Expression of Interest for MSc or PhD starting September 2025
Funded positions are available for domestic (Canadian) MSc and domestic or international PhD students. Interested students should complete this form in lieu of emailing Dr. Kirkham. Only the top candidates will be contacted for an interview. Apply before November 30, 2024 for the best chance of receiving an interview. Note that domestic and international candidates who do not yet hold a thesis-based MSc but have considerable research experience may be eligible for the direct entry PhD program.
Selected candidates will then be asked to apply to the University of Toronto for admission. Deadlines for applications for admission are January/February 2025 for September 2025 start.
The Kirkham Lab
Students would receive training the Kirkham Lab and the centre for Cardiometabolic, Oncology, Diet and Exercise research in Women (CODE-W) within the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education at the University of Toronto.
The Kirkham lab and CODE-W offers exceptional training opportunities focused on multi-disciplinary women’s health. We are interested in understanding, treating and improving the cardiometabolic health of women with cancer (primary focus), cardiovascular diseases, or metabolic diseases. Assessment techniques include magnetic resonance imaging (heart, brain, vessels, ectopic adipose tissue), ultrasound imaging (resting and exercise echo, vascular, muscle, and cerebrovascular), cardiopulmonary exercise testing, blood biomarker assessment, body composition assessment, and real-time biosensors (e.g., physical activity or sleep trackers or smart scales, continuous glucose monitors). Interventional approaches include acute and chronic exercise, novel nutritional strategies (e.g., caloric restriction, time-restricted eating/intermittent fasting, ketogenic diet), tradiational healthy eating practices, and multimodal cardiac rehabilitation. Our research approaches include gold standard clinical trials, implementation and effectiveness studies, basic sciences, and epidemiology.
Students will lead their dissertation projects and also contribute toward other ongoing trials in the lab, including multi-year multi-site clinical trials. Thesis projects will be developed in concert with the student and their interests but within the expertise and funding scope of the lab.
All projects in the lab follow a strong “team science” approach involving various trainees (undergraduate to doctoral) and both clinical (especially oncology and cardiology) and academic collaborators. Significant opportunities will be provided to both receive and give mentorship to others. Part of the funding package includes teaching assistant roles in undergraduate courses. Manuscript writing and academic presentations are expected outputs throughout the degree. All projects in the lab follow a strong “team science” approach involving various trainees (undergraduate to doctoral) and both clinical (especially oncology and cardiology) and academic collaborators. Typically, PhD students in the lab will have one committee member who is a clinician scientist (in either oncology or cardiology depending on the focus) who will additionally provide guidance on clinical judgement and knowledge tranlsation of research to clinical practice.
The University of Toronto
Located in Canada’s most vibrant and culturally diverse city, the University of Toronto is consistently ranked among the world’s best research universities. The location, size and diversity provide unique opportunities for collaboration and innovation.
The Kirkham lab is located in the Goldring Centre for High Performance (building to the right of the track above). This award-winning building was completed in 2014 and houses cutting-edge research and teaching labs, a strength and conditioning centre, a state-of-the-art sports medicine clinic and a 2000-seat basketball and volleyball field house.
More information about the graduate program can be found here: https://kpe.utoronto.ca/academics-research/graduate-studies
Requirements:
- Candidates at the PhD level require human research experience.
- Undergraduate degree in Exercise physiology, Human physiology, Rehabilitation Sciences, or a closely related discipline involving Human Nutrition, Health Sciences, or Public Health.
- Experience (research, volunteer, or work) with clinical populations or older adults
- Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills
- Ability to take initiative and work independently, while also working well as part of a collaborative team
- An academic standing equivalent of a University of Toronto A- (80-84%) in the master’s degree completed for PhD candidates or B+ (76-79%) in the last five full-course equivalents of relevant, senior-level courses for MSc applicants.
- Candidates without degrees in English must meet the U of T English language proficiency requirements
Assets (not required but will strengthen application):
- Exercise professional designation (R.Kin, CEP etc) or registered dietitian credentials
- Experience and skill in academic writing and statistical analyses
- Leadership or mentorship experience
- Experience with one or more data collection techniques listed above
- Expertise in Python (preferred) and/or R
- Direct experience or education in cancer or cardiometabolic disease