Postdoctoral Fellowship

Company Description

UHN is Canada’s #1 hospital and the world’s #1 publicly funded hospital. With 10 sites and more than 44,000 TeamUHN members, UHN consists of Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, The Michener Institute of Education and West Park Healthcare Centre. As Canada's top research hospital, the scope of biomedical research and complexity of cases at UHN have made it a national and international source for discovery, education and patient care. UHN has the largest hospital-based research program in Canada, with major research in neurosciences, cardiology, transplantation, oncology, surgical innovation, infectious diseases, genomic medicine and rehabilitation medicine. UHN is a research hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto.

UHN’s vision is to build A Healthier World and it’s only because of the talented and dedicated people who work here that we are continually bringing that vision closer to reality.

www.uhn.ca

Job Description

Union: Non-Union
Number of Vacancies: 1
New or Replacement: New
Site: Toronto General Hospital
Department: Medical Engineering
Reports to: Ian Connell
Hours: 37.5 Per Week
Salary: $54,902 to $93,333 annually
Shifts: Monday - Friday ; 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Status: Temporary Full-time 
Closing Date: March 6, 2026

Position Summary

Under the supervision of the Director of Medical Engineering, this postdoctoral position focuses on the design and development of integrated antenna systems for MRI-guided intravascular and interventional devices. The successful candidate will lead the electromagnetic design, simulation, fabrication, and testing of miniaturized RF receive antennas intended for integration into catheters, guidewires, and other interventional tools to enable high-resolution, real-time MRI guidance during minimally invasive procedures.

This position operates within a multi-field MRI research environment (0.5T, 3T, and 7T) and requires strong expertise in RF engineering, antenna theory, and MRI physics. The work spans computational electromagnetic simulation through bench characterization to in-scanner validation, with the ultimate goal of translating novel antenna designs toward clinical application.

Duties

• Design miniaturized RF receive antennas (loop coils, monopoles, transmission line resonators) for integration into intravascular catheters and interventional devices
• Perform electromagnetic simulations using tools such as COMSOL, CST Microwave Studio, or HFSS to model antenna performance, coupling behavior, and RF safety (local SAR)
• Conduct bench testing of antenna prototypes including S-parameter measurements, impedance matching, resonance tuning, and quality factor characterization using network analyzers
• Develop matching and decoupling networks for integration with MRI receiver systems
• Validate antenna performance in phantom and ex-vivo models within the MRI environment across multiple field strengths
• Collaborate with interventional radiologists, neurosurgeons, and device engineers to translate designs toward clinical requirements
• Perform RF safety assessments for interventional devices operating in the MRI bore, including heating studies and SAR modeling
• Support pulse sequence adaptation for interventional imaging applications as needed
• Document and publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and present at scientific conferences

Qualifications

• PhD awarded within the past 5 years in electrical engineering, biomedical engineering, medical physics, physics, or a related discipline
• Strong foundation in RF/microwave engineering, antenna theory, and electromagnetic simulation
• Hands-on experience with RF bench measurement techniques including network analyzer operation, impedance matching, and resonator tuning
• Proficiency with electromagnetic simulation software (COMSOL, CST, HFSS, or equivalent)
• Understanding of MRI physics principles including signal reception, B1 field behavior, and RF safety considerations
• Experience working in or around MRI systems
• Proficiency in MATLAB, Python, or similar tools for data analysis and simulation post-processing
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with a record of peer-reviewed publications
• Experience designing RF coils or antennas specifically for MRI applications preferred
• Familiarity with intravascular or catheter-based device development preferred
• Knowledge of MR safety standards (IEC 60601-2-33, ASTM F2182) and RF-induced heating assessment methods preferred
• Experience with micro-fabrication or flexible circuit techniques relevant to miniaturized antenna construction preferred
• Understanding of active tracking and visualization techniques for MRI-guided interventions preferred
• Exposure to multi-vendor MRI platforms (Siemens, Philips, GE) preferred
• Experience with regulatory considerations for investigational medical devices preferred

Additional Information

Why join UHN?

In addition to working alongside some of the most talented and inspiring healthcare professionals in the world, UHN offers a wide range of benefits, programs and perks. It is the comprehensiveness of these offerings that makes it a differentiating factor, allowing you to find value where it matters most to you, now and throughout your career at UHN.

• Competitive offer packages
• Government organization and a member of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP https://hoopp.com/)
• Close access to Transit and UHN shuttle service
• A flexible work environment
• Opportunities for development and promotions within a large organization
• Additional perks (multiple corporate discounts including: travel, restaurants, parking, phone plans, auto insurance discounts, on-site gyms, etc.)

Current UHN employees must have successfully completed their probationary period, have a good employee record along with satisfactory attendance in accordance with UHN's attendance management program, to be eligible for consideration.

All applications must be submitted before the posting close date.

UHN uses email to communicate with selected candidates.  Please ensure you check your email regularly.

Please be advised that a Criminal Record Check may be required of the successful candidate. Should it be determined that any information provided by a candidate be misleading, inaccurate or incorrect, UHN reserves the right to discontinue with the consideration of their application.

UHN is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive recruitment process and workplace. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process. Applicants need to make their requirements known.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.