Research Fellow, Genetics & Genome Biology
About the role
Dedicated exclusively to children and their families, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is one of the largest and most respected paediatric healthcare centres in the world. As innovators in child health, we lead and partner to improve the health of children through the integration of healthcare, leading-edge research and education. Our reputation would not have been built - nor could it be maintained - without the skills, knowledge and experience of the extraordinary people who come to work here every day. SickKids is committed to ongoing learning and development, and features a caring and supportive work environment that combines exceptionally high standards of practice.
When you join SickKids, you become part of our community. We share a commitment and determination to fulfill our vision of Healthier Children. A Better World .
Don't miss out on the opportunity to work alongside the world's best in paediatric healthcare.
One Post Doctoral position is available in the Genetics and Genome Biology
Laboratory of Dr. Ajoy Vincent at the Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto. The anticipated start date is February 2026.
The successful candidate will be involved in studying the role of Glycogen metabolism in hereditary macular dystrophy (HMD). Biallelic pathogenic variants in PYGM (Muscle isoform of Glycogen Phosphorylase) result in McArdle Disease (McD). We have shown that McD can cause HMD in about 45% of patients. PYGM breaks down intracellular glycogen into glucose monomers, providing energy to skeletal muscles. But little is known about its role in the retina, and what leads to HMD in McD. Further, the role of glycogen metabolism in the retina needs to be established. We aim to shed light on the interplay between retinal glycogen metabolism and HMD pathogenesis due to variants in PYGM . To this aim, we plan to use conditional KO mouse models for PYGM, PYGB and PYGL to study the expression and functions of these enzymes in the retina and how it leads to retinopathy.
The candidate will work closely with Dr Vincent and a research team of experienced research associate and graduate student and will be involved in collaborative work with research laboratories at the SickKids Research Institute and the University of Toronto, as well as with national and international collaborators.
The candidates must have a PhD in physiology, biochemistry, genetics, or related fields with an excellent academic record and strong evidence of research involving mouse models at the graduate level.
Employment Type: Full-time temporary 1 year contract, 1.0 FTE
SickKids is committed to championing equity, diversity and inclusion in all that we do, fostering an intentionally inclusive and culturally safe environment that reflects the diversity of the patients, families and communities we serve. Learn more about workplace inclusion.
If you require accommodation during the application process, please reach out to our aSKHR team. SickKids can provide access and inclusion supports to eligible candidates to support their full engagement during the interview and selection process as well as to ensure candidates are able to perform their duties once successfully hired. If you are invited for an interview and require accommodation, please let us know at the time of your invitation to interview. Information received related to access, inclusion or accommodation will be addressed confidentially.
Technical difficulties? Email ask.hr@sickkids.ca with a short description of the issues you are experiencing. We will not accept resumes sent to this inbox but we are happy to respond to requests for technical assistance.
Tip: Combine your cover letter and resume into ONE document of 20 pages or less as you cannot upload multiple documents as part of your application.
About The Hospital for Sick Children
The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is recognized as one of the world’s foremost paediatric health-care institutions and is Canada’s leading centre dedicated to advancing children’s health through the integration of patient care, research and education. Founded in 1875 and affiliated with the University of Toronto, SickKids is one of Canada’s most research-intensive hospitals and has generated discoveries that have helped children globally.
Its mission is to provide the best in complex and specialized family-centred care; pioneer scientific and clinical advancements; share expertise; foster an academic environment that nurtures health-care professionals; and champion an accessible, comprehensive and sustainable child health system.
SickKids is a founding member of Kids Health Alliance, a network of partners working to create a high quality, consistent and coordinated approach to paediatric health care that is centred around children, youth and their families.
SickKids is proud of its vision of Healthier Children. A Better World.™
Research Fellow, Genetics & Genome Biology
About the role
Dedicated exclusively to children and their families, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is one of the largest and most respected paediatric healthcare centres in the world. As innovators in child health, we lead and partner to improve the health of children through the integration of healthcare, leading-edge research and education. Our reputation would not have been built - nor could it be maintained - without the skills, knowledge and experience of the extraordinary people who come to work here every day. SickKids is committed to ongoing learning and development, and features a caring and supportive work environment that combines exceptionally high standards of practice.
When you join SickKids, you become part of our community. We share a commitment and determination to fulfill our vision of Healthier Children. A Better World .
Don't miss out on the opportunity to work alongside the world's best in paediatric healthcare.
One Post Doctoral position is available in the Genetics and Genome Biology
Laboratory of Dr. Ajoy Vincent at the Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto. The anticipated start date is February 2026.
The successful candidate will be involved in studying the role of Glycogen metabolism in hereditary macular dystrophy (HMD). Biallelic pathogenic variants in PYGM (Muscle isoform of Glycogen Phosphorylase) result in McArdle Disease (McD). We have shown that McD can cause HMD in about 45% of patients. PYGM breaks down intracellular glycogen into glucose monomers, providing energy to skeletal muscles. But little is known about its role in the retina, and what leads to HMD in McD. Further, the role of glycogen metabolism in the retina needs to be established. We aim to shed light on the interplay between retinal glycogen metabolism and HMD pathogenesis due to variants in PYGM . To this aim, we plan to use conditional KO mouse models for PYGM, PYGB and PYGL to study the expression and functions of these enzymes in the retina and how it leads to retinopathy.
The candidate will work closely with Dr Vincent and a research team of experienced research associate and graduate student and will be involved in collaborative work with research laboratories at the SickKids Research Institute and the University of Toronto, as well as with national and international collaborators.
The candidates must have a PhD in physiology, biochemistry, genetics, or related fields with an excellent academic record and strong evidence of research involving mouse models at the graduate level.
Employment Type: Full-time temporary 1 year contract, 1.0 FTE
SickKids is committed to championing equity, diversity and inclusion in all that we do, fostering an intentionally inclusive and culturally safe environment that reflects the diversity of the patients, families and communities we serve. Learn more about workplace inclusion.
If you require accommodation during the application process, please reach out to our aSKHR team. SickKids can provide access and inclusion supports to eligible candidates to support their full engagement during the interview and selection process as well as to ensure candidates are able to perform their duties once successfully hired. If you are invited for an interview and require accommodation, please let us know at the time of your invitation to interview. Information received related to access, inclusion or accommodation will be addressed confidentially.
Technical difficulties? Email ask.hr@sickkids.ca with a short description of the issues you are experiencing. We will not accept resumes sent to this inbox but we are happy to respond to requests for technical assistance.
Tip: Combine your cover letter and resume into ONE document of 20 pages or less as you cannot upload multiple documents as part of your application.
About The Hospital for Sick Children
The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is recognized as one of the world’s foremost paediatric health-care institutions and is Canada’s leading centre dedicated to advancing children’s health through the integration of patient care, research and education. Founded in 1875 and affiliated with the University of Toronto, SickKids is one of Canada’s most research-intensive hospitals and has generated discoveries that have helped children globally.
Its mission is to provide the best in complex and specialized family-centred care; pioneer scientific and clinical advancements; share expertise; foster an academic environment that nurtures health-care professionals; and champion an accessible, comprehensive and sustainable child health system.
SickKids is a founding member of Kids Health Alliance, a network of partners working to create a high quality, consistent and coordinated approach to paediatric health care that is centred around children, youth and their families.
SickKids is proud of its vision of Healthier Children. A Better World.™