Postdoctoral Fellow – Advanced Force Sensor for Minimally Invasive Surgical Instruments

Department: Mechanical, Industrial and Mechatronics Engineering
Position supervisor: Dr. Farrokh Janabi-Sharifi
Contract length: 1 year
Hours of work per week: 36.25
Position type: Postdoctoral Fellow
Rate of pay: $45,000-$70,000 (depending on the experience)

About Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University)

At the intersection of mind and action, Toronto Metropolitan University is on a transformative path to become Canada’s leading comprehensive innovation university. Integral to this path is the placement of equity, diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our institutional culture. Our current academic plan outlines each as core values and we work to embed them in all that we do.

Toronto Metropolitan University welcomes those who have demonstrated a commitment to upholding the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion and will assist us to expand our capacity for diversity in the broadest sense. In addition, to correct the conditions of disadvantage in employment in Canada, we encourage applications from members of groups that have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples, Indigenous peoples of North America, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, and those who identify as women and/or 2SLGBTQ+. Please note that all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, applications from Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

As an employer, we are working towards a people first culture and are proud to have been selected as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers and a Greater Toronto’s Top Employer for 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. To learn more about our work environment, colleagues, leaders, students and innovative educational environment, visit www.torontomu.ca, check out @TorontoMet and @ECItorontomet on Twitter, and visit our LinkedIn company page.

The opportunity

The Robotics, Mechatronics and Automation Laboratory (RMAL) in the Department of Mechanical, Industrial, and Mechatronics Engineering at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) is inviting applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow to contribute to a cutting-edge medical device research project in collaboration with Li Ka-Shing Knowledge Institute (St. Michael’s Hospital) and Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Technology. This initiative is supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) through its prestigious Idea to Innovation (I2I) program.

The successful candidate will play a key role in the redesign, simulation, prototyping, and pre-clinical validation of a novel temperature-insensitive, 6-degree-of-freedom force sensor for use in minimally invasive cardiac surgical instruments. This patented technology addresses major limitations in surgical force sensing and has strong potential for commercialization and clinical impact.

​​Key Responsibilities

• Redesign and optimize a fiber-optic (FBG-based) force sensor structure for integration into cardiac catheters.
• Conduct finite element analysis (FEA) to simulate force/strain responses under clinical conditions.
• Assist in the setup and execution of in-vitro and in-vivo studies for sensor validation.
• Collaborate with clinicians, engineers, and commercialization experts to advance the sensor toward regulatory approval and clinical deployment.
• Prepare technical reports, conference papers, and journal articles.
• Support Health Canada and ethics submission processes.

Why Join Us?

• Contribute to a high-impact innovation in cardiac surgery and robotic systems.
• Work within a vibrant research environment.
• Collaborate with experts in academia, healthcare, and the medical device industry.
• Gain valuable experience in both research and commercialization

Qualifications

Required:

• PhD in Mechanical, Biomedical, or Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience with sensor design and finite element modeling (e.g., ANSYS, COMSOL).
• Familiarity with fiber optic sensing technologies, especially Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBG).
• Strong background in experimental mechanics and prototyping.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary research team.

Preferred:

• Experience in medical device design or pre-clinical (animal) research.
• Understanding of biocompatibility and surgical tool integration.
• Familiarity with regulatory requirements (Health Canada, FDA) is an asset.

How to apply

Interested candidates should submit the following materials:

• A cover letter highlighting relevant experience and interest in the project
• A detailed CV
• Contact information for two academic or professional references

Please email your application to Dr. Farrokh Janabi-Sharifi at fsharifi@torontomu.ca with the subject line: Postdoc Application – Force Sensor Project.

Toronto Metropolitan University’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

• We encourage all First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples or Indigenous peoples of North America, to self-identify in their applications. If you are an Indigenous applicant and require support during the recruitment process, please reach out to James McKay, Indigenous HR Lead at james13@torontomu.ca.
• Toronto Metropolitan University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), and aims to ensure that independence, dignity, integration and equality of opportunity are embedded in all aspects of the university culture.
• We will provide an accessible experience for applicants, students, employees, and members of the Toronto Metropolitan University community. We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the recruitment process. If you have restrictions that need to be accommodated to fully participate in any phase of the recruitment process,please reach out to Human Resources:
  • Current employees can contact HR by logging into AskHR to submit a request.
  • External candidates who do not have TMU login credentials can contact HR by visiting torontomu.ca/human-resources/askhr/.
• All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.