Research Assistant 2 – Preclinical MRI/PET

About the role

The Research Assistant 2 will support and advance the preclinical MRI and PET platforms at the McConnell Brain Imaging Centre. Working closely with the MR Unit and external collaborators, the role focuses on developing novel acquisition and analysis methods for the upcoming 9.4 T Bruker MRI system and facilitating translational research.

Key responsibilities

• Operate and maintain preclinical MRI systems on a daily basis.
• Design, develop, and implement new MRI techniques and analysis tools, including translation to human applications.
• Write and edit code, sequence documentation, and ethics protocols for MRI and PET studies.
• Collaborate with Bruker scientists, imaging manufacturers, animal technicians, and RF engineers to optimize hardware and software.
• Support internal and external researchers in executing animal‑to‑human translational projects.
• Contribute to scientific publications by reviewing protocols, guiding image analyses, and interpreting data.
• Mentor graduate students and staff within the MRU and broader BIC community.

Required profile

• Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., biomedical engineering, neuroscience, physics).
• Strong communication skills to work with scientists and technical staff.
• Experience with preclinical imaging workflows and a willingness to stay current with MRI advancements.

Required skills

• Preclinical MRI acquisition and sequence programming.
• PET acquisition and image analysis.
• Code development for imaging protocols (e.g., MATLAB, Python, C++).
• Familiarity with Bruker MRI systems.
• Data analysis and visualization for neuroimaging studies.

What we offer

• Opportunity to shape cutting‑edge preclinical imaging research.
• Collaboration with leading international neuroimaging groups.
• Access to state‑of‑the‑art 9.4 T MRI and PET facilities.