UHN is Canada’s #1 hospital and the world’s #1 publicly funded hospital. With 10 sites and more than 44,000 TeamUHN members, UHN consists of Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, The Michener Institute of Education and West Park Healthcare Centre. As Canada's top research hospital, the scope of biomedical research and complexity of cases at UHN have made it a national and international source for discovery, education and patient care. UHN has the largest hospital-based research program in Canada, with major research in neurosciences, cardiology, transplantation, oncology, surgical innovation, infectious diseases, genomic medicine and rehabilitation medicine. UHN is a research hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto.

UHN’s vision is to build A Healthier World and it’s only because of the talented and dedicated people who work here that we are continually bringing that vision closer to reality.

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Union: Non-Union 
Number of vacancies: 1
New or Replacement Position: New
Site: Toronto Western Hospital
Department: Neurosurgery
Reports to: Principal Investigator
Salary Range: $54,902 to $82,352
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Status: Temporary Full-time
Closing Date: January 30, 2026

Position Summary
The Postdoctoral Researcher (PDR) will conduct advanced electrophysiological research using stereo-EEG and depth electrodes, working closely with clinical teams to design and execute pre-operative, intra-operative, and behavioral neural recording protocols. The PDR will develop and maintain patient-specific closed-loop neural sensing and stimulation platforms, integrating high-resolution signal processing, multimodal imaging, and real-time physiological data to identify and validate biomarkers for neuromodulation. These biomarkers will be translated into control algorithms for responsive deep brain stimulation, with imaging-guided tools applied to refine electrode targeting based on individualized network anatomy. The position emphasizes rigorous experimental design, quality assurance, and adherence to ethical and regulatory standards, including IRB protocols. The PDR will collaborate across neurosurgery, psychiatry, neuropsychology, and engineering, contribute to publications and technical documentation, and mentor junior trainees, supporting translational, patient-centered “n-of-1” neuroscience research.

Duties

• Conducts advanced electrophysiological research using SEEG and depth electrodes.
• Designs and executes preoperative and intraoperative neural recording protocols in collaboration with clinical teams.
• Develops and maintains closed-loop neural sensing and stimulation platforms tailored to individual patient profiles.
• Performs high-resolution signal processing and imaging analyses to identify and validate biomarkers for neuromodulation.
• Collaborates with clinical teams to conduct in-lab behavioral tasks (e.g., pain, craving, mood) synchronized with intracranial recordings.
• Leads behavioral testing synchronized with intracranial recordings, integrating multimodal physiological data in real time.
• Translates biomarkers into control algorithms for responsive DBS, refining electrode targeting using imaging-guided tools.
• Ensures all procedures and pipelines meet rigorous scientific and ethical standards, with reproducibility and modularity.
• Authors technical documentation, IRB protocols, and research publications; mentors junior researchers and trainees.
• Collaborates across disciplines to iterate experimental designs and contribute to translational “n-of-1” neuroscience.
• Performs quality assurance and control in accordance with departmental and regulatory standards.
• Works closely with neurosurgeons, psychiatrists, neuropsychologists, and engineers to iterate protocols.
• Authors and presents protocol designs, IRB submissions, and technical reports; mentor junior researchers.
• Applies imaging-guided tools to refine electrode targeting based on patient-specific network anatomy.

• PhD must be obtained within the previous 5 years, or an MD or DDS within the previous 10 years, required.
• Prior hands-on experience with single-unit and local field potential recordings via SEEG/depth electrodes in EMU settings (2-4 weeks).
• ≥2 years SEEG/depth-electrode experience is an asset.
• Able to develop and refine chronic neural sensing and closed-loop stimulation platforms.
• Able to design and implement preprocessing pipelines (artifact rejection, filtering, referencing, spike sorting).
• Expertise in spectral, time-frequency, cross-frequency, and connectivity analyses.
• Proficiency in MR imaging analysis (DTI, fMRI).
• Able to build reproducible, modular codebases (Python/MATLAB; Git + containers) for SEEG-guided localization, biomarker extraction, and DBS parameter optimization.
• Able to integrate real-time physiological measures (GSR, HRV, voice/facial metrics) to validate biomarkers.
• Able to translate biomarkers into control algorithms for responsive stimulation (e.g., thresholding, state-decoder models).
• Proficient in Python and MATLAB; familiar with clinical systems (BlackRock, Neuralynx, Medtronic Percept, Neuropace).
• Highly motivated, detail-oriented, ethically grounded, with a translational mindset for “n-of-1” studies.
• Proven track record in signal-processing tool development (e.g., published code or pipelines).
• Demonstrated clinical collaboration (e.g., co-authored papers, protocol co-design).
• Strong communication, project leadership, and multi-team coordination skills.

Why join UHN? 
In addition to working alongside some of the most talented and inspiring healthcare professionals in the world, UHN offers a wide range of benefits, programs and perks. It is the comprehensiveness of these offerings that makes it a differentiating factor, allowing you to find value where it matters most to you, now and throughout your career at UHN.

• Competitive offer packages
• Government organization and a member of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP https://hoopp.com/)
• Close access to Transit and UHN shuttle service
• A flexible work environment
• Opportunities for development and promotions within a large organization
• Additional perks (multiple corporate discounts including: travel, restaurants, parking, phone plans, auto insurance discounts, on-site gyms, etc.)

Current UHN employees must have successfully completed their probationary period, have a good employee record along with satisfactory attendance in accordance with UHN's attendance management program, to be eligible for consideration.

All applications must be submitted before the posting close date.

UHN uses email to communicate with selected candidates.  Please ensure you check your email regularly.

Please be advised that a Criminal Record Check may be required of the successful candidate. Should it be determined that any information provided by a candidate be misleading, inaccurate or incorrect, UHN reserves the right to discontinue with the consideration of their application.

UHN is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive recruitment process and workplace. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process. Applicants need to make their requirements known.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.