Career Opportunities

General Information:

An MSc position is open in the Tóth lab to conduct structure-function studies on a newly discovered cellular organelle (Anastasia et al. Cell Reports, 2021). The candidate will learn to use state-of-the-art imaging methodologies such as electron tomography to reconstruct the various compartments of the cell in 3D. In addition, they will learn how to design, test, and analyze quantitative electron microscopy data and present them to both scientific and external audiences. Through this research program, the candidate will learn to recognize, evaluate, and solve any complex problem using the scientific method. The student will be part of a highly dynamic and collaborative project.

Please, send your CV to ktoth@uottawa.ca

Desired qualifications:

Desired Qualifications:

• Knowledge and experience in fundamental methods in cell and molecular biology;
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail and effective problem-solving abilities;
• Efficient time management skills;
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team;
• Knowledge and experience in safe laboratory practices;
• Experience with management of mouse colonies;
• Bilingualism along with good interpersonal and communication skills an asset.

Responsibilities and tasks:

*The person hired for this position will be responsible for the following routine tasks:
 

General lab maintenance:

• Effective organization of glassware cleaning and sterilization.
• to keep the lab organized and clean.
• to verify and maintain CO₂ tanks and liquid N₂ cryopreservation tanks.
• to ensure all basic laboratory equipment is properly calibrated and functional.

General operating tasks:

• to keep track of inventory for basic lab supplies.
• to prepare order requisitions when needed.
• to obtain orders as they arrive at the Faculty or in local biobars.
• to keep a record of purchase orders and overall expenditures.

Mouse colonies:

• will be responsible for genotyping and record keeping of common mouse lines used on a regular basis.
• establish matings to generate and maintain appropriate mouse lines
• assist with analysis of mouse embryo or offspring.

Routine laboratory work:

• molecular biology, including cloning, plasmid preps, RT-PCR, qPCR, chromatin immunoprecipitation, etc.
• basic protein biochemistry, including immunoprecipitation, Western blotting.
• ability to learn new techniques.

Salary:

Will be based on experience and for 20 hours/week.

To apply:

Candidates should submit their CV and the names and contact information for two references to David Lohnes at dlohnes@uottawa.ca

General Information:

Applications are invited for a postdoctoral fellowship starting immediately at the University of Ottawa to investigate features of synaptic signal integration and microcircuit function using experimental and computational approaches. The researcher will join a collaborative group with expertise in cellular electrophysiology, two-photon imaging, and advanced computational modelling and statistical processing (Drs Katalin Toth and Richard Naud). Expertise in cellular electrophysiology and/or in two-photon cellular imaging is required. This fully funded position with attractive conditions is available immediately. The candidate is expected to be competitive for external fellowships.

The researcher will join uOttawa’s Brain and Mind Research Institute’s Center for Neural Dynamics (Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine; Faculty of Medicine). uOttawa’s Neuroscience community is fast expanding, highly dynamic and offers a rich array of collaborative opportunities. Ottawa, the capital of Canada, is a green, multi-cultural city that offers the highest standard of living in the country and is second worldwide for quality of life (Numbeo index, 2015). The city has many parks including the Unesco World Heritage Rideau Canal and is surrounded by an extensive greenbelt. This bilingual, culturally-rich city lies along the border between the province of Quebec and Ontario and is within driving distance to Montréal and Toronto.

Employer Profile:

The University of Ottawa is a bilingual research university in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The university offers a wide variety of academic programs, administered by ten faculties. It is a member of the U15, a group of research-intensive universities in Canada. In the Maclean’s 2015 Canadian University rankings, the University of Ottawa ranked 2nd for Medical/Science Grants, 2nd for Scholarships & Bursaries and 1st for Student Services in the Medical/Doctoral University category.

Please send CV, statement of research interest and names of three references to: Katalin Toth (ktoth@uottawa.ca).

General Information:

Postdoctoral positions are available in the laboratory of Dr. Xiaohui Zha at Ottawa Hospital Research Institute/University of Ottawa*, Canada (http://www.ohri.ca/profile/Zha).

Project Description:

The project is to study the mechanisms by which cholesterol regulates macrophage inflammation, a key event in atherosclerosis. Cholesterol, a major component of the plasma membrane in mammalian cells, predominantly regulates membrane physical properties. Most likely through its modulation of cellular membranes, cholesterol impacts numerous signal transduction pathways and cellular processes.  Particularly, cholesterol levels in macrophages determine the nature of the inflammation response, for example, pro-inflammatory response (M1), anti-inflammatory (M2) or anything in between. The mechanism is largely unknown.  In recent years, it is increasingly apparent that macrophages can respond to environmental cues to establish an epigenetically “poised” state.  This allows macrophages to rapidly launch a large-scale gene expression program upon stimulation (i.e. LPS). The project will use biochemistry and genomic techniques, such as RNA-seq and ChIP-seq, to understand how cholesterol establishes epigenetically “poised” states in the genome of the macrophages to regulate gene expression for inflammatory responses.

Basic Requirements:

Candidates should be a fresh PhD (less than two years since graduation) in physical science or biological science with good publication record.  Knowledge/experience in genomic system biology is a plus, but not necessary.  If interested, please send curriculum vitae and brief statement of research interest to xzha@ohri.ca .

Contact info:

Xiaohui Zha, Senior Scientist
Chronic Disease Program
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6
 

*The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute is the research arm of The Ottawa Hospital and an affiliated institute of the University of Ottawa. With more than 1,700 scientists, clinician investigators, trainees and staff, and total revenues of more than $100 million, it is one of the foremost Canadian hospital-based research institutes. Researcher are investigating virtually every major disease and condition, with a focus on answering important health questions and translating our findings into benefits for patients and society.