PhD Students and Postdocs - University of Montreal - Montreal, Quebec

Job title: Recruiting PhD students and Postdocs 

Position Overview:

Research laboratory presentation

The Marín-Juez laboratory, at the CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, is recruiting PhD students and postdoctoral fellows (up to 5 years fully funded position).  Our laboratory is interested in the cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating cardiac regeneration and development.  

The successful applicant will join the Marín-Juez laboratory at the CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, where they will have access to state-of-the-art facilities and technology platforms including Advanced imaging platform (light-sheet, spinning-disc confocal, multiphoton, STED super-resolution, etc.), genomics (DropSeq, 10x, Illumina Novaseq, Visium), IPSC Cell Reprograming and bioinformatics platforms.  The CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center provides a thriving scientific environment where the successful applicant will have the opportunity to work with multidisciplinary scientific teams and to collaborate with talented clinicians and researchers. 

Research project description

We have previously uncovered mechanisms governing coronary network replenishment, including the formation of a vascular scaffold that supports cardiomyocyte regeneration and mediates coronary-epicardial interactions and immune responses (Marín-Juez et al., PNAS 2016; Marín-Juez et al., Dev Cell 2019; El-Sammak et al., Circ Res 2022; Wang et al., Development 2024; Gupta et al. Dev Bio 2025; Rouf et al. Development 2026). Our recent work identifies the epicardium as a master regulator of cardiac fibrosis resolution and tissue replenishment (Kayman-Kürekçi et al. NCVR2026).

Building on these findings, we now aim to elucidate how the cardiac endothelium, epicardium, and immune system components cooperate to regulate tissue replenishment, as well as the specific mechanisms underlying their roles in cardiomyocyte regeneration and development.

PhD student position 

Applicants should have training in molecular biology, cell biology, or related fields.  Candidates should be enthusiastic about regenerative and developmental biology. Previous research experience with zebrafish and/or heart regeneration is highly valued but not essential. Candidates with experience in confocal/light-sheet imaging and/or genome engineering are strongly encouraged to apply.

Postdoc position 

We are looking for candidates with a Ph.D. in the biological sciences and laboratory experience in tissue repair/regeneration, cellular, molecular biology, or genetics.  Previous experience working with zebrafish, imaging and histology are highly valued but not essential. Candidates with experience in confocal/light-sheet imaging and/or genome engineering are strongly encouraged to apply.  Preference will be given to applicants with excellent collaborative and communication skills.  

How to apply

Candidates must send the required documents to Rubén Marín Juez at ruben.marin.juez.hsj@ssss.gouv.qc.ca

Please provide:

• Curriculum vitæ
• Cover letter 
• References (2 or 3)