Location: Montréal, QC

Duration: May – August 2026 (Full-Time)

Organization: HeDS Platform – D2R Initiative

The HeDS Platform is looking for two driven, interdisciplinary interns to join our team in Montréal. We sit at the intersection of biology, data science, and translational innovation, building the tools that will power the next generation of RNA-based therapeutics.

Eligibility: Candidates must be enrolled in a graduate or advanced undergraduate program and returning to full-time studies in Fall 2026.

Focus: Infrastructure, Full-Stack Dev, & Metadata Discovery

Help us build the backbone of the D2R–HeDS initiative. You will design and implement scalable software tools that empower researchers to manage, visualize, and discover complex health data.

Core Responsibilities:

  • Data Cataloging: Implement a research data catalog adhering to FAIR principles.
  • Full-Stack Development: Build web applications to visualize research metadata.
  • Automation: Use internal LLM-based tools to automate data extraction from various sources.
  • Integration: Connect lab protocols into Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS).

Candidate Profile

  • Required: Proficiency in Python, JavaScript, SQL, and solid software development fundamentals.
  • Assets: Experience with Vue.js, Django, React, or familiarity with “omics” data.

Focus: UTR Architecture & Translation Efficiency

Move beyond the promoter. This research-heavy role focuses on decoding how Untranslated Regions (UTRs) regulate gene expression to inform the design of next-generation mRNA therapeutics.

Core Responsibilities:

  • Tissue-Specific Analysis: Identify high-expression gene sets using the public transcriptomic dataset.
  • Feature analysis: Quantify UTR length, GC content, Minimum Free Energy (MFE), and Kozak strength.
  • Regulatory Mapping: Analyze RNA-Binding Protein (RBP) motif enrichment and microRNA binding sites.
  • Modeling: Utilize DNA/RNA foundational models to predict translation efficiency.

Candidate Profile: 

  • Required: Proficiency in Python, scientific computing libraries (NumPy, Pandas, Scipy), and statistical reasoning.
  • Assets: Potential or demonstrated ability to work with DNA/RNA foundational models.

Eligibility

  • Must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or hold a valid Canadian study permit.
  • Must be an undergraduate or graduate student, returning to their current registered faculty in the 2026 fall semester.
  • Availability for full-time commitment for the duration of the internship.
  • Availability to move to the Montreal region for the duration of the internship.

What you’ll get from working at HeDS-D2R

  • Expert mentorship from seasoned bioinformatics professionals and scientists from a wide range of fields
  • The chance to join a collaborative team that cares about impactful science
  • An opportunity to contribute to a project that makes a real difference in the genomics and research community
  • A beautiful and centrally located workspace with a view overlooking McGill’s downtown campus.

Planned Start & End Date

May 1 to August 31, 2026.

Work Location

Interns are expected to work on-site with the rest of the team at one of our offices, with some exceptions for hybrid work, as needed:

HeDS-D2R Downtown Offices
1010 Sherbrooke W. – Suite 1800
Montréal, Québec H3A 2R7

Hours/Week & Schedule And Hourly Wage

Interns will be paid via stipend/award, bi-weekly payments, fixed hourly rate starting at $18.50, and usually for 33.75 hours per week.

Application Deadline

Friday, March 20th, 2026, 12 PM (noon) EST.

How To Apply
Complete the form at computationalgenomics.ca/careers-internships, selecting Internship as the type of opportunity.

**Please clearly indicate only one or two projects (using their name or code) that are of interest to you in your cover letter or CV. If you don’t, your application will be considered with lower priority.**

Policy on AI Usage

While the use of generative AI (LLMs) will not disqualify your application, we highly encourage a responsible use of these tools. If you decide to use them for your CV or cover letter, please ensure your application remains professional, truthful, fact-checked, and does not misrepresent your abilities. Use of AI tools during the interview stage will be strictly prohibited. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate any application process in which we suspect a candidate is engaging in plagiarism or if their application is not an accurate reflection of their professional and/or language skills.

Selection Process

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted within two weeks after the application deadline.