About this Research Associate role at McGill University
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The Laboratory of Professor Etienne De Villers-Sidani is seeking a highly motivated and qualified Research Associate to join its team.
The laboratory develops digital biomarkers of brain function derived from eye-tracking and speech/voice recordings, with the goal of detecting and monitoring neurological disorders (e.g., neurodegenerative, neuroimmunological and neuromuscular diseases). Reporting to the principal investigator, the incumbent will act as the lab's data scientist: designing, implementing and validating algorithms on multimodal clinical datasets, and independently writing up and communicating the results in the scientific literature.
Main responsibilities
• Design, implement and optimize signal-processing, statistical and machine-learning algorithms for eye-movement (oculomotor) and voice/speech data.
• Validate algorithms against clinical reference standards: accuracy, reliability (test–retest), longitudinal sensitivity to change, and generalizability across cohorts.
• Curate, quality-control and analyze large multimodal clinical datasets; maintain reproducible, documented analysis pipelines and code.
• Draft peer-reviewed scientific articles with a high degree of autonomy (from analysis plan to submission and response to reviewers), as well as abstracts, reports and grant sections.
• Present findings at lab meetings and scientific conferences, and communicate effectively with clinicians, engineers, trainees and local, national and international collaborators.
Required qualifications
Education: PhD in computer science, engineering, mathematics/statistics, computational neuroscience or a related quantitative discipline.
Computing: Advanced programming skills (e.g., Python and/or R, MATLAB; scientific and ML libraries), with sound software practices (version control, reproducible pipelines).
Mathematics: Strong mathematical and statistical background (signal processing, time-series analysis, machine learning, mixed-effects/longitudinal models, diagnostic-accuracy statistics).
Scientific writing: Demonstrated ability to write scientific articles autonomously, evidenced by a first-author publication record.
Communication and autonomy: Ability to work independently, manage several projects in parallel and communicate complex results clearly to multidisciplinary audiences.
Assets
• Experience with eye-tracking, speech/audio or other physiological or biomedical signals.
• Experience with clinical or health research data.
• Knowledge of neuroscience or neurological disorders.
This position is covered by the AMURE collective agreement: http://www.aerum-amure.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/AMURE-2023-2027.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. The level of English required for this position has been assessed at a level 4 on a scale of 0-4.
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This position is covered by the Association of McGill University Research Employees (AMURE) collective agreement.
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, [email protected].
