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Postdoctoral Fellowship: Research in Health Behaviour Change 

 Project Summary

This postdoctoral fellowship is embedded within one of three large research initiatives led by the Montreal Behavioural Medicine Centre (MBMC), in collaboration with the CIUSSS–NIM, Concordia University, and UQAM. These projects focus on advancing behavioural science evidence and tools to improve chronic disease prevention, health behaviour change, healthcare communication, and population health preparedness.

The postdoctoral fellowship offers the opportunity for the postdoctoral fellow to work in one of the three research areas, with opportunities for collaboration across initiatives depending on expertise, interests, and project needs:

  • EVO+, a theory-driven digital health behaviour change intervention designed to improve key behavioural risk factors for non-communicable chronic diseases, incorporating artificial intelligence, machine and deep learning, and user-centred design to enable tailored and scalable interventions.
  • iCARE Platform, an international, multi-wave population health platform linking behavioural, policy, epidemiological, and mobility data to understand and optimise public health policies, initially developed in the context of COVID-19 and now evolving into a rapid-response behavioural science infrastructure for future health emergencies.
  • MOTIVATOR, a pan-Canadian initiative developing and testing behaviour change communication training programs for healthcare professionals involved in chronic disease management, using behavioural theory, digital delivery methods, and rigorous intervention and trial methodologies.

Position Summary

The successful candidate will work under the supervision of the principal investigators, Drs. Kim Lavoie and Simon Bacon, and will be assigned to a primary research focus within one of the three initiatives (EVO+, iCARE, or MOTIVATOR), based on the fellow’s expertise and interests.

Responsibilities will vary depending on the primary project assignment, but may include:

  • Contributing to the development, testing, and implementation of behavioural and digital health interventions
  • Leading and supporting quantitative and/or qualitative analyses across intervention, trial, and population-level datasets
  • Contributing to longitudinal and epidemiological analyses
  • Supporting national and international project coordination and collaboration with multidisciplinary research teams
  • Developing study outputs including manuscripts, reports, policy briefs, and other knowledge translation products
  • Participating in stakeholder, collaborator, and end-user engagement activities
  • Taking a lead role on defined sub-projects while working collaboratively within large, multi-site teams

Minimum Required Qualifications

  • PhD in an applied health-related discipline (e.g., Public Health, Epidemiology, Psychology, Medicine, Nursing, Kinesiology/Exercise Science, or related fields)
  • Demonstrated research productivity (e.g., peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations)
  • Demonstrated experience conducting research in at least one of the following clinical and/or population health areas:
    • Behaviour change or behavioural intervention development
    • Digital health interventions and/or user-centred design
    • Population-level or longitudinal studies
    • Advanced quantitative, epidemiological, or statistical methods
    • Healthcare communication or behaviour change counselling
  • Strong oral and written communication skills
  • Excellent interpersonal and collaborative skills
  • Ability to work autonomously and to take a lead role on projects under the supervision of principal investigators

Preferred Qualifications

Preference will be given to candidates with one or more of the following:

  • Behaviour change or behavioural intervention development
  • 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

  • Start date: Flexible but no later than January 2027; funding has already been secured
  • Duration: Full-time position for one year, renewable; most postdoctoral fellows within the MBMC complete between 2 and 4 years
  • Stipend: Competitive postdoctoral stipend consistent with FRQS funding levels, plus conference support
  • Location:
    • The postdoctoral fellow may be registered at Concordia University or Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
    • Research activities will be conducted primarily at the CIUSSS–NIM, Hôpital du Sacré-Cœur de Montréal, within the Montreal Behavioural Medicine Centre (MBMC)
    • Language of instruction is English at Concordia and French at UQAM

To Apply

Applicants should submit a single PDF containing:

  • A complete curriculum vitae, including summary of GPA’s, a full publication list (including hyperlinks where possible) and email contact details for two referees
  • A letter of motivation and statement of research accomplishments and future research goals (maximum 2 pages), clearly describing how the proposed postdoctoral position builds on and represents a logical transition from the applicant’s PhD research
  • 2-3 research publications that best demonstrate the fit for the position

How to Apply

The complete application package should be emailed to: apply@mbmc-cmcm.ca. Please include “Fellowship – Health Behavioural Change” in the subject line.

Questions regarding the position may be directed to Dr. Lavoie (lavoie.kim@uqam.ca) or Dr. Bacon (simon.bacon@concordia.ca).

The closing date for applications is Friday August 28, 2026, 5pm ET. However, please note that applications will be reviewed as they are received until the position is filled.