Recruitment at the
Rosalind & Morris
Goodman Cancer Institute
The Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Instittue (GCI) is dedicated to shaping the future of cancer research by recruiting exceptional graduate students from across Canada and beyond. Our Annual Recruitment Event is a key part of this mission, connecting aspiring researchers with the institute's vibrant academic community.
Through the Annual Graduate Recruitment Event, we offer top applicants a unique chance to visit the institute, meet current graduate students and faculty, and learn about cutting-edge research opporunities.
We are accepting applications for our Fall 2026 Recruitment Event.
Are you interested in pursuing graduate studies in cancer research with us?
Apply to attend our annual Graduate Student Recruitment Event for a unique opportunity to explore the GCI and learn about our cutting-edge research and scientific platforms.
Top applicants will be invited to attend the event that aims to be both informative and convivial. We will introduce the GCI’s extensive training program and provide an opportunity to meet with existing graduate students and cancer scientists.
Selected invitees will then be offered a scholarship for Fall 2027 or Winter 2028 admission. Please note that all travel expenses will be covered for invited students unless specified otherwise.
To find out more or ask any questions you might have, join us for a live information session on Thursday, October 1st at 5pm EST.
Click her to register for the Information Session
The deadline to apply is October 15th, 2026.
The Event will take place November 19th and 20th, 2026, on location at the GCI.
Apply
Interested candidates must complete an online registration form HERE.
Within the online registration form, applicants will be asked to upload the following information in 1 single pdf:
- An up-to-date CV with valid contact information
- A letter of intent (maximum 2 pages) and
- A copy of your most recent transcripts (these do not need to be official for the purpose of this event)
Registration is open
Deadline to submit an application
October 15, 2026
In-person Events
November 19-20, 2026
- Demonstrated interest in biomedical research
- Enrolled in a B.Sc. or M.Sc. program
- GPA of 3.6 out of 4.3 for M.Sc. & Ph.D. candidates; international students will be evaluated on individual basis.
The GCI is committed to equity and diversity in the recruitment of its trainees. We welcome and encourage applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities as well as others who may contribute to diversification.
The following investigators are recruiting new students. Potential applicants should not contact these investigators directly. Instead, applicants should indicate the names of the investigators they are interested in on their application.
Dr. Ian Watson is a member of the Goodman Cancer Institute (GCI), an investigator at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), and an Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at McGill University. He is a Canadian Research Chair II in functional genomics of melanoma, the Co-Chair for the melanoma disease working group for the Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG) and the former Co-Chair for The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) melanoma project. In 2018, he co-led a successful Terry Fox Research Institute (TFRI) Marathon of Hope Cancer Centre Network (MoHCCN) pilot project that brought together researchers at 7 hospitals and research institutes in Montreal to study mechanisms of immune therapy resistance. The TFRI MoHCCN program has since expanded into a national initiative bringing together clinicians and scientists across the country with the goal of leveraging big data breakthroughs to advance our understanding, diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients to significantly impact patient outcomes.
Dr. Watson’s research program focuses on understanding how mutated genes identified in next-generation sequencing analysis promote melanoma disease progression and therapy response utilizing an inter-disciplinary approach combining unbiased molecular characterization of melanoma tumors, rapid development of preclinical models using genome-editing technology, and bioinformatic approaches.
What we are
currently
working on
- Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry
- Investigator, Research Institute-McGill University Health Center (RI-MUHC)
- Canada Research Chair II in Functional Genomics of Melanoma
- (CCTG) Canadian Cancer Trials Group– Melanoma Committee Co-Chair
- (MCC-TFRI) Terry Fox Research Institute Montreal Cancer Consortium- Co Principal Investigator
- (MoHCCN-TFRI) Terry Fox Research Institute Marathon of Hope Cancer Centre Network- Steering Committee Member
- QCC Quebec Cancer Consortium-Member
Our team
Mozhdeh Ahanfeshar-Adams Coordonateur.trice de laboratoire Laboratory Coordinator 
Rached Alkallas Étudiant.e au doctorat PhD Student 
Diana Berry Étudiante au doctorat PhD Candidate 
Aristophane Chay Étudiant.e à la maîtrise MSc Student 
Louis Ghaleb Étudiant.e à la maîtrise MSc Student 
Claris Gu Étudiant.e au doctorat PhD Student 
Kayla Heney Étudiant.e au doctorat PhD candidate 
Nebras Koudieh 
Mathieu Lajoie Associé.e de recherche Research Associate 
Tiffany Lin Étudiant.e à la maîtrise MSc Student 
Marine Lingrand Candidate au doctorat PhD Candidate 
Rong Ma Étudiant.e à la maîtrise MSc Student 
Jamie Magrill Étudiant.e MDCM-PhD MD/PhD Student 
Claire Morris Étudiant.e au doctorat PhD Student 
Junhyuk Park Étudiant.e à la maîtrise MSc Student 
Vanessa Pinatto Gaspar Associé.e de recherche Research Officer - Deepashika Senaratne Étudiant.e à la maîtrise MSc Student
Major discoveries
PublicationsResearch Partners
Get in touch
1160 Pine Avenue W.
Montreal, Quebec H3A 1A3
Office: 534
Lab: 503
T. 514-398-3399
T. 514-398-1041
F.
ian.watson2@mcgill.ca
Contact us for any questions about
our recruitment process
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