Research Assistant 2

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Hiring Unit: Department of Biochemistry - Professor Thomas Duchaine's Lab

Position Summary:

The laboratories of Prof. Thomas Duchaine (McGill mRNA Therapeutics Platform) and Prof. Amine Kamen (Vaccines Bioprocessing Laboratory) at McGill University are seeking a highly motivated graduate student or postdoctoral fellow in Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Biotechnology, Bioprocessing, Synthetic Biology, or related disciplines to join a fast-paced translational RNA therapeutics initiative.

This project will focus on the development of automated and low-cost mRNA manufacturing workflows using an automated platform, with an emphasis on:

• SOP development and automation,

• scalable RNA production,

• low-cost reagent and process optimization,

• QC integration,

• and globally deployable manufacturing pipelines.

The position is embedded within McGill’s DNA to RNA (D2R) initiative and connected to an international collaborative network funded by the Gates foundation involving partners such as the Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD) and Biovac, supporting the development of sustainable RNA manufacturing capacity and workforce training.

The trainee will work in a highly interdisciplinary environment at the interface of:

• RNA therapeutics,

• bioprocess engineering,

• automation,

• AI/data-driven optimization,

• sequencing and quality control,

• and vaccine manufacturing.

Qualifications:

We are looking for candidates with interest or experience in:

• mRNA or synthetic biology,

• bioprocess engineering,

• automation platforms,

• molecular biology,

• process optimization,

• analytical or sequencing technologies,

• or computational/data-driven workflows.

Candidates should be collaborative, creative, organized, and excited by translational science and global impact.

Knowledge of French and English: McGill University is an English-language university where day to day duties may require English communication both verbally and in writing. The level of English required for this position has been assessed at a level 3 on a scale of 0-4.

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.

This position is covered by the Association of McGill University Research Employees (AMURE) collective agreement.