Postdoctoral Fellowship in Spinal Mechanisms of Motor Control – Cell-Type & Circuit Function

University Health Network; Toronto; On-site; CAD 66,000 - 82,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

HOOPP pension plan

Transit access

Flexible work environment

Development opportunities

Job summary

University Health Network's Krembil Brain Institute in Toronto seeks a postdoctoral fellow to investigate how specific spinal cord cell types and sensory elements contribute to behavior in mice. The work combines circuit tracing, cell-type specific manipulation, optogenetics, and quantitative behavioral tracking.

The role offers opportunities to co-design and lead projects, mentor students, contribute to grants, and publish results within a collaborative lab environment.

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree (PhD) completed within the previous 5 years
• Strong publication record (including pre-prints)
• Expertise in viral/anatomical circuit tracing, optogenetics, mouse genetics, mouse surgery, quantitative kinematic analysis, electromyography, and statistical/computational data analysis

Responsibilities

• Development of all stages of research project(s) in collaboration with Dr. Levine, laboratory members, and outside collaborators
• Experimental design, wet-lab procedures, and data analysis
• Advise and mentor students and contribute to laboratory intellectual life
• Write and contribute to grant applications
• Present research through original publications, reviews, and talks at scientific conferences

Skills

Circuit tracing

Optogenetics

Mouse genetics

Mouse surgery

Kinematic analysis

Electromyography

Computational analysis

Education

PhD within last 5 years

Job description

The University Health Network, where “above all else the needs of patients come first”, encompassesToronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute and the Michener Institute of Education. The breadth of research, the complexity of the cases treated, and the magnitude of its educational enterprise has made UHN a national and international resource for patient care, research and education. With a long tradition of ground breaking firsts and a purpose of “Transforming lives and communities through excellence in care, discovery and learning”, the University Health Network (UHN), Canada’s largest research teaching hospital, brings together over 16,000 employees, more than 1,200 physicians, 8,000+ students, and many volunteers. UHN is a caring, creative place where amazing people are amazing the world!

www.uhn.ca

Union:Non-Union
Number of vacancies:1
New or Replacement Position:New
Site:Krembil Research Institute
Department:Krembil Brain Institute
Reports to:Principal Investigator
Salary Range:$65,882 - $82,352 per annum
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Shifts:Monday to Friday
Status:Temporary Full-time (1 year contract with possibility of extension)
Closing Date:September 4, 2026

Position Summary

Our nervous system has evolved to control behavior and networks of cells distributed in many different brain regions are dedicated to motor planning, learning, and execution. But to drive the body and enact behavior, nearly all of these signals must converge on the spinal cord. Here, a diverse array of neural populations work together, integrating streams of descending and sensory signals and then transforming this information into coordinated patterns of muscle contractions. What is the internal logic of this essential process? What are the key neural computations and how are they carried out by the cell types and circuits of the cord? The Levine lab seeks to answer these questions by characterizing the neural components of the spinal cord, probing how specific elements contribute to motor control in mice, and bringing the resulting discoveries to advance human health.

We are seeking a postdoctoral fellow to investigate how specific spinal cord cell types and sensory elements contribute to behavior in mice. This work will also test the links between cell type identify, connectivity, and function by bringing together several powerful approaches including circuit tracing, cell-type specific manipulation, closed-loop optogenetics, and quantitative behavioral tracking. There is significant opportunity to co-design and lead projects.

Duties

• Development of all stages of research project(s) in collaboration with Dr. Levine, members of the laboratory, and outside collaborators
• Experimental design, wet-lab procedures, and data analysis
• Advise and mentor of students and serve as an active member of laboratory intellectual life
• Write and contribute to grant applications
• Presentresearch through original research publications, reviews, and talks at scientific conferences

• Doctoral degree (PhD) must be obtained within the previous 5 yearsfrom a recognized institution
• A strong publication record (including pre-prints)
• Expertise in one or more of the following areas: viral and anatomical circuit tracing, optogenetics, mouse genetics, mouse surgery, quantitative kinematic analysis, electromyography, and statistical/computational data analysis

Why join UHN?

In addition to working alongside some of the most talented and inspiring healthcare professionals in the world, UHN offers a wide range of benefits, programs and perks. It is the comprehensiveness of these offerings that makes it a differentiating factor, allowing you to find value where it matters most to you, now and throughout your career at UHN.

• Competitive offer packages
• Government organization and a member of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP https://hoopp.com/)
• Close access to Transit and UHN shuttle service
• A flexible work environment
• Opportunities for development and promotions within a large organization
• Additional perks (multiple corporate discounts including: travel, restaurants, parking, phone plans, auto insurance discounts, on-site gyms, etc.)

Current UHN employees must have successfully completed their probationary period, have a good employee record along with satisfactory attendance in accordance with UHN's attendance management program, to be eligible for consideration.

Please be advised that a Criminal Record Check may be required of the successful candidate. Should it be determined that any information provided by a candidate be misleading, inaccurate or incorrect, UHN reserves the right to discontinue with the consideration of their application.

UHN is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive recruitment process and workplace. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process. Applicants need to make their requirements known.