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Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders

Assistant Professor (Tenure Track) in RNA Therapeutics and Engineering

Program Description

The Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders program is a one-time initiative designed to support institutions in recruiting internationally based Early Career Researchers to Canada. Emerging Leaders will receive research funding and institutional support to advance transformative research in Canada’s strategic priority areas, build partnerships across sectors and borders, and translate their research into applications and impacts that benefit Canadians and the world.

The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) and School of Biomedical Sciences at McGill University invite applications for a full-time tenure-track Assistant Professor position in RNA Therapeutics and Engineering in the Departments of Biochemistry and Biomedical Engineering (BME).

The successful candidate will be expected to propose an independent research program demonstrating strong alignment with the program’s strategic priority of ‘Health, including biotechnology’. The Emerging Leaders Program award is valued at $100,000 per year over six years to support the Early Career Researchers’ Research Program, with the possibility of extension for a further six years.

The successful candidate will be expected to begin a full-time tenure-track appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor no later than June 9, 2027.

Position Description

This recruitment takes place at an exceptional moment of growth in RNA science and therapeutics at McGill. The position will leverage complementary strengths in Biochemistry, including RNA biology, gene regulation, RNA guided genome editing, genomics and molecular mechanisms, and in Biomedical Engineering, including biomaterials, RNA delivery, microfluidics, imaging and living systems engineering. It is closely aligned with DNA-to-RNA (D2R), McGill’s $165-million CFREF initiative in RNA discovery and therapeutics and will build on the momentum of McGill’s recent recruitment in RNA biology. The successful candidate will also have access to the McGill mRNA Therapeutics Platform, which supports the design, production, optimization and characterization of mRNA therapeutics, together with extensive opportunities for collaboration across McGill’s research institutes, affiliated hospitals and broader ecosystem in cancer, genomic medicine, cell-based therapeutics and precision medicine.

We seek outstanding candidates with expertise and research interests in Biochemistry and Biomedical Engineering, defined broadly, who will develop a creative and high-impact research program in the fundamental and/or translational aspects of RNA therapeutics and engineering.

The search is aimed toward the rapidly developing continuum connecting RNA design and therapeutics, mRNA vaccines, RNA delivery, genome engineering and next-generation cell-based therapeutics. The successful candidate will pursue an independent research program that combines molecular, biochemical, genomic, quantitative and/or engineering approaches to advance fundamental understanding and create new therapeutic technologies.

Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

• RNA design and engineering, including mRNA vaccines, cancer vaccines, protein-replacement therapeutics, regulatory RNA elements and programmable RNA technologies;
• RNA delivery and targeting, including lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), biomaterials, precision nanomedicine and other viral or non-viral delivery technologies;
• RNA-guided genome engineering, including CRISPR-based approaches, base editing, prime editing and related technologies;
• Cell-based therapeutics and immunoengineering, including engineered immune cells, stem or progenitor cells, in vivo cellular engineering and next-generation CAR-T and related therapeutic strategies;
• Functional genomic, single-cell or quantitative approaches used to optimize RNA therapeutics, delivery strategies, genome-engineering systems or engineered cell therapies.
• Synthetic biology approaches connecting RNA regulation, genome engineering and programmable cellular function;
• RNA bioprocessing, manufacturing, microfluidics and enabling technologies for the translation of RNA medicines.

We seek investigators with a distinctive research vision who can lead a program within the continuum ranging from fundamental discovery towards RNA therapeutic innovation and whose program will provide an intellectual bridge between the complementary strengths of Biochemistry and Biomedical Engineering.

Job Duties

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• develop an innovative, independent and externally funded research program of the highest international standards in RNA therapeutics and engineering;
• integrate molecular, biochemical, genomic, quantitative and/or engineering approaches to address important questions in RNA biology and therapeutic innovation;
• establish interdisciplinary collaborations across Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, SBMS, D2R and relevant McGill research institutes and affiliated hospitals;
• contribute to and leverage McGill's expanding capabilities in RNA design, engineering, delivery, bioprocessing and therapeutic translation;
• successfully compete for external research funding;
• supervise and mentor undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral trainees;
• teach undergraduate and graduate courses and contribute to curriculum development in their areas of specialization;
• contribute to the intellectual and academic life of the Departments, School and University;
• disseminate research findings through high-impact scholarly publications and other knowledge translation and exchange activities;
• where appropriate, pursue innovation, commercialization and partnerships with biotechnology, industry and other sectors.

