Prospective Students and Postdoctoral Researchers

UHN is dedicated to supporting the next generation of research scientists at every stage. Our research community includes over 1,300 undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and clinical fellows from diverse backgrounds and disciplines. These research trainees are an integral part of Team UHN and are contributing to groundbreaking healthcare research and discoveries.

How to Join Team UHN Research

There are over 600 students performing research for their Master’s and Doctoral degrees at UHN. These students undergo research projects supervised by UHN Scientists and are affiliated with academic institutions which administer their degree programs.

Most UHN graduate students are in programs at the University of Toronto (U of T), as the majority of UHN Principal Investigators (PIs) are affiliated with U of T. UHN PIs and graduate students are also affiliated with other Ontario universities such as Toronto Metropolitan University, York University and the University of Waterloo. Graduate students from international institutions can also perform research at UHN for their degrees through scholarships, internships, and partnerships.

Finding a Position

Individuals interested in pursuing their graduate research at UHN will need to identify a supervisor and apply to a graduate program at a degree-granting institution. There are two main approaches through which prospective graduate students find positions at UHN.

1) Identify a UHN Supervisor. Prospective students can explore the list of UHN Scientists to identify supervisors of interest. Scientists can be searched by research institute, research area, or by name. Students are encouraged to contact scientists directly to inquire about graduate student positions. Once a prospective student has found a UHN scientist to supervise them, they are required to apply to the university graduate department the scientist is affiliated with.

2) Identify a Graduate Program. Prospective students can identify university graduate departments of interest and explore the affiliated graduate faculty. Each department has different requirements, applications, deadlines, and guidelines for finding supervisors.

Some of the most common graduate programs that UHN graduate students are affiliated with at U of are: Department of Immunology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Psychology, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Institute of Medical Sciences, Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Medical Biophysics, and Rehabilitation Sciences Institute.

There are over 300 postdoctoral researchers at UHN who come from around the world to train under the guidance and mentorship of a UHN Scientist. Postdoctoral training is available at both the post-PhD and post-MD level.

Finding a Position

Individuals interested in postdoctoral researcher opportunities at UHN are encouraged to explore this list of UHN Scientists, searching by research institute, research area, or by name, to identify scientists with shared research interests. Prospective postdoctoral researchers are also encouraged to interact with UHN scientists at conferences, events, and through collaborations. Prospective postdoctoral researchers can contact potential supervisors directly by email, including their CV and expression of interest.

Some postdoctoral researcher opportunities at UHN are also posted on the UHN Careers webpage. Prospective postdoctoral researchers can explore current opportunities and create job and career alerts for positions of interest. Selected opportunities from the UHN Careers webpage are highlighted below.

Undergraduate students can perform research at UHN throughout the year through co-op programs, thesis projects, research positions for academic credit or traineeship or by becoming research volunteers. These positions can provide undergraduate students with valuable research experience and skills.

Undergraduate students can also participate in summer research programs. For more information on UHN summer research opportunities, visit the UHN Summer Training and Research program website.

Finding a Position

The number of available positions for co-op work terms, thesis projects and research volunteers can vary. Interested undergraduate students can explore the list of UHN Scientists, searching by institute, research area, or name, and identify labs they are interested in working in.

Students are encouraged to contact potential supervisors directly, expressing interest in temporarily joining their lab. It is encouraged that students include a CV and a statement of why they are interested in working in that research lab.

For non-research volunteer opportunities at UHN, please refer to the steps and instructions found on UHN’s Volunteers page.

Clinical learners can perform research at UHN throughout the year for academic credit, volunteer experience, or for employment. These positions can provide clinical learners with valuable research experience and skills.

Clinical learners can also participate in summer research programs. For more information on UHN summer research opportunities, visit the UHN Summer Training and Research program website.

Finding a Position

The number of available positions for clinical learners can vary. Interested learners can explore the list of UHN Scientists, searching by institute, research area, or name, and identify labs they are interested in working in.

Learners are encouraged to contact potential supervisors directly, expressing interest in temporarily joining their lab. It is encouraged that learners include a CV and a statement of why they are interested in working in that research lab.

For non-research volunteer opportunities at UHN, please refer to the steps and instructions found on UHN’s Volunteers page.

Students can obtain meaningful training and experience through a temporary summer position working with a UHN Scientists. Summer positions are available to individuals completing their undergraduate degrees, medical degrees, or individuals in graduate programs with internships or summer work programs.

Summer student positions are often 12- or 16-week opportunities during May to August. Start dates and length of positions can vary depending on the agreement between supervisors and students.

Principal Investigators and Staff can find guidelines on how to onboard summer students on the intranet here.

UHN Summer Training and Research STAR Program

UHN Summer Training and Research Program

Learn about UHN’s Summer Training and Research program for more information on how undergraduate and medical students can perform summer research at UHN

Learn more
Opportunities at UHN
  • Prospective trainees and postdoctoral researchers are encouraged to review UHN researcher profiles on the Find a Researcher page and contact them directly as outlined above.
  • For a complete list of career opportunities at UHN go to the UHN Careers Page.
  • Some opportunities of interest to trainees and postdoctoral researchers, both at UHN and elsewhere, will be posted here. Please click the “read more” links below for application details and contact information.
Postdoctoral Research Fellowship: Multi Organ Transplant Program
150 150 Office of Research Trainees

University Health Network (UHN) is looking for an experienced professional to fill the key role of Postdoctoral Fellow in our Multi Organ Transplant Program.…

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Postdoctoral Research Fellowship: Donald K. Johnson Eye Institute
150 150 Office of Research Trainees

University Health Network (UHN) is looking for experienced professionals to fill the key role of a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Donald K. Johnson…

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Postdoctoral Research Fellowship: Biostatistics, Cancer Clinical Research Unit
150 150 Office of Research Trainees

University Health Network (UHN) is looking for an experienced professional to fill the key role of Postdoctoral Fellow in our Biostatistics Department. Transforming lives…

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Postdoctoral Research Fellowship: Bioinformatics at Princess Margaret
150 150 Office of Research Trainees

University Health Network (UHN) is looking for an experienced professional to fill the key role of Postdoctoral Fellow for our Bioinformatics: Translational Research In…

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Postdoctoral Research Fellowship: Shroeder Arthritis Institute
150 150 Office of Research Trainees

University Health Network (UHN) is looking for an experienced professional to fill the key role of Postdoctoral Fellow in the Shroeder Arthritis Institute.…

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Postdoctoral Research Fellowship: The Institute for Education Research-Surgical Artificial Intelligence
150 150 Office of Research Trainees

University Health Network (UHN) is looking for an advanced trainee to fill the key role of Postdoctoral Fellow in the Surgical Artificial Intelligence…

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Submit a Research Training Opportunity

UHN investigators, if you have an opportunity you would like added to the database above, please email the ORT at ortadmin@uhn.ca.