Student, Co-Op/Placement (Research and Development Physicist / Biophysicist) at University Health Network

Job Description

Union: Non-Union

Number of vacancies: 1

New or Replacement Position: New

Site: Princess Margaret Cancer Centre

Department: Department of Medical Biophysics

Reports to: Principal Investigator

Salary Range: $20.00-$26.00 per hour

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Shifts: Day

Status: Temporary Full-time (4-8 months)

Closing Date: November 29, 2026

Position Summary

The Vitkin Lab, based at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (University Health Network) and the Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, develops and applies Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) to study tumour biology and the effects of novel radiotherapy techniques. We are part of an active, multidisciplinary research program investigating FLASH radiotherapy (ultra-high dose-rate irradiation) in preclinical mouse models, in close collaboration with the Radiation Medicine Program's medical physics team.

We are seeking a highly motivated Co-op student to join our research team and contribute directly to in vivo FLASH irradiation studies. The student will work closely with senior research scientists, physicists, and engineers to acquire and analyze multimodal imaging data — including intravital OCT and 7T MRI — from a dorsal skinfold window chamber tumour model, to investigate how FLASH dose rate affects tumour and normal tissue microvasculature.

Please note this role involves in-person laboratory and small-animal facility work at our downtown Toronto location. Students will be given specific training on all relevant laboratory, imaging, and animal-handling protocols before beginning hands-on work. The Vitkin Lab is dedicated to fostering the professional development of its trainees, and Co-op students are encouraged to participate in lab meetings, journal clubs, and other training activities taking place during their term.

Duties

The Co-op student will apply their scientific and technical skill set to support an active in vivo FLASH radiotherapy research program. They will work closely with senior lab members, under direct supervision, to advance project objectives and milestones.

The main responsibilities of the position are listed below, but may be expanded upon based on the experience level of the candidate:

• Assist senior scientists and engineers in the design and execution of in vivo FLASH irradiation experiments using the dorsal skinfold window chamber mouse model
• Support animal preparation, handling, and monitoring in accordance with institutional animal care protocols
• Acquire longitudinal tumour and vascular imaging data using the lab's optical coherence tomography (OCT) system
• Assist with image acquisition on the 7T small-animal MRI system
• Process, analyze, and quantify imaging data using MATLAB and/or Python
• Assist in experimental design, including irradiation scheduling, imaging timepoints, and control-group planning
• Contribute to manuscript writing, including drafting sections, literature review, and reference management
• Produce publication-quality figures and data visualizations summarizing experimental results
• Prepare presentation materials (PowerPoint slides) for lab meetings, collaborator updates, and conferences
• Participate actively in weekly group meetings and present progress updates
• Accurately document all experiments, protocols, and results in laboratory notebooks/electronic records
• Perform all work in a safe manner and maintain a clean, organized laboratory and imaging workspace
• Work in accordance with approved protocols and standard operating procedures (SOPs)
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• University student in Biomedical Engineering, Engineering Science, Medical Biophysics, Physics, or a related program
• Experience working in a research laboratory is preferred
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (both oral and written), including experience or interest in scientific writing
• Must be a detail-oriented individual with excellent organizational skills and critical thinking
• Self-motivated individual with the ability to meet deadlines and prioritize across multiple concurrent projects
• Proficiency in MATLAB and/or Python for scientific data analysis is an asset
• Experience with optical imaging techniques (e.g., fluorescence, microscopy) and/or MRI is an asset
• Prior experience with small-animal handling or in vivo research is an asset (training will be provided)
• Familiarity with radiation biology, radiotherapy physics, or tumour vascular biology is an asset but not required

Additional Information

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. At University Health Network (UHN), artificial intelligence technologies may be used to assist in the screening, assessment, and selection of candidates for this position.

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.