Job Description

About SickKids

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Dedicated exclusively to children and their families, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is one of the largest and most respected paediatric healthcare centres in the world. As innovators in child health, we lead and partner to improve the health of children through the integration of healthcare, leading-edge research and education. Our reputation would not have been built - nor could it be maintained - without the skills, knowledge and experience of the extraordinary people who come to work here every day. SickKids is committed to ongoing learning and development, and features a caring and supportive work environment that combines exceptionally high standards of practice.


When you join SickKids, you become part of our community. We share a commitment and determination to fulfill our vision of Healthier Children. A Better World.


Don't miss out on the opportunity to work alongside the world's best in paediatric healthcare.

Position Description

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One Post Doctoral position is available in the Genetics and Genome Biology


Laboratory of Dr. Ajoy Vincent at the Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto. The anticipated start date is February 2026.


The successful candidate will be involved in studying the role of Glycogen metabolism in hereditary macular dystrophy (HMD). Biallelic pathogenic variants in PYGM (Muscle isoform of Glycogen Phosphorylase) result in McArdle Disease (McD). We have shown that McD can cause HMD in about 45% of patients. PYGM breaks down intracellular glycogen into glucose monomers, providing energy to skeletal muscles. But little is known about its role in the retina, and what leads to HMD in McD. Further, the role of glycogen metabolism in the retina needs to be established. We aim to shed light on the interplay between retinal glycogen metabolism and HMD pathogenesis due to variants in PYGM. To this aim, we plan to use conditional KO mouse models for PYGM, PYGB and PYGL to study the expression and functions of these enzymes in the retina and how it leads to retinopathy.


The candidate will work closely with Dr Vincent and a research team of experienced research associate and graduate student and will be involved in collaborative work with research laboratories at the SickKids Research Institute and the University of Toronto, as well as with national and international collaborators.


The candidates must have a PhD in physiology, biochemistry, genetics, or related fields with an excellent academic record and strong evidence of research involving mouse models at the graduate level.

Employment Type:

Full-time temporary 1 year contract, 1.0 FTE

Our Commitment to Diversity

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SickKids is committed to championing equity, diversity and inclusion in all that we do, fostering an intentionally inclusive and culturally safe environment that reflects the diversity of the patients, families and communities we serve. Learn more about workplace inclusion.

Accessibility & Accommodation

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If you require accommodation during the application process, please reach out to our aSKHR team. SickKids can provide access and inclusion supports to eligible candidates to support their full engagement during the interview and selection process as well as to ensure candidates are able to perform their duties once successfully hired. If you are invited for an interview and require accommodation, please let us know at the time of your invitation to interview. Information received related to access, inclusion or accommodation will be addressed confidentially.

How To Apply

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