Job Description

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Position Summary:
The Pandemic and Emergency Readiness Lab (PERL) at McGill University is an interdisciplinary hub housed within the School of Population and Global Health. PERL is led by Dr. Joanne Liu, a globally recognized humanitarian and physician. Our mission is to generate actionable evidence to improve how societies prevent pandemics, anticipate cascading risks, and respond to crises, from infectious disease threats and climate shocks to natural disasters.
PERL operates across three core pillars:
Science & Evidence: Investigating applied policy and programming questions to strengthen pandemic prevention, such as early warning systems, crisis data infrastructure, and overlooked drivers of vulnerability.
Leadership & Learning: Building the next generation of crisis leaders through our Pandemic Fellows Program and global network.
Convening & Collaboration: Creating space for interdisciplinary exchange through convenings, webinars, partnerships, and public engagement.
PERL brings together scholars, policymakers, and practitioners across disciplines to strengthen global preparedness and readiness against health emergencies, especially pandemics. Our mission is to generate evidence that matters, build leadership capacity, and create spaces for shared learning and action, both in Canada and globally.
Fellowship Overview
We invite applications for a 1-year, full-time postdoctoral fellowship (with possibility of renewal). This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic, impact-driven scholar committed to reimagining global readiness and emergency response.
Compensation: $65,000 CAD/year (commensurate with experience)

Start date: September 2025 (flexible)

Location: Montreal, Canada
Fellow Responsibilities
The postdoctoral fellow will contribute to PERL's research, training, and engagement efforts, including:Advancing applied research on the science of pandemic prevention and health emergencies Supporting the design and evaluation of real-time data systems and pandemic prevention tools Contributing to leadership training materials and mentoring junior trainees Supporting courses, stakeholder convenings, and public engagement Pursuing independent publications and funding aligned with PERL's mission

Our Science & Evidence learning tracks:
Pandemic prevention & risk anticipation (e.g. primary and secondary prevention, surveillance innovation, spillover risk modeling, zoonoses, environmental and social determinants of outbreak emergence)
Policy & governance for health security (e.g., Domestic/global strategy, financing, legal frameworks, intersectoral response, assessments and lessons learned from past emergencies)
Data & systems innovation (e.g., Real-time data, AI tools, interoperability, tech-enabled early warning systems)
Equity & community resilience (e.g., Drivers of vulnerabilities of systems and people, intersectionality in crises)
Trust, communication & crisis leadership (E.g., Behavioral science, digital misinformation, science communications and crisis leadership during emergencies)
Fellows will be integrated into the broader McGill global health community and encouraged to develop their own scholarly contributions in one or more of the fellowship tracks while advancing PERL's mission.
Eligibility and Requirements
We're seeking pragmatic and applied scholars who are eager to produce research that informs real-world action, not just theory.
Applicants must have: A recent PhD (within the last 5 years) in public/global health, epidemiology, data science, political science, or a related field; or an MD/MPH with residency and fellowship training in infectious diseases or public health; or individuals with over 15 years of relevant field experience in pandemic and epidemic prevention
Demonstrated interest and experience in pandemic prevention, health emergencies and preparedness Proven ability to translate research and evidence into practice, ideally with experience informing programs, policy, or public discourse Strong writing and analytical skills, with a track record of publications on pandemics and health emergencies A "doer" mindset: comfort with fast-paced, collaborative work environments, and a bias toward execution and implementation, not just theoretical ideation Fluency in English (French is an asset but not required) This position is located either on the island of Montreal or at the Outaouais Campus in Gatineau. The Postdoctoral Researcher must be resident in Quebec to perform the work for this position.

How to Apply
Please submit the following in a single document to Workday:A cover letter detailing your research interests in a specific pillar, potential project idea, relevant experience, and fit with PERL's mission. Be sure to highlight applied contributions (e.g., work that has informed policy, shaped programs, engaged public audiences, or produced actionable insights). Curriculum Vitae (max 2 pages, focused on relevant academic, policy, and/or field experience) Three peer reviewed publications or contributions relevant to pandemic prevention and health emergencies (at least one should demonstrate work in pandemic prevention, and at least one should demonstrate applied contributions) Contact information for two referees (include names, affiliations, emails)

Application Deadline: Rolling basis until filled. Early applications are encouraged.Please note: Candidates' eligibility to hold a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship expires 5 years after the date on which their PhD was awarded, regardless of when they are hired. Be sure to refer to the following link for further information on eligibility criteria:
http://www.mcgill.ca/gps/postdocs/fellows/registration/eligibility.
Any offer to non-Canadian citizens/non-permanent residents is contingent on the candidate obtaining a work permit after an offer has been made and a letter of invitation sent, see: http://www.mcgill.ca/gps/postdocs/international/workpermit Before applying, please note that to work at McGill University, you must be both authorized to work in Canada and willing to work in the province of Quebec at the campus where the position is based / located.



McGill University is an English-language university where most teaching and research activities are conducted in the English language, thereby requiring English communication both verbally and in writing.
Annual Salary:
(AMURE Post-Doctoral Fellow Researcher) $48,000.00
Hours per Week:
35 (Full time)
Location:
McGill College 2001
Supervisor:
Assistant Professor (Research)
Position Start Date:
2025-09-01
Position End Date:
2026-08-31
Deadline to Apply:
2025-08-09McGill University hires on the basis of merit and is strongly committed to equity and diversity within its community. We welcome applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities. McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated groups to self-identify. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, accessibilityrequest.hr@mcgill.ca.