Qualifications and Education Requirements

Only candidates who were internationally based, both working and residing outside Canada, on June 9, 2026 are eligible.

Candidates must be within five years following the start date of their first research-related appointment, minus the length of any eligible delays in research. Recent graduates and postdoctoral fellows may also be eligible.

Research-related appointments are defined as positions in which the individual has autonomy to conduct research independently.

Eligible leaves, including maternity, parental, medical and bereavement leave, are credited as twice the amount of time taken. Professional leaves, including training, sabbatical and administrative leave, are not credited.

A PhD is required by McGill University for appointment to a tenure-track position; however, it is not a requirement of the Impact+ Emerging Leaders Program itself. Applicants must hold a PhD or equivalent doctoral degree in biochemistry, molecular or cellular biology, biomedical engineering, bioengineering, chemical biology, genomics, biophysics or another relevant discipline.

Candidates should demonstrate:

• an outstanding record of research and scholarly achievement appropriate to career stage;
• a compelling and original research vision in RNA therapeutics and engineering;
• strong potential to establish an internationally leading and competitively funded research program;
• demonstrated capacity or potential for interdisciplinary collaboration;
• a commitment to and evidence, appropriate to career stage, of excellence in teaching, inclusive pedagogy, mentorship and supervision;
• interest in innovation, knowledge translation and/or partnerships with biotechnology and industry, where appropriate.

Candidates should review the eligibility and selection criteria for the Impact+ Program prior to applying.  

Canadians living abroad who wish to relocate to Canada are encouraged to apply.

Application Process

Applications must be submitted through Workday, McGill's HR management system, using the link below.

Use a personal email address when creating an account in Workday.Refer to the How to Apply for a Job (for External Candidates) job aid for instructions on how to apply.

Required Documents

The application package should include the documents listed below and must be merged into one single PDF file not exceeding 5 MB:

• 1-page executive summary
• Cover letter (maximum 2 pages)
• Curriculum vitae
• Statement of research describing current and future research, alignment with the strategic priority area, and potential for knowledge translation, mobilization, and application of research results (maximum 2 pages)
• Research infrastructure needs: laboratory space, equipment (maximum 1 page)
• Teaching statement and dossier (maximum 1 page)
• Contact information for three references 

Job Details

Job Type: Tenure-track
Rank: Assistant Professor
Salary: Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Posting Period

Posting date: October 5th, 2026

Closing date: November 21st, 2026

Inquiries from potential candidates are welcome and will be treated in strict confidence. Correspondence can be directed to: Sonia Nardini, sonia.nardini@mcgill.ca.

Commitment to Equity and Diversity

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 offers immigration and relocation support for selected candidates.

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.

McGill University is committed to equity and diversity within its community and values academic rigour and excellence. We welcome and encourage 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 engage productively with diverse communities.

At McGill, research that reflects diverse intellectual traditions, methodologies, and modes of dissemination and translation is valued and encouraged. Candidates are invited to demonstrate their research impact both within and across academic disciplines and in other sectors, such as government, communities, or industry.

McGill further recognizes and fairly considers the impact of leaves (e.g., family care or health-related) that may contribute to career interruptions or slowdowns. Candidates are encouraged to signal any leave that affected productivity, or that may have had an effect on their career path. This information will be considered to ensure the equitable assessment of the candidate’s record.

McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated equity groups to self-identify. It further seeks to ensure the equitable treatment and full inclusion of persons with disabilities by striving for the implementation of universal design principles transversally, across all facets of the University community, and through accommodation policies and procedures. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, Catherine Roy accessibilityrequest.hr@mcgill.ca.

McGill University is committed to equity and diversity within its community and values academic rigour and excellence. We welcome and encourage 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 engage productively with diverse communities.

At McGill, research that reflects diverse intellectual traditions, methodologies, and modes of dissemination and translation is valued and encouraged. Candidates are invited to demonstrate their research impact both within and across academic disciplines and in other sectors, such as government, communities, or industry.

McGill further recognizes and fairly considers the impact of leaves (e.g., family care or health-related) that may contribute to career interruptions or slowdowns. Candidates are encouraged to signal any leave that affected productivity, or that may have had an effect on their career path. This information will be considered to ensure the equitable assessment of the candidate’s record.

McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated equity groups to self-identify. It further seeks to ensure the equitable treatment and full inclusion of persons with disabilities by striving for the implementation of universal design principles transversally, across all facets of the University community, and through accommodation policies and procedures. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, accessibilityrequest.hr@mcgill.ca.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.