Faculty All Ranks (Tenure track) Professor in Neurocircuitry of complex behavior

The Department of neurosciences invites applications from candidates at all career levels who are interested in neurocircuitry related to production of complex behaviors, for examples ones involved in sensorimotor integration, motor control, learning and memory. The candidate will be responsible for developing an independent, competitive and original research program that addresses questions that bridge the fields of synaptic and cellular neuroscience and systems and computational neuroscience. Priority will be given to researchers who skillfully combine optogenetic tools to target specific cell types, large-scale cellular imaging, and multielectrode recordings in animals during behaviors. In addition, the successful candidate should promote the development and implementation of new techniques and technologies in neuroscience, such as viral or gene targeting of different cell types and the application of these techniques in various animal models through collaborations. Finally, the candidate will use sophisticated analysis methods, for example based on machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), on large data sets.

The Department of neurosciences was created to bring together teams who excel in the field of neuroscience and who work both on the campus of the University of Montreal and in off-campus research centers, mainly at the University Hospital Center. of Montreal (CHUM) and the Sainte-Justine University Hospital Center. A hybrid department (basic and clinical sciences), it brings together 142 experts in fundamental and clinical neuroscience (neurology and neuropediatrics) who are engaged in various training and research programs. The department provides integrated teaching at all three levels (bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral) in neuroscience and directs medical training in neurology at the doctoral (MD) and postdoctoral (residency) levels. The Department of neurosciences ensures the development of care, teaching and research in neuroscience at the Faculty of Medicine for a better understanding of the properties and functions of the nervous system in humans, both in a normal and pathological context, through the study of human or animal models to improve care for patients and the population.

Please follow the link to learn more about the Department of neurosciences (https://neurosciences.umontreal.ca/).

As a professor, you will have the opportunity to contribute to the excellence of your Department of neurosciences and Faculty of Medicine…

…through your teaching and your research activities. You will also ensure the visibility of your discipline in addition to actively participate in the operation of a renowned institution. As such, you must:

• Develop innovative research platforms in neuroscience and take advantage of the cutting-edge infrastructures available to understand the neurobiological bases of behavior, for examples related to sensorimotor integration, motor control, learning and memory;
• Assume a leadership role in the community, both in Canada and abroad;
• Help build connections between the strong expertise in cellular and systems neuroscience on campus As such, he or she should foster collaborations between neuroscientists, engineers interested in the development of new biomedical technologies (TransMedTech (https://transmedtech.org/en/) and Polytechnique (https://www.polymtl.ca/en/)) and with a strong community of data scientists and AI experts (IVADO (https://ivado.ca/en/) and Mila (https://mila.quebec/en/));
• Teach at undergraduate and graduate levels, supervise postdoctoral trainees and contribute to the activities of the establishment;
• By joining the Faculty of Medicine and the Department of neurosciences, the candidate will contribute to our mission of leadership in biomedical teaching and research, through an innovative and interdisciplinary research program aimed at addressing the important neurodevelopmental and neurological challenges of our society.
   

To succeed in this role, you’ll need:

• Have completed doctorate, or equivalent degree;
• Have extensive experience, including postdoctoral training, in systems neurobiology as well as cellular and synaptic neurobiology;
• Have a strong research tract record that includes important publications in these areas;
• Have expertise that includes transgenesis, optogenetics, imaging of neural activity or analysis of neural networks and in awake animals;
• Have the skills to provide high-quality university teaching and student supervision;
• An adequate knowledge of the French written and spoken language or a strong commitment to mastering the proficiency level required, in accordance to Université de Montréal’s Language Policy (https://francais.umontreal.ca/politique-linguistique/la-politique-linguistique-en-bref/). An institutional learning support program is offered to all professors wishing to learn French or improve their communication skills.

How to submit your application
We invite you to submit to the office of the Director of the Department:

• A cover letter; To comply with the requirements of the Government of Canada, we ask that you include in your cover letter one or other of the following: “I am a citizen/permanent resident of Canada” or “I am not a citizen/permanent resident of Canada”;
• A research statement (approximately three pages);
• A resume;
• Up to five publications including recent research work;
• Three letters of reference from peers familiar with your training and academic career.

Applications must be submitted by email no later than May 1st, 2024 to:

Dr Alexandre Prat, Director
Department of Neurosciences
Faculty of Medicine
Email: [email protected]

We strongly recommend that you complete this self-identification questionnaire (https://forms.office.com/r/i7PBwL0gZz). You will find more information about this step in the Diversity and Inclusion section at the end of this document.

Additional information about the position
Reference number: MED_02-24_15
Application deadline: Until May 1, 2024 inclusively
Salary: Université de Montréal offers competitive salaries and a full range of benefits
Starting date: As of January 1, 2025, negotiable

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
Université de Montréal is strongly committed to fostering diversity and inclusion (https://www.umontreal.ca/diversite/). Through its Equal Access Employment Program (EAEP), UdeM invites applications from women, Indigenous Peoples, visible and ethnic minorities, as well as persons with disabilities. We will –confidentially – adapt our recruitment mechanisms to the specific needs of people with disabilities who request it.

UdeM embraces a broad and inclusive definition of diversity that goes beyond applicable laws, and therefore encourages all qualified individuals to apply, regardless of their characteristics. However, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, priority will be given to Canadians and permanent residents.

In order to measure the impact of its equity, diversity and inclusion actions, UdeM is collecting data on applicants identifying themselves with one of the groups targeted by the Equal Employment Opportunity Act, namely women, Indigenous Peoples, visible minorities, ethnic minorities and people with limitations. To this end, we thank you for completing the self-identification questionnaire. The information you provide through this form is strictly confidential and will be shared only with those responsible for the UdeM EAEP. If you wish, you may also indicate that you belong to one of the targeted groups in your cover letter, which will be reviewed by the selection committee and the assembly of peers.

Université de Montréal’s application process allows all members of the Professor’s Assembly to review the application files submitted. If you wish to keep your application confidential until the shortlist is established, please mention it in your application.