Postdoctoral Fellow, Multi-modal Cognitive Health Assessment

Discover the possible

Anything is possible at the National Research Council (NRC). As Canada’s leading research and technology organization, our world-renowned research pushes the boundaries of science and engineering to make the impossible, possible. Every day we explore new ideas through innovative research and help companies discover possibilities that impact Canada’s future and the world.

At the NRC, you’ll also discover new possibilities. Our supportive workplace fosters a culture of creativity, welcoming fresh perspectives and innovation at all levels. We value teamwork. You’ll collaborate across multiple fields and with the brightest minds to find creative solutions. Most importantly, you’ll discover what’s possible within you as you grow, make valuable contributions and progress in your professional journey. From ground-breaking discoveries to a life-changing career, discover your possible at the NRC.

The Program

The NRC’s Postdoctoral Fellowship program offers PDFs access to unique world-class facilities and the opportunity to work alongside multi-disciplinary teams of expert researchers and technicians on projects of critical importance to Canada. PDFs will carry out research on innovative research projects, with opportunities for career development (publications and/or industry interaction).

PDFs will be offered appointments to the staff of the National Research Council on a term basis and will be offered salaries and benefits currently available to Research Officers. Salaries commensurate with experience are taxable and subject to other deductions. As a guide, the current annual PhD recruiting rate is $82,338. In addition PDFs will be allocated a travel fund to support their work.

Project Title

Facial mobility map: A tool to unveil hidden messages in cognitive health. 

The Role

With Canada's aging population, cognitive decline is becoming increasingly prevalent, affecting about 11% of the elderly. While traditional diagnostic tools like MRIs and EEGs are effective, they often come with high costs and limited accessibility. 

To address these challenges, the NRC Medical Devices Research Centre (NRC-MD) has been developing a proprietary remote biosensing software to enhance personalized health assessments, in line with national healthcare goals. 

This project aims to extend NRC-MD’s existing physiological biosensing capabilities by incorporating cognitive health assessment through the integration of multi-modal data sources such as facial expression analysis, EEG, and other physiological metrics. By tracking the connection between facial expressions, mobility, and brain activity, this advanced system will detect subtle cognitive changes linked to conditions like dementia and mild cognitive impairment. 

The post-doctoral fellow will lead this research, integrating these new capabilities into NRC-MD's biosensing platform to broadening its potential impact on healthcare. The expected outcome is a scalable, cost-effective method for early detection, supporting preventative cognitive care in both clinical and home settings.

Education

Ph.D. in biomedical engineering, neuroscience, computer science, or a related discipline within the past three years. 

For information on certificates and diplomas issued abroad, please see Degree equivalency

Experience

Candidates should have experience in the following areas:
 

• Expertise in biosensing technologies, computer vision, signal processing, or biomarker detection. 
• Experience in applied knowledge of EEG, HRV, and/or facial expression and emotion analysis and programming skills.
• Previous experience with remote sensing technologies or cognitive health assessment tools is considered an asset.

Language Requirements

English or French

Information on language requirements and self-assessment tests

Condition of Employment

Reliability Status

Who is eligible?

• Fellowships will be for two years contingent on satisfactory progress achieved during the first year.
• Candidates should have obtained a PhD (or equivalent) within the past three years (PhD received on or after July 1, 2022*) or expect to complete their PhD within 6 months of appointment.
• Fellows will work in a lab under the direct supervision of an NRC researcher.

* Exceptions may be considered to recognize personal or family related leave. Please connect with us using the contact information below to discuss in more detail.

Application Requirements

In order to be considered for the program please include the following in your application, please note that you will need to attach the required documents as per the list below when submitting your application. Failure to do so will result in your application being excluded from searches.

• Resume
• Statement of Interest in the project (maximum one page in length)
• PhD Transcript - an electronic copy is sufficient, it does not have to be an official version.
• List of Publications

When submitting your application you can include the required documents in any attachment field such as «Second language evaluation results» or «Other attachments»

In addition, applicants who best meet the requirements of the position will be asked to provide three letters of recommendation at a later stage of the competition process.

Compensation

The intent of this hiring action is to staff through the Postdoctoral Fellowships Program at the  AsRO level, which is an early-career level position with a salary range of  $82,338 to $114,354.  

NOTE: Salary determination will be based on a review of the candidate’s expertise, outcomes and impacts of their previous work experience relative to the requirements of the level.  As a guide, the current annual PhD recruiting rate is $82,338.

NRC employees enjoy a wide-range of competitive benefits including a robust pension plan, comprehensive health and dental coverage, disability and life insurance, office closure at the end of December, and additional supports to enhance your well-being throughout your career and beyond.

Notes

• Relocation assistance will be determined in accordance with the NRC's directives.
• Fellowships are open to nationals of all countries, although preference will be given to Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents of Canada. Please include citizenship information in your application.
• The incumbent must adhere to safe workplace practices at all times.
• We thank all those who apply, however only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.