Join the Picard lab!
Interested in joining this enterprise and exploring cool science revolving around genetic and epigenetic control of pollen development, pollen stress responses, C. elegans germline development and more? Then make it so!
Unfortunately, we are unable to take any more undergraduate students for the 2026-2027 academic year. Please check back around Feb 2027 for updates on Summer 2027 positions.
We provide training and mentorship in research, molecular biology/wet-lab, and data analysis/programming for highly motivated undergraduate students. Some background in either biology or programming/statistics is preferred, but both are not required. There are a few different ways to join:
- Volunteering: no requirements, great way to check out research for the first time.
- For-credit courses within the CSB department (CSB497/498/499): see here for requirements.
- Scholarships: NSERC USRA, CSB URA, UTEA: see here for requirements. Additional scholarship opportunities, if any, can be found here – this page is updated as new opportunities are published.
- Work-study: these are paid positions, usually ~10-12hr/week contracts. If positions are available in the lab, you’ll find them here.
Interested students should reach out to Colette with their CV, unofficial transcript, and a short (~250 words) description of their interests and why they want to join the lab.
If you are interested in applying for the Fall 2027 intake, I am planning to take one graduate student this year, most likely at the MSc level. Only exceptionally strong candidates will be considered at the PhD level.
Interested in our research? Consider applying to graduate positions in the Picard lab! At the graduate level, the Picard lab is looking for students with a strong background in either molecular biology, developmental biology, or computational biology/genomics. Students will work with Colette to develop and later lead a research project within the lab. The lab usually has both hands-on ‘wet lab’ projects and bioinformatics/’dry lab’ projects. The Picard lab can accept students through the Department of Cell & Systems Biology MSc and PhD programs. More details on how to apply, including minimum program requirements, can be found here. Deadlines are at the end of January, and interviews will be carried out through Feb-March.
Prospective students thinking of applying should reach out in advance to Colette with:
- a short (~400 words) description of research interests, experience, and goals for the MSc or PhD
- CV and unofficial transcript
- eligibility and interest in applying for NSERC and other scholarships
All graduate students in the lab are strongly encouraged to pursue all scholarships that they are eligible for. In addition to NSERC Masters and Doctoral fellowships, this list compiles many of the scholarships that UofT graduate students can target.
There will be a postdoctoral position in the lab announced soon! Please stay tuned for details.
UofT is a great place to do a postdoc! Postdoctoral researchers in the Picard lab will be expected to develop their own research program within the lab’s expertise. Trainees will have access to a world-class research faculty and facilities, located in the heart of a vibrant and multicultural city. The CSB department is large, with a variety of labs and research across multiple systems, including a lot of plant and computational expertise. Our lab also has access to excellent plant growth facilities, imaging and microscopy cores, sequencing cores, and computational resources that support our research.
Colette is happy to support exceptional candidates in applying for postdoctoral fellowships like the NSERC fellowships, UofT fellowships, and international fellowships like the Marie Curie or EMBO.
Prospective postdoctoral researchers should reach out to Colette directly. Please indicate the fellowship opportunities that you’d be interested in pursuing and why, as well as your CV and a short (~500 word) description of your prior research and why you want to continue your research in this lab.