Researcher - Virtual Reality Interaction Research

Please send your cover letter and resume to research.stmary@ssss.gouv.qc.ca by 2026-10-20 with the subject line: " Researcher in Virtual Reality Interaction Research". Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Presentation of the organization

The St. Mary's Research Centre (SMRC) is a member of Santé Québec l'Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal - Universitaire and a McGill Network Research Centre that specializes in research focused on the organization of care, patient-centred interventions and community partnerships that promote quality and proximity of care. Located in the heart of the Côte-des-Neiges district, the CRSM is also involved in research on optimizing care for vulnerable populations.

Summary of role and responsibilities

This full-time position (one-year term position, with potential for renewal) is offered under the supervision of a McGill University professor. The position is part of a collaborative research program developing evidence-based virtual reality therapeutic platforms for aging populations. The research team consists of interdisciplinary members including engineers, clinicians, designers, and data scientists.

This position focuses on interdisciplinary research across these key domains:

• Virtual reality interface design and human-computer interaction for therapeutic applications

• User engagement patterns and predictive modeling for intervention adherence

• Accessibility and usability optimization for aging populations

• Theoretical frameworks for presence and immersion measurement in VR for older adults

The candidate will contribute to the group's research activities, including:

• Leading research projects investigating optimal VR interaction paradigms for therapeutic applications

• Designing and evaluating VR interface modalities using mixed-methods approaches

• Writing clean, reusable code in Unity for VR interaction prototypes

• Applying mathematical concepts (linear algebra, quaternions) for gesture recognition and motion tracking

• Integrating VR hardware (Meta Quest, HTC Vive, Pico) and implementing OpenXR standards

• Conducting usability testing with older adults and iterating based on empirical findings

• Supporting graduate students in experimental design

Preferred Skills:

• Extensive experience with Unity (3+ years preferred), including C++ and Blueprint

• Proficiency with VR SDKs (OpenXR, SteamVR, Oculus SDK)

• Background in healthcare or therapeutic technology research considered an asset

• Experience with eye tracking and biometric integration in VR

• Strong understanding of Unity rendering pipeline and optimization techniques

• Experience with Git, Perforce, and project management tools (Jira, Trello)

Requirements

• Degree Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or related field

• 3+ years of VR development experience

Application Instructions:

Please send the following materials to research.stmary@ssss.gouv.qc.ca with the subject line: " Researcher in Virtual Reality Interaction Research":

• CV

• Brief one-page description of your interest in the position

• Portfolio or GitHub repository demonstrating Unity expertise

• Contact information for three references (name, phone number, email)

Remark

This position is funded by research funds and does not represent a permanent position in the public sector of the Health and Social Services Network. Salary is $50,000 CAD per annum

Equal Employment Opportunity Program

The SMRC values the contribution of employees with diverse backgrounds and has an equal opportunity employment program and invites applications from women, Aboriginal people, visible minorities, ethnic minorities and persons with disabilities. Accommodation may be provided to persons with disabilities who request it based on their needs.