Sessional Lecturer - MMGY: Communication of Genetic Information

Sessional Lecturer – MMG
3004Y:
Communication of Genetic Information

Job Field: CUPE 3902 Unit 3 Faculty / Division:
Faculty of Medicine Department:
Molecular Genetics Campus:
St. George (downtown Toronto)

This one-term graduate course is offered within the MHSc Medical Genomics program, and is restricted to students enrolled in that program. The course teaches