PhD: Longitudinal Health Consequences of Bariatric Surgery (REBORN)
Project summary
The REsearch on Bariatric care for Obesity tReatmeNt (REBORN) study is an ongoing longitudinal of patients undergoing bariatric surgery being conducted at the Sante Quebec NIM-U, which has the largest outpatient metabolic bariatric surgery clinic in Canada. The study has a multi-disciplinary investigative team, which includes a variety of knowledge users (researchers, healthcare professionals, patients, and policy makers). A variety of clinical, psychological, behavioural, and medical variables are measured pre-surgery, 6-months post-surgery, and yearly thereafter. The ultimate goal of the study is to understand how surgery-induced changes in psychological and behavioural factors influences physical and mental health over time.
Position summary
The individual who is selected for this position will be expected to help study PIs, Drs. Kim Lavoie and Simon Bacon and the surgical team, with the conduct of the study and data analyses. They will also have the opportunity to work with the multidisciplinary investigative team on a variety of study related aspects including:
- Quantitative methods and analyses
- Epidemiological analyses
- Participating in knowledge user engagement activities
- Systematic reviews, meta-analyses and reporting
Required Qualifications
- A Master’s degree in a related discipline (e.g., Psychology, Physiology, Kinesiology/Exercise Science, Medicine, Public Health, Nutrition, Nursing) if applying to Concordia or a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology if applying to Université du Québec à Montréal
- Prior experience conducting research in at least one of the following areas
- Behavioural and/or psychological data manipulation
- Chronic disease management (primary, secondary, or tertiary)
- Longitudinal study analyses
- Integrated knowledge translation or patient-oriented research
- Demonstrated research productivity (e.g., conference presentations, peer-reviewed publications, master’s thesis, honours thesis)
- Effective oral and written communication skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
Preference will be given to candidates with:
- Experience with advanced statistical methods and ability to work with a variety of analytic software
- Experience using integrated stakeholder engagement strategies
- Openness to learn new methods and techniques in an applied clinical setting
- Experience with student mentoring and supervision
- Ability to communicate (orally) in both English and French
Provincial, national and international candidates are encouraged to apply
Start date, Duration, Stipend, and Location
The PhD can start in September 2027 (though there is also the possibility of starting during the summer of 2027).
The funding package consists of a minimum 4-year stipend (consistent with Fonds de Recherche du Quebec funding levels) plus conference / training funding.
The successful candidate will be registered either at Concordia University in the Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Applied Physiology or in the Department of Psychology (www.concordia.ca), or at Université du Québec à Montréal (www.uqam.ca) in the Department of Psychology; the actual work would be conducted at the Santé Québec Nord-de-l’Île-de Montréal – Universitaire, Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal (https://rechercheciusssnim.ca/). Please note that the language of instruction is English at Concordia and French at Université du Québec à Montréal.
How to apply
To apply, candidates must complete the online application form and upload the following documents:
- A complete curriculum vitae, including a summary of GPAs and a full publication list (including hyperlinks where possible)
- A letter of motivation and statement of research accomplishments and future research goals, which should be no longer than 2 pages
- At least one written example of a research-focused output, e.g., research article, honours thesis, master’s thesis, class-based research paper
Queries about the application should be sent to apply@mbmc-cmcm.ca.
The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday, November 27, 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET. Interviews will be conducted in December 2026 and January 2027. The successful candidate will need to apply to the University by the official application deadline.