The Kowalec Research Group invites applications for a postdoctoral position for a two-year term with the possibility of extension. Led by Dr. Kaarina Kowalec, the Kowalec research group is located within the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba, Canada. This position is funded by the National Institutes of Mental Health (USA) for investigations of the role of genetic and environmental/epidemiological factors in severe psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and depression. The position is based in Canada, but works closely with collaborators from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (Prof Patrick Sullivan), Karolinska Institute (Dr. Lu Yi), University of Oslo (Prof Ole Andreassen), and Danish Institute of Biological Psychiatry (Prof Thomas Werge). Data will comprise of comprehensive national health register data (administrative health data) from Sweden, as well as genome-wide SNP arrays, analysis of copy number variants (CNVs), and whole exome and whole genome sequencing. 

The position will commence as soon as possible, or on a date mutually agreed upon. Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications.

The Kowalec lab is a multi-disciplinary research program, which combines genomics and epidemiology to advance the outcomes of those affected by severe psychiatric disorders. Our group is located in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy, at the University of Manitoba, where we contribute to the creation of a data science hub. We are a “dry-lab” focussed on computation and analysis, but collaborate with “wet-lab” groups internationally.  These recent papers describe our efforts in psychiatric genomics (PMID: 33550997, 33723211, 31712719, 31164630). Our work regularly involves an extensive network of International collaborators, including the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium.

The overarching goals of the intended position are: on a population scale, how do genes and environment act and interact to modify risk for severe psychiatric disorders? By what molecular and cellular mechanisms do these genes act?

More information is available on JobRxiv.

Please email your application to the attention of Dr. Kowalec to [email protected] or [email protected]