Founded in 1967, the Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM) is a non-profit organization that conducts basic and clinical biomedical research while training the next generation of scientists in an innovative environment. With approximately 425 employees and trainees, the Institute includes more than 35 laboratories conducting high-impact research in the fields of infectious diseases, immunology, cancer, neuroscience, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, systems biology, and medicinal chemistry. The IRCM also operates specialized research clinics in long COVID, immunology, hypertension, nutrition, and diabetes.
Dr. Falcone is a physician and scientist specializing in infectious diseases. She is the Director of both the IRCM Post-COVID-19 Research Clinic and the Microbiome and Mucosal Defence Research Unit. The IRCM Post-COVID-19 Research Clinic (IPCO) was the first long COVID research clinic established in Montreal and represents a truly unique infrastructure where all patients are both clinically evaluated and enrolled in a research protocol with biobank aimed at understanding the long-term effects of SARS-CoV2 infection.
This Falcone lab is a dynamic team that combines clinical care with cutting-edge clinical, translational, and fundamental research. The successful candidate will work in an energetic and solution-oriented environment that values equity, diversity, and collaboration.
Job summary and responsibilities
The candidate selected for this postdoctoral trainee posting will be supervised by Dr. Emilia Liana Falcone and therefore involved in different aspects of Dr. Falcone’s clinical and translational research program (herein referred to as Falcone lab).
The training will focus on the study of Gut Dysbiosis, intestinal barrier dysfunction and immune dysregulation in the context of Chronic Inflammatory Conditions, including Long Covid, HIV-infection and inborn errors of immunity. As part of our lab, the candidate will be involved in furthering the understanding of mechanisms responsible for such imbalances and their impact in sustaining inflammation using both in vitro and in vivo models.
The project will include isolation and characterization of microbial Extracellular Vesicles (EVs), as well as the assessment of their inflammatory and/or immunomodulatory potential on host cell populations. The interaction between microbes or their EVs and host cells will be done using human tissue, in vitro (e.g., organoids) and in vivo (e.g. conventional and gnotobiotic mice) models. We view observations emanating from these studies will lead to the identification of novel markers, which could be exploited in the design of future therapeutic strategies.
Qualifications and required skills
• PhD or MD/PhD in health sciences, with a strong background in the field of microbiology/immunology, and good comprehension of inflammation and host-microbe interactions.
• Experience with most of the following techniques is expected: multicolour flow-cytometry, ELISA based technologies, cell culture assays, biochemical technology, animal models, EV isolation, sequencing, QPCR, microbiology/bacterial culture.
• Bioinformatics skills and training in statistics considered a plus.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Publication track record (at least 2 peer reviewed manuscripts).
• Excellent judgment
• Reliability and integrity
• Flexibility, autonomy, rigor, organizational skills
• Diplomacy, dynamism, and professionalism
• Excellent work ethic
• Solution-oriented
• Demonstrates leadership and good collaboration skills in a team environment
Starting date: as soon as possible
Working conditions
• 12-month contract with possibility of renewal
• Full-time, daytime schedule
• Other advantageous conditions apply. The candidate will be informed at the time of recruitment.
To apply, please send your CV to: RecruteRH@ircm.qc.ca
