We are looking for motivated applicants, who are excited about biology and research!

Grad student positions

Applications to join the lab at the master’s or Ph.D. level are always welcome. The Department of Cell and Systems Biology at U of T offers both MSc and PhD programs.

Prospective students who exceed the minimum requirements for entry to the program should send their application including:

> Your cv.
> Copies of your transcripts.
> A short cover letter about your research experience, scientific interests, and career goals.
> Contact information for at least two academic references.

Undergraduate Researchers

CSB497H1F/S, CSB498Y1Y, and CSB499Y1Y – These are for-credit, unpaid research projects in the lab for 4th year U of T students.

Work-study – Eligible U of T students can earn money working in the lab part-time, usually 9-12 hours per week. See the Career and Co-curricular Learning Network page.

Mitacs Globalink – These awards are highly competitive support from Mitacs and various national partners for undergraduate students enrolled at international partner universities in to visit Canada for a 12-week research project.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Statement

The Yoshioka lab is committed to inclusion and follows the EDI standards set by the University of Toronto. We encourage underrepresented minorities to join our lab.

EDI goals of the Yoshioka lab:

1. Diversity. We have successfully created a diverse team with respect to culture, race, religion, and gender, including women and LGBTQ2+ members. However, specific minority groups rarely apply for positions in the lab or take the relevant courses. We try to identify and bridge unidentified systemic barriers to increase diversity in STEM.

2. Women in Science. I am actively engaged in using my experience as a minority female scientist to help younger female students navigate their careers. Women PhD students are less likely than their male peers to pursue academic careers or careers related to their degree. This is not an isolated case in my lab, but a worldwide phenomenon. With recent recognition, this gap is steadily getting smaller; however, it still requires continuous, concrete efforts, and my research group is committed to doing our part.

3. Inclusion. Mutual respect and inclusion are of paramount importance in a healthy and productive research team. We have established such a research team, but maintaining this atmosphere requires constant attention and awareness to prevent disconnection. We nurture such awareness in the lab and are creating concrete action plans to maintain good practice.

4. Creating a more inclusive environment. Most members of the research teams are comfortable voicing their opinions and contributing to group discussions, but some team members (especially those belonging to racial minorities or coming from other cultural background) need more nudging. A collective effort from all members of the team is needed to create and promote a more inclusive environment, not just during group meetings but also in the day-to-day lab setting.

5. Lack of solid awareness and understanding of EDI issues among team members. While most members in our team treat each other with respect, not everyone is fully aware of the timely issues of representation, gender disparity, and achievement gaps in STEM. We believe that training will help team members to develop a more concrete understanding of EDI issues and address potential achievement gaps and unconscious biases.

EDI Resources:

University of Toronto Inclusion
University of Toronto EDI Statement
University of Toronto – Division of Human Resources and Eqity
NSERC EDI Statement