Research Summer Student 2026

Union: Non-Union 
Number of Vacancies: 1 
New or Replacement: New
Site: Toronto General Hospital
Department: Cardiology
Reports to: Dr. Susanna Mak
Hours: 35 hours per week
Salary: $17.60 - $20.91 per hour.
Shifts: Monday to Friday
Status: Temporary Full Time
Closing Date: February 27th, 2026

Position Summary: 

This studentship experience takes place in the Cardiac Catheterization Clinical Research Laboratory at Sinai Health/University Health Network. The overriding objective is to improve physiology based tools to predict right ventricular failure in patients with heart failure and pulmonary hypertension. The tools can be utilized with data obtained from clinically indicated right heart catheterization (RHC). These tools then refine the information employed to support selection of interventions in clinical care. 

The student joins ongoing projects recruiting patients referred for RHC for evaluation for candidacy of advanced HF therapies. Patients are enrolled prospectively in a registry that allows our team to maintain a repository of hemodynamic recordings for signal processing and offline analysis. These signals include continuously recorded right atrial, right ventricular, and pulmonary artery pressure waveforms. We have developed methodology for analysis of RV:PA coupling using a single beat method. The summer student project will analyse RV-PA coupling from patients from our advanced heart failure program, who are supported with left ventricular assist devices. In this part of our project, we are assessing different measurements of pulmonary vascular afterload, the effect of these loads on RV-PA coupling, and finally the relationship between these measurements and longer term outcomes of these patients, particularly after heart transplantation. Our preliminary results suggest that abnormalities of PA compliance are related to early graft failure and 30 day mortality after transplant. 

The student will join the team that includes an MD-PhD mechanical engineering graduate student to post process the hemodynamic signals acquired. The student will also assist in the design of analyses to leverage these data. We are collaborating with Dr. Alba at UHN to continually identify the outcomes of these patients. The laboratory continually recruits residents from the , general internal medicine program engaged in their research experience, who extract clinical data required.  

The student will have access to office space, signals, programs for data analysis and regular meetings with the aforementioned team. The student will also gain exposure to a clinical environment with multidisciplinary personnel. The student’s role will be to assist in programming, signal processing and data analysis. 

Duties:

1. Gain a detailed understanding of the clinical syndrome of heart failure and pulmonary hypertension, including the pathophysiology of heart chamber dysfunction, the effect on patients including their journey of care, the determinants of prognosis, and the evaluation of patients who may benefit from advanced therapies, including heart transplantation and mechanical circulatory support.  
2. Learn the principles of pressure volume loop analysis as they apply to cardiac chamber function.  
3. Work with a multidisciplinary team both for clinical and research goals.  
4. Understand the application of signal processing to clinical cardiovascular research. 
5. The student will analyze pressure-time signals stored for offline analysis.  
6. The student will participate in collating the physiological signals with clinical endpoints, guided by the graduate students and medical residents on the project.  
7. The student will have the opportunity to prepare an abstract both for the student showcase, as well as for submission to a national or international scientific meeting.  
8. The student will earn authorship for manuscripts arising from this project.  

• Undergraduate student in a STEM program with a good cumulative GPA
• Students with previous experience working in a team environment, experience with scientific writing, who demonstrates excellent communication skills and who have career goals aligned with the project objectives
• Some experience in human physiology or biomedical engineering is preferred, with previous experience in working with health care technology or physiologic signals.  

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.