Research Associate

McGill University; Laval; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading Canadian university is seeking a motivated Research Associate to join their neuroimmunology lab. The candidate will manage lab operations, perform complex assays, and coordinate projects focused on biomarker discovery in multiple sclerosis. The role requires a PhD in a biomedical discipline and strong experience with immunological assays. This full-time position offers an hourly salary of $33.96 and is located in Laval, Quebec.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated postdoctoral or equivalent experience in advanced immunological assays.
• Hands-on expertise with flow cytometry and comparable proteomic technologies.
• Strong track record of working with clinical biospecimens.
• Experience managing multi-step experiments and mentoring trainees.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to lab infrastructure and SOPs development.
• Independently perform and troubleshoot immunological and proteomic assays.
• Liaise with MS clinic for clinical sample processing.
• Manage experimental timelines and deliverables.
• Act as central liaison between teams.

Skills

Immunological assays

Flow cytometry

Communication

Organizational skills

Collaboration

Education

PhD in Immunology, Cell Biology, Neuroscience, or related biomedical discipline

Tools

OLINK

OMIQ

Job description

Please refer to 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).

The laboratory of Professor Simon Thebault is seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Research Associate with a completed PhD in a relevant biomedical discipline to join our translational neuroimmunology lab at the Montreal Neurological Institute. The successful candidate will lead and support complex immunological and proteomic workflows, coordinate interdisciplinary projects, and contribute to the lab’s mission of advancing biomarker discovery in multiple sclerosis and related neuroinflammatory conditions.

Key Responsibilities

1. Research Operations & Laboratory Management

• Contribute to the development and implementation of core laboratory infrastructure and SOPs.
• Coordinate day-to-day lab operations, including:
  • Procurement and inventory of reagents, consumables, and equipment.
  • Management of biobanked biospecimens (e.g., PBMC, CSF, serum, plasma).
  • Oversight of cold storage systems (e.g., −80°C freezers, LN₂ Dewars) and sample traceability.

2. Technical Assays & Biomarker Platforms

• Independently perform and troubleshoot immunological and proteomic assays, including:
  • Flow cytometry (conventional and spectral), including high-dimensional data analysis using OMIQ.
  • PBMC isolation, immune stimulation assays, and cryopreservation.
• Lead or support implementation of emerging platforms such as:
  • OLINK proteomics (plasma/CSF biomarker discovery),
  • CITE‑seq, PrimeFlow, ddPCR, and other multi‑modal immunoprofiling workflows.

3. Clinical–Research Integration

• Liaise with the MS clinic and CBIG biobank to ensure integrated clinical sample collection and processing.
• Provide backup support for patient consent and biospecimen collection.
• Extract, de‑identify, and curate clinical metadata under appropriate ethical oversight.

4. Project Coordination & Student Supervision

• Manage experimental timelines and deliverables across internal and external collaborations.
• Provide functional supervision and mentorship to trainees and junior lab personnel.
• Uphold rigorous standards for good laboratory practice (GLP), reproducibility, and data integrity.

5. Communication & Team Engagement

• Act as a central liaison between laboratory, clinical, imaging, and computational teams.
• Contribute to the preparation of collaborative manuscripts, grant applications, and presentation materials.
• Participate in lab meetings, interdisciplinary working groups, and institutional research initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• Education: PhD in Immunology, Cell Biology, Neuroscience, or a related biomedical discipline.
• Experience:
  • Demonstrated postdoctoral or equivalent experience in advanced immunological assays.
  • Hands‑on expertise with flow cytometry and OLINK or comparable proteomic technologies.
  • Strong track record of working with clinical biospecimens (e.g., blood, CSF, PBMCs).
  • Experience managing multi‑step experiments and mentoring trainees.

Core Competencies

• Strong technical skills in assay optimization and troubleshooting.
• Ability to work independently while coordinating with cross‑functional teams.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal abilities.
• Commitment to scientific integrity, reproducibility, and open collaboration.

Hiring unit: MNI

Hourly Salary: $33.96

Hours per Week: 40 (Full time)

Location: Montreal Neuro.

Supervisor: Assistant Professor (Clinical)

Position Start Date: 2025-12-01

Position End Date: 2026-11-30

Deadline to Apply: 2025-11-25

This position is covered by the Association of McGill University Research Employees (AMURE) collective agreement.

Before applying, please note that to work at McGill University, you must be both authorized to work in Canada and willing to work in the province of Quebec at the campus where the position is based / located.
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. The level of English required for this position has been assessed at a level #4 on a scale of 0-4.

McGill University hires on the basis of merit and is strongly committed to equity and diversity within its community. We welcome 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 productively engage with diverse communities. McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated groups to self‑identify. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, [e-mail].