Dr Jutras-Aswad Laboratory – Neurosciences Axis

The research team specializes in the study of psychoactive substances, mental health, and addiction. Through clinical trials and observational studies, it aims to develop several innovative interventions to treat mental health and substance use disorders. The successful candidate will be part of an established, internationally renowned team, frequently sought after by policy makers and other knowledge users. The multidisciplinary team includes project managers, data managers, research coordinators and officers, psychologists and healthcare workers, students, and patient partners. For more information on the laboratory's expertise (https://labo-jutras-aswad.ca/), visit their website, and follow the news on Twitter (@DJutras_Aswad), Instagram (@labo.dja), and LinkedIn (Centre d’expertise et de collaboration en troubles concomitants (CECTC)).

Responsibilities  

Are you constantly asking yourself fundamental and applied questions about the use of psychoactive substances? Are you looking for a stimulating research project to hone your skills in applying the scientific method in a dynamic and diverse context? And do you also have an interest in harm reduction and public health? Then a doctoral project at the Didier Jutras-Aswad research laboratory is what you need. Challenges, successes, and colorful scientific excitement await you.

We have exactly what you need to propel your academic career into exciting professional spheres: a unique opportunity to participate in an innovative project never before undertaken in the world of cannabis use among young people. This golden opportunity will allow you to follow several hundred young people between the ages of 18 and 24 who use cannabis regularly or daily (1-7 days/week) to better understand what they use, how, where, with whom, and with what, and why they choose to adopt these consumption habits. As a driver of societal change, representing the hope of tomorrow, youth development is critical to the health of our societies. Using psychoactive substances, particularly cannabis, strikes a delicate balance between benefits and harms. Understanding the consumption parameters that inflict harm or inspire a sense of emancipation in these individuals represents a significant challenge, the resolution of which provides access to a wealth of solutions to better educate and support young people who use cannabis and guide effective, evidence-based public health messages.

The primary objective of your assignment is to discover whether, among young people who use cannabis regularly or daily, there are distinct groups of consumption patterns (frequency, types of products, routes of administration, quantities consumed, THC:CBD composition), as well as how these different consumption patterns evolve (or not!) over time. Moreover, if you accept this assignment, you will also attempt to understand how these cannabis consumption trajectories are associated with the evolution of an integrated range of physical and mental health indicators.

You will have the opportunity to work in a dynamic scientific and professional environment that will provide you with a synergistic set of solutions to your needs, including an experienced team of highly qualified personnel combining different fields such as nursing, neuroscience, biology, psychology, mental health and addiction intervention, and psychiatry. Teamwork will be of paramount importance: this component of our work allows us to achieve high levels of quality in the execution of research projects, because a united team of several people (both professionals and students at all university levels) allows us to support each other, help each other and motivate each other to progress for the individual and collective good. As valued in the laboratory, the support you will receive will allow you to make significant contributions to the scientific literature through the publication of several articles in peer-reviewed journals and by presenting at high-level conferences, while developing international caliber collaborations. Promoting the financial security of the student community in the laboratory through research funds, you will also have the necessary support to apply to various scholarship programs, which represents both a prerequisite, but also a formative and beneficial process. Ultimately, the diversity of projects carried out in the laboratory offers an academic environment that encourages students to broaden their scientific horizons and perfect their knowledge in different complementary fields, providing a major advantage in the job market or in academia.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in biomedical sciences, psychiatry, or neuroscience;
• Motivated and with research experience in psychiatry, substance use, biostatistics, longitudinal studies, or a related field;
• Strong interest in working with populations that use cannabis;
• Strong skills in quantitative analysis methods;
• Ability to pursue scholarships for graduate studies;
• Good knowledge of French (an asset) and English;
• Excellent writing and communication skills.

What we offer

• Status: Full-time
• Internship location: Research Center at the University of Montreal Hospital
• Duration: Three to five years

To apply for this position

Interested candidates should send their resume and cover letter to:
jane.marie.ramil.chum@ssss.gouv.qc.ca

Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. The CRCHUM invites applications from women, Indigenous peoples, visible minorities, ethnic minorities, and persons with disabilities. The CRCHUM adopts a broad and inclusive definition of diversity that goes beyond applicable laws. The CRCHUM therefore encourages all individuals, regardless of their characteristics, to apply. In accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, please note that priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.