There are two big reasons to work in the NIST lab.
First, the supervision.
My goals in graduate and post-graduate supervision are: 1) To encourage and enhance scientific creativity and imagination; 2) To teach the scientific method, i.e., hypothesis building, experimentation, statistical analysis and the interpretation of results as well as ethical considerations of research; 3) To empower trainees with the ability to think critically and to think for themselves as opposed to simply memorizing facts and formulas; 4) To help trainees become skillful communicators through paper writing and conference presentations; 5) To help trainees develop confidence in their expertise; 6) To maintain an environment where trainees can become independent researchers; and 7) to help trainees further their careers. I have a proven track record of moving trainees to faculty positions.
Second, the environment.
We have a exceptional research environment. The Neuro Imaging and Surgical Technologies (NIST) laboratory at the McConnell Brain Imaging Center (BIC) of the Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) is home to ~12 students, fellows and engineers, working together to develop image analysis tools with applications in neurology and neurosurgery.
- The NIST lab is funded by CIHR, NSERC, the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, the Weston Foundation, and Brain Canada. In the past 5y, the NIST lab has published ~130 journal articles (Collins’ h-index=119 in November 2023).
- The McConnell Brain Imaging Center (BIC) comprises world-class researchers with a common interest and multidisciplinary expertise in brain imaging. Established in 1984, it is a multidisciplinary hub for a broad community of basic-science and clinical investigators and trainees, long recognized as an international leader in neuroimaging domains including positron emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electroencephalography (EEG), and magnetoencephalography (MEG) acquisition as well as sophisticated analytical techniques. It is one of the largest academic brain-imaging centres worldwide, with 29 principal investigators, over 80 top-tier affiliated faculty, 24 core highly qualified personnel and 85 trainees.
- The Montreal Neurological Institute (aka the MNI or The Neuro) is integrated with the Montreal Neurological Hospital (MNH), with clinics specialized in neurology and neurosurgery. The MNI provides a unique and rich multidisciplinary environment for studying fundamental and applied neuroscience. The members of the NIST lab collaborate closely with the neurological and neurosurgical teams of the MNI/H
- McGill University ranks among the top 30 universities worldwide and has been Canada’s top-ranked biomedical institution for the last 10 years. The neuroscience community in the greater Montreal is one of the largest and most diverse in North America. Montreal is a multicultural and lively city that offers a high quality of life.
Note that McGill University is committed to equity in employment and diversity. It welcomes applications from indigenous peoples, visible minorities, ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, women, persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, and others who may contribute to further diversification.
