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Postdoctoral Scholar Position in Neuroimaging/Epigenetics                    

Duration: 2 years          

Start date: Spring/summer 2023 or negotiable    

Salary: $55,000/yr + benefits

The Departments of Pediatrics and Radiology at the University of Calgary are accepting applications for a postdoctoral scholar to work with Drs. Gerald Giesbrecht and Catherine Lebel in the area of neuroimaging and epigenetics. This is an interdisciplinary position involving both mouse models of neurodevelopment and human pediatric neuroimaging. Applicants should have experience in neuroimaging and/or neurodevelopment and an interest in fetal environment.

Dr. Giesbrecht is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics who studies stress and child development. Dr. Lebel is an Associate Professor in the Department of Radiology who studies brain development. They co-lead the Pregnancy during the Pandemic (PdP) study, which is studying the impact of maternal prenatal stress during the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s development. The PdP study collected physical and mental health information, as well as life changes in response to COVID-19 in >9000 pregnant individuals across Canada. We continue to follow the children born to these individuals, measuring their development through surveys, biosamples, and neuroimaging. The postdoctoral scholar will work with Drs. Giesbrecht and Lebel to study links between prenatal maternal stress, children’s epigenetic profiles and brain imaging (structural and/or functional MRI).

Applicants should have a PhD in neuroscience, medical sciences, psychology, or other relevant discipline, and experience with MR image processing and/or epigenetic analysis. Applicants should submit a letter of interest, CV, graduate transcript, and names and contact information for at least two referees to clebel@ucalgary.ca and ggiesbre@ucalgary.ca.

The PDS will be affiliated with the University of Calgary and the Owerko Centre at the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI).  The Owerko Centre is a state-of-the-art research space dedicated to promoting collaborative neurodevelopmental and mental health research across the University of Calgary and its affiliated hospitals. ACHRI brings together over 300 interdisciplinary scientists to find new ways of understanding and treating child behavioural, emotional, cognitive, and physical health. 

The University of Calgary is a leading Canadian university located in the nation’s most enterprising city. To succeed as one of Canada’s top universities, where new ideas are created, tested, and applied through first-class teaching and research, the University of Calgary needs more of the best minds in our classrooms and labs. We’re increasing our scholarly capacity by investing in people who want to change the world, bringing the best and brightest to Calgary to form a global intellectual hub and achieve advances that matter to everyone.

Named a cultural capital of Canada and one of the best places to live in the world, Calgary is a city of leaders – in business, community, philanthropy, and volunteerism. Calgarians benefit from the strongest economy in the nation and enjoy more days of sunshine per year than any other major Canadian city. Calgary is less than an hour’s drive from the majestic Rocky Mountains and boasts the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway network in North America.

If interested in this position, please apply here: https://careers.ucalgary.ca/jobs/11534462-postdoctoral-scholar-paediatrics-and-radiology-cumming-school-of-medicine

The Webster Postdoctoral Scholar in Child Development and Neuroscience

Duration: 2-3 years      

Start date: Sept 2022 or negotiable       

Salary: $60,000/yr + benefits

The BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute is now accepting applications for the 2022 Webster Postdoctoral Scholars Program to support exceptional research trainees and generate innovative research in Child Development and Neuroscience under the mentorship of Dr. Tim Oberlander in the area of developmental neuroimaging. The postdoctoral scholar will also work closely with Drs. Catherine Lebel (University of Calgary) and Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen (UBC) to study brain development in young children as it relates to prenatal and postnatal environments. Data will come from an ongoing study of prenatal distress and child development, the Pregnancy during the COVID-19 Pandemic study.

Dr. Oberlander is a Developmental Pediatrician, Professor, Department of Pediatrics and School of Population and Public Health, studying how early experiences influence child development. Dr. Lebel is an Associate Professor in the Department of Radiology (University of Calgary) with extensive experience investigating structural and functional brain development in childhood, and brain abnormalities in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Dr. Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen is a clinical psychologist with expertise in perinatal mental health and health psychology. Postdoctoral scholars will be based in the Oberlander Lab, a curiosity-driven learning environment at BC Children’s Hospital Research Instutute (BCCHRI) that focuses on accelerating our understanding of biological and behavioral factors underlying variations in early human development.

