Postdoctoral Fellow

Location: Toronto-661 University

Department: Scientist, Microbiology and Laboratory Science, Third Party Funding

The Role
Public Health Ontario is looking to hire a highly motivated and creative Postdoctoral Fellow to join an interdisciplinary research team. The successful candidate will lead and contribute to projects that investigate how pathogen evolutionary dynamics, spatial spread, and genomic diversity inform public health surveillance, outbreak response, and pandemic preparedness. This position emphasizes the integration of high-resolution genomic data, phylogenetic and phylodynamic modeling, and machine learning approaches to: 1) Reconstruct transmission networks and pathogen migration pathways; 2) Quantify epidemic dynamics in real time; 3) Develop predictive models to strengthen infectious disease prevention and control strategies; and 4) Contribute to knowledge synthesis and capacity building in phylodynamics for public health, including teaching and course development. The role provides extensive opportunities for collaboration across microbiology, bioinformatics, epidemiology, and modeling teams, as well as for method development, data interpretation, and knowledge translation.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct advanced research in comparative evolutionary genomics, phylodynamic, phylogeographic, and applied machine learning for infectious disease surveillance, outbreak investigations and forecasting.
• Develop and test mathematical and phylodynamic models by developing public health use-case scenarios by using high-throughput whole-genome sequences of respiratory pathogens, to infer evolutionary relationships, transmission patterns, and population structure.
• Integrate genomic data with epidemiological metadata, socio-economic indicators, and climate variables to enhance understanding of disease dynamics and drivers of spread.
• Collaborate closely with project team and the principal investigator (PI) and organize regular meetings with the research team to share progress and insights, discuss findings, and refine the research objectives and methodologies.
• Present research findings through scientific publications, conference presentations, and internal knowledge translation activities.
• Stay up-to-date with advancements in genomics, phylodynamics, and machine learning, and contribute to the development and refinement of innovative research methodologies.
• Deadline Adherence: Meet project deadlines and milestones in a timely manner while maintaining the quality and accuracy of the work.

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant field (e.g., Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Infectious Disease Modelling, or Statistical Modelling) obtained within the last two years, with a strong background in public health, genomics, and modelling.
• Demonstrated expertise in molecular evolution, phylogenetics, and phylodynamic modelling, applied across viral and zoonotic pathogens.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, with experience using Linux-based environments and bioinformatic tools.
• Strong foundation in Bayesian and maximum likelihood methods, including phylogenetic inference, mutation rate estimation, and genetic diversity analyses.
• Experience in next-generation sequencing (NGS) data analysis and familiarity with standard bioinformatics pipelines.
• Proven record of scientific and scholarly writing, demonstrated through first-author publications, technical reports, and conference presentations, with the ability to communicate complex concepts clearly to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across disciplines, including prior experience in public health or academic research organizations.
• Experience in university-level teaching or training in molecular epidemiology, R programming, or outbreak investigation is an asset.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a collaborative, interdisciplinary research team.

Additional Information

• This is a-year postdoctoral fellowship position with the possibility of extension based on performance and funding availability.
• The postdoctoral fellow will have access to state-of-the-art resources and will be part of a vibrant research community.
• The research group is located at Public Health Ontario in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, offering a stimulating and supportive research environment.

Application Instructions
Interested candidates should submit the following materials:

• A cover letter summarizing qualifications, research experience, motivation, and alignment of expertise and career goals with this position.
• Curriculum vitae (CV) including a list of publications.
• Examples of relevant publications or preprints (if available), and links to code repositories or other research outputs.

Duration: Contract (Fixed Term), 12 month(s)

Hours of Work: Full time, 36.25 hours per week

Compensation Group: Individual Contributor

Posting Date:

Closing Date
Please note:
applications will be received no later than 11:59pm on the date preceding the closing date as indicated on the Job Requisition.

Note: Internal candidates will be considered first.
While we thank all applicants for their interest, only those selected to move forward in the recruitment process will be contacted. Any information obtained during the course of recruitment will be used for employment recruitment purposes only, and not for any other purpose.
PHO is committed to ensuring equity in employment. Our goal is to create a diverse, inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve and to ensure our services and communications are accessible to all individuals. Any candidate who requires a job posting in an alternative format may email a request to Once an applicant has been selected for an interview, they can inform PHO about any accommodations they may require at any stage of the interview process.