirements

English OR French

Information on language requirements and self-assessment tests

Condition of employment

Reliability Status

For a Reliability Status, verification of background information over a period of 5 years is required.

Who is eligible?

• Fellowships will be for two years contingent on satisfactory progress achieved during the first year.
• Candidates should have obtained a PhD (or equivalent) within the past three years (PhD received on or after July 1, 2024*) or expect to complete their PhD within 6 months of appointment.
• Fellows will work in a lab under the direct supervision of an NRC researcher.
• Exceptions may be considered to recognize personal or family related leave. Please connect with us using the contact information below to discuss in more detail.

Compensation

The intent of this hiring action is to staff the position at the AsRO level, which is an early-career level position with a salary range of $83,985 to $116,641. This wide range accounts for varying degrees of expertise and impact, and growth within the role.

Salary determination will be based on a thorough evaluation of the successful candidate's prior experience. This evaluation will consider specific achievements, skills, and contributions that demonstrate the candidate's impact and expertise. As a guide, the average starting rate for new PhD graduates entering this role is $83,985.

The NRC is committed to supporting career progression within the organization, providing access to the opportunities and resources needed for a pathway to a fulfilling career. NRC employees also enjoy a wide-range of competitive benefits including a robust pension plan, comprehensive health and dental coverage, disability and life insurance, office closure at the end of December, and additional supports to enhance your well‑being throughout your career and beyond.

Discover the possible

Anything is possible at the NRC, named in 2026 one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People, Top Employer in the National Capital Region and Forbes Canada’s Best Employers!

As Canada’s largest research and innovation organization, our world-renowned research pushes the boundaries of science and engineering to make the impossible, possible. Every day we explore new ideas through innovative research and help companies discover possibilities that impact Canada’s future and the world.

At the NRC, you'll also discover new possibilities. Our supportive workplace fosters a culture of creativity, welcoming fresh perspectives and innovation at all levels. We value teamwork. You'll collaborate across multiple fields and with the brightest minds to find creative solutions. Most importantly, you'll discover what's possible within you as you grow, make valuable contributions and progress in your professional journey. From ground‑breaking discoveries to a life‑changing career, discover your possible at the NRC.

Notes

• In 2026, the NRC was chosen as one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People, a National Capital Region Top Employer and Forbes Canada’s Best Employer.
• Relocation assistance will be determined in accordance with the NRC's directives.
• Fellowships are open to nationals of all countries, although preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada. Please include citizenship information in your application.
• The incumbent must adhere to safe workplace practices at all times.
• We thank all those who apply, however only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Closing Date

7 January 2026 - 23:59 Eastern Time

For more information on career tools and other resources, check out Career tools and resources

• If you are currently a term or continuing employee at NRC, please apply through the SuccessFactors Careersmodule from your NRC computer.

Please direct your questions, with the requisition number (26216) to:

E-mail: [e-mail]

Telephone: [phone]