The goal of the program is to support a recent PhD or MD graduate in conducting clinical and translational research at BCCHR with the intent to develop future leaders in child developmental health research. Applicants should have training in neuroscience, psychology, medical sciences (Pediatrics), or other relevant discipline, and experience with MR image acquisition, processing, and/or analysis.

The program provides scholars with a generous stipend of $60,000/year plus benefits (Extended Health Plan, Dental Plan and Employee and Family Assistance Program) and additional funds are available for research-related expenses (up to $10,000/year) and for travel expenses to attend conferences (up to $3,000/year).

The Post Doctoral Scholar will be affiliated with the University of British Columbia and the BC Children’s Hospital (BCCR).  BCCHR is a University of British Columbia (UBC) Senate-approved research institute located at BC Children’s Hospital and BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre in Vancouver, BC. BCCHR is the largest pediatric research facility in western Canada with over 200 faculty members whose research areas include cancer, developmental neurosciences, diabetes, nutrition & metabolism, genetics, immunity and infection, reproduction, molecular medicine, health services, global health, and new technologies. For more information, visit http://www.bcchr.ca.

This position is located within a health-care facility, therefore, the successful candidate will be required to provide verification of full vaccination against Covid-19 provided prior to the start date, as required by a provincial health mandate. This offer is conditional upon successful completion of a Criminal Record Check Applicants should submit a letter of interest, CV, graduate transcript(s), and names and contact information for at least two references to toberlander@bcchr.ca.

* Please note that this position is for a placement at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, but is in collaboration with our lab *

The members of our lab have put together a few short videos to describe their research findings over the past year or so. If you had any further questions about any of the videos, feel free to email our lab and we would love to get you more informed!

Do you still get people telling you there isn't any evidence on effects of low-level prenatal alcohol exposure? If so, check out this #FASD Success Short with Dr. Catherine Lebel, as there is now! To watch and link to the podcast, visit my FB page: https://t.co/9D4cnilAPN pic.twitter.com/JuPo3u4viy

— Jeff Noble (@JeffjNoble) April 22, 2022

Listen to the Podcast featuring Dr. Lebel here: https://www.fasdsuccess.com/blog/podcast-episode-104

To start the year off, we sent out a Preschool Winter Newsletter update! Click the photo below to view the full newsletter.

Back in 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our lab collaborated with two other labs to launch a study that catered towards individuals who were pregnant during this time period. As a sub-study off the main project, we started exploring the brains of the babies involved through Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Our initial age group was around the 3 month mark and we have now began scanning 12 month olds. We are excited to continue to journey with these infants as we investigate their development over the years!

Take a look at how our very own, Dr. Catherine Lebel, uses technology to advance postpartum mental health and child brain development initiatives.

@Bell_LetsTalk -Brain Canada Mental Health Research Program recipients Drs. @CatherineALebel & @ltomfohr are testing an app-based, peer supported intervention to improve postpartum #mentalhealth and child brain development and behaviour. #BellLetsTalk cc: @UofCr4kids @UCalgary pic.twitter.com/5VR8zDOTq6

— Brain Canada (@BrainCanada) January 21, 2022

September 9th was FASD awareness day. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a brain-based disorder that is very common. It is estimated to affect 4% of Canadians. People with FASD may face a variety of learning, behaviour, and mental health challenges throughout their lives. With the right supports, people with FASD can be very successful.

Our lab works hard to better udnerstand the brain basis of FASD and its links with mental health. Yesterday, we walked in support of FASD Awareness Day.

Check out our projects, or learn more about participating in our research.

We are recruiting people from Edmonton and Calgary to participate in this study – specifically children and youth with prenatal alcohol exposure between 7-18 years old. If you are interested, please read the attached blog post:

Prenatal Alcohol Exposure, Brain Development, and Mental Health