Student, Co-Op/Placement (Research and Development Physicist / Biophysicist) Contract
Department: Research
Compensation: CAD 20 - CAD 26 - hourly
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.
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 secure 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
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
Why join 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 setting
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.
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📌 Student, Co-Op/Placement (Research and Development Physicist / Biophysicist) (Ontario)
🏢 University Health Network
📍 Ontario