Job Description
Through its core values of Courage, Respect and Excellence, CAMH is implementing its Strategic Plan: Connected CAMH, to transform lives, ignite innovation and discovery, revolutionize education and drive social change. CAMH is more than a hospital, it is a cause. CAMH is on a mission to change the way society thinks about and responds to mental illness. They aim to eliminate prejudice and discrimination and shape a world where mental illness is central to our healthcare system – a world where Mental Health is Health.
To learn more about CAMH, please visit their website at: www.camh.ca.
To view our Land Acknowledgment, please click here.
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is Canada’s largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital and one of the world’s leading research centres in addiction and mental health. CAMH integrates clinical care, research, education, policy development, and health promotion to transform lives affected by mental illness and addictions. The Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute (CFMHRI) at CAMH is home to scientists conducting pioneering research to improve our understanding of brain function, biomarkers, and novel therapeutics for mental illness.
We are seeking a highly motivated Scientific Associate (full-time, 12 month contract) with expertise in preclinical and translational neuroscience to contribute to our mission of advancing drug discovery and development for neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. This full-time, one-year contract position will report to Dr. Fang Liu and collaborate closely with Principal Investigators and multidisciplinary teams.
Key Responsibilities:
Preclinical and Translational Research Support
- Lead the design and execution of preclinical studies, including target validation, high-throughput screening, structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies, and pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) analysis.
- Develop and validate preclinical animal models of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders, including multiple sclerosis, stroke, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and ALS.
- Design and manage in vitro and in vivo assays to advance pipeline projects from target discovery to PCC nomination.
- Collaborate with AI-based drug development partners to co-develop and optimize lead compounds for translational studies.
Project Management and Collaboration
- Coordinate research projects funded by national and international organizations.
- Partner with CAMH investigators and external collaborators to design experiments, manage data analysis, and prepare grant applications.
- Apply business development strategies to establish partnerships and align project goals with funding opportunities.
- Provide leadership in designing and planning activities for advanced platforms, such as iPSC and organoid technologies, integrating diverse teams to meet project objectives.
- Provide mentorship and technical guidance to research trainees, ensuring knowledge transfer and high-quality experimental outcomes.
Data Analysis and Quality Control
- Develop and implement data analysis pipelines for PET imaging and preclinical studies using advanced software (e.g., MATLAB, R, Python).
- Ensure data integrity and reproducibility by performing quality control checks and validating experimental methodologies.
- Analyze preclinical data to identify validated lead candidates and advance them into in vivo PK/PD studies.
Knowledge Dissemination and Capacity Building
- Contribute to manuscript preparation for high-impact scientific publications.
- Organize and lead workshops and seminars on preclinical drug discovery and translational neuroscience techniques.
- Support CAMH researchers with methodological consultations and protocol optimization for grant-funded projects.
General Responsibilities
- Promote a culture of safety and compliance with CAMH’s policies and applicable regulatory requirements.
- Engage in risk management, patient safety, and quality improvement activities.
Job Requirements
- PhD in Neuroscience, Biomedical Sciences, or a related discipline, with postdoctoral experience in preclinical drug development and translational neuroscience.
- Proven track record of leading projects from early-stage discovery to IND-enabling studies.
- Expertise in preclinical animal models, including in vivo and in vitro assays.
- Extensive experience in biotech project leadership, including managing pipeline projects and platform operations.
- Proficiency in data analysis tools and programming languages (e.g., Python, MATLAB, R).
- Experience in assay development, including HPLC and LC-MS, as well as advanced imaging techniques.
- Strong publication record, including high-impact neuroscience journals.
- Project management certification (PMP) is a strong asset.
- MBA degree with specialization in healthcare and consulting, demonstrating applied knowledge in strategy development, market analysis, and business development is preferred.
- Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with demonstrated ability to collaborate in a multidisciplinary research environment.
- Sensitivity to and experience working within diverse and inclusive environments.
Salary Range: Competitive salary and benefits package.
Location: The position will be based at CAMH’s 250 College Street location in Toronto.
