Senior Research Assistant or Research Associate

CHUM Microbiome Centre; Montreal (administrative region); On-site; CAD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The CHUM Microbiome Center in Montreal seeks a Senior Research Assistant or Research Associate to contribute to fundamental immunology research focused on how the gut microbiome affects cancer immunotherapy.

Responsibilities include in vivo tumor studies, flow cytometry on patient samples, and in vitro co-stimulation assays with immune cells and bacteria; candidates will supervise students and assist with molecular workflows.

Qualifications

• PhD in immunology or a related scientific field.
• Proven experience in flow cytometry.
• Experience with animal models and in vivo experimentation.
• Advanced data analysis using GraphPad, R, or Python.
• Autonomy, rigor, initiative, and problem-solving abilities.

Responsibilities

• Perform in vivo experiments: tumor injections, tumor growth monitoring, dissections, tissue dissociation, flow cytometry, and data analysis (using FlowJo or equivalent software).
• Conduct flow cytometry experiments on patient-derived samples from clinical studies.
• Run in vitro co-stimulation assays involving immune cells and bacteria or bacterial derivatives; proficiency with ELISA is required.
• Supervising MSc and PhD students, and assisting with experimental procedures such as DNA extraction, PCR, flow cytometry, and in vitro assays.
• Preparing experimental results and performing data analysis using GraphPad, R, or Python.

Skills

Flow cytometry

In vivo experiments

Co-stimulation assays

ELISA

Data analysis with GraphPad, R, Python

Education

PhD in immunology or related field

Tools

FlowJo

Job description

The CHUM Microbiome Center, led by Dr. Bertrand Routy, is looking for Senior Research Assistant or Research Associate to contribute to fundamental immunology research. This role involves flow cytometry analysis, in vitro experiments, and murine models—including germ-free mice—to better understand the im pact of the microbiome on immune and anti-cancer responses in oncology. Our team focuses on the relationship between the gut microbiome and response to cancer immunotherapy. Our projects include fundamental research on how bacteria influence immunotherapy outcomes, the devel opment of a biobank, and several ongoing prospective clinical trials (NCT04951583, NCT05303493, NCT05805319). These studies test various strategies—such as fecal microbiota transplantation, prebiotics, probiotics, and dietary interventions to improve microbiome composition in patients with lung cancer or melanoma undergoing immunotherapy.

Key Responsibilities:

• Performing in vivo experiments: tumor injections, tumor growth monitoring, dissections, tissue disso ciation, flow cytometry, and data analysis (using FlowJo or equivalent software).
• Conducting flow cytometry experiments on patient-derived samples from clinical studies.
• Running in vitro co-stimulation assays involving immune cells and bacteria or bacterial derivatives; proficiency with ELISA is required.
• Supervising MSc and PhD students, and assisting with experimental procedures such as DNA ex traction, PCR, flow cytometry, and in vitro assays.
• Preparing experimental results and performing data analysis using GraphPad, R, or Python.

Qualifications:

• PhD in immunology or a related scientific field.
• Proven experience in flow cytometry.
• Experience with animal models and in vivo experimentation.
• Advanced skills with data analysis tools such as GraphPad, R, or Python.
• High degree of autonomy, rigor, attention to detail, initiative, and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, time management, and ability to work in a multidisciplinary team.