McGill University

Postdoctoral Researcher

Montreal Neuro. Full time

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About the Project

The Couturier Lab is seeking an enthusiastic and driven Postdoctoral Fellow to contribute to a collaboration between the Couturier (McGill) and Miller (Case Western Reserve University) labs focused on pediatric glioma research. This project aims to map and therapeutically target the myeloid programs driving immunosuppression in pediatric gliomas through a combination of single-cell, spatial multi-omic, and organoid-based approaches.

Together, the teams will establish a bi-national tissue collection infrastructure, generate foundational single-cell and spatial omics datasets, and develop patient-tissue glioma organoid (PTGO) models to test immunotherapy strategies. The ultimate goal is to: 1) identify conserved myeloid phenotypes across tumours; 2) determine which are associated with favourable clinical outcomes and effective anti-tumour immune responses; and 3) develop therapeutic strategies to promote these beneficial immune states.

Position Overview

The Postdoctoral Fellow will lead multi-omic data generation, integration, and analysis to dissect immune–tumour interactions in pediatric gliomas. The successful candidate will work closely with clinical, experimental, and computational collaborators across McGill and Case Western, contributing to both wet-lab and computational efforts that connect tissue-level biology to therapeutic translation.

About the Lab

The Couturier Lab integrates single-cell, spatial, and imaging-based omics to deconstruct brain tumour behaviours into their cellular and molecular building blocks. Our research spans the interface of molecular biology, computational modeling, and clinical imaging, with the aim of translating mechanistic discoveries into precision strategies for patient care.

Based at The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute–Hospital), the lab is part of a dynamic ecosystem that bridges fundamental discovery with translational neuro-oncology through collaborations with international partners in the USA and Europe. The group’s work spans glioma biology, tumour–immune–vascular interactions, and spatial transcriptomic modeling.

About McGill and Montreal

Montreal is one of North America’s leading centres for research and innovation, home to world-class institutions such as McGill University, The Neuro, and the Goodman Cancer Institute. The city offers an exceptional quality of life, with a vibrant cultural scene, affordable living, and a welcoming bilingual environment. Its compact layout, efficient public transit, and abundance of green spaces make Montreal an outstanding place to live and work.

Key Responsibilities

  • Design and implement single-cell and spatial-omics workflows (scRNA-seq, Xenium, PhenoCycler-Fusion) on pediatric glioma tissues and organoids.
  • Develop and apply computational pipelines to integrate and analyze single-cell and spatial transcriptomic data.
  • Participate in manuscript preparation, figure design, and presentation of findings at international meetings.
  • Provide mentorship to graduate students and research assistants in experimental or analytical workflows.

Qualifications

  • PhD in Computational Biology, Genomics, Biomedical Engineering, Neurosciences, or related fields.
  • Proven expertise in single-cell or spatial transcriptomic/proteomic data analysis, or related analyses.
  • Proficiency in Python and/or R, with experience in high-dimensional data visualization and integration.
  • Experience with cell culture, tissue processing, or organoid models is an asset.
  • Strong publication record demonstrating independent research and analytical innovation.
  • Excellent communication and teamwork skills in a multi-institutional and interdisciplinary environment.

Other Required Skills and Abilities

  • Demonstrated ability to manage and analyze large, multi-modal datasets.
  • Familiarity with cloud computing environments (e.g., Google Cloud) and version control (Git/GitHub).
  • Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and capacity to prioritize within collaborative projects.
  • Commitment to open science, equity, and rigorous scientific standards.

Compensation and Terms

  • Duration: 1-year full-time appointment, renewable depending on performance and funding.
  • Start date: Winter 2026
  • Salary: Starting between $50,000-$60,000


 

Why Join Us?

  • Unique opportunity to work at the forefront of pediatric neuro-oncology and spatial immunogenomics, contributing to a first-in-kind infrastructure for multi-institutional single-cell and spatial data generation.
  • Access state-of-the-art equipment: 10x Xenium, Visium HD and Chromium X, PhenoCycler Fusion, NextSeq 2000 and high-performance computing resources.
  • Collaborate with internationally recognized leaders in computational neuro-oncology.
  • Thrive in The Neuro’s open-science environment, fostering data sharing and interdisciplinary innovation.

This position is covered by the AMURE Collective agreement.

https://www.mcgill.ca/hr/files/hr/collective_agreement_-_post_docs_-_2023-2026_-_final_-_with_signture.pdf



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.

Annual Salary:

$50,000.00

Hours per Week:

35 (Full time)

Location:

Montreal Neuro.

Supervisor:

Assistant Professor (Clinical)

Position Start Date:

2026-01-20

Position End Date:

2027-01-20

Deadline to Apply:

2026-01-12

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, accessibilityrequest.hr@mcgill.ca.