Postdoctoral Fellowship (Health AI)

About the HIVE Lab

The HIVE Lab at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto conducts interdisciplinary research in AI, machine learning, visualization, health informatics, and data-driven methods to advance individual and population health. We encourage applications from candidates who are excited to work in a collaborative, interdisciplinary academic environment and contribute to high impact research in AI and health.

General Inquiry

We are always happy to hear from motivated students, postdocs, and researchers interested in seeing if HIVE lab might be the right place for them. Please contact zahra[dot]shakeri[@]utoronto[dot]ca for more details or read more about what we do on the Project page.

Postdoctoral Fellow Position in AI/LLMs, NLP, and Causal AI

Location: HIVE Lab, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto
Start date: Flexible (as early as August 2026). The position will remain open until filled.
Duration: 1 year, with possibility of extension depending on funding availability
Salary: Salary is negotiable and will be based on the candidate’s experience, qualifications, and fit with the position.

Required Qualifications

• A PhD, or be near completion of a PhD, in Computer Science, Biomedical Informatics, Data Science, Biostatistics, Health Informatics, or a related field
• Strong expertise in AI, machine learning, large language models, and/or natural language processing
• Strong background in causal inference, causal machine learning, causal AI, or related methods
• Strong publication record relative to career stage
• Excellent scientific writing and oral communication skills
• Strong programming, analytical, and methodological skills
• Ability to work independently and contribute effectively to collaborative interdisciplinary projects
• Demonstrated interest in health, public health, healthcare, population health, or related applications of AI

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with health data, clinical text, electronic health records, public health datasets, or population-level data
• Experience with responsible AI, fairness, interpretability, uncertainty, evaluation of LLMs, or trustworthy AI
• Experience leading grant applications or collaborative research projects
• Strong record of presenting research at conferences, seminars, or interdisciplinary meetings
• Experience mentoring students or contributing to team-based research activities

Funding and Fellowship Expectations

The successful candidate will be expected to apply for eligible external postdoctoral fellowships, scholarships, and other funding opportunities during the appointment. External fellowship or scholarship funding may contribute to the candidate’s overall stipend support. Any HIVE Lab top-up support will be discussed in advance and will depend on the amount and conditions of the external award, institutional policies, and available lab funding.

Application Materials

• A current CV
• Three selected publications or manuscripts
• The name and email address of two references
• A one-page research statement describing: Previous research experience, relevant expertise in AI/LLMs, NLP, and causal methods, and proposed research interests and plans at the HIVE Lab

How to Apply

Applications should be submitted through the HIVE Lab application form: https://forms.gle/A8moqhrhoHcP5ZgBA. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

General Call for Postdoctoral Candidates

If you are interested in pursuing a postdoctoral position with our lab and meet the general requirements, we will need to collaborate on securing funding through postdoctoral scholarships, unless a funded position is announced through a special hiring call. In the absence of such a call, please consider planning for available funding opportunities. If your application is successful, we would be delighted to welcome you to our team. Ensure you are aware of both internal and external deadlines for each opportunity and communicate your plans with me at least three months prior to the deadline.

• Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program
• Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
• Schmidt Science Fellows Award
• Data Sciences Institute Postdoctoral Fellowship
• Vector Institute Postdoctoral Scholarship
• China Scholarship Council Full-time Graduate Students

Full Time Graduate Students: Fall 2027 Intake

Funded PhD and Master's Positions. HIVE Lab is accepting applications for Fall 2027. We are a collaborative research team working at the intersection of health informatics, artificial intelligence, and data visualization. Our work focuses on precision public health, health equity, and the responsible use of data and AI to improve health systems and population health.

What We Look For

• Proven research experience shown through publications, conference papers, or substantial projects
• Exceptional academic writing skills and the ability to explain complex ideas clearly
• Strong discipline and time management to meet project milestones and publication deadlines
• Interest in grant writing or experience preparing funding proposals
• Technical depth in at least one of the following: machine learning, natural language processing, data science, or information visualization
• Ability to work independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team
• Genuine enthusiasm for improving public and population health through data-driven methods

Why Join HIVE Lab

• Work on high-impact projects that influence health policy and patient outcomes
• Access to rich datasets, cutting-edge computational resources, and dedicated mentorship
• Opportunities to co-author peer-reviewed papers, present at major conferences, and lead grant submissions
• A supportive environment that values diverse perspectives and encourages professional growth

Application Materials

• A current CV
• Sample publications, manuscripts, or writing samples
• The name and email address of two references
• A one-page research statement describing: Previous research experience, relevant expertise in AI/LLMs, NLP, and causal methods, and proposed research interests and plans at the HIVE Lab

How to Apply

Applications should be submitted through the HIVE Lab application form: https://forms.gle/xYHAwysCnfJ8VZjN7. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Part-time Graduate Students

For part-time candidates, we are exclusively accepting applications for our self-funded MSc programs. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds, including clinical, epidemiology, and computer science, who are interested in applying novel data science techniques in their fields. Positions for part-time MSc students are available for Fall 2027.

Volunteers and Practicum Students

Thank you for your interest in our Summer 2026 positions. At this time, we do not have any openings for the summer term. However, we encourage those interested in volunteer Research Assistant or internship opportunities to consider applying for the Fall 2026 term. Please feel free to reach out after mid-April. Thank you again for your interest, and we hope to potentially collaborate in the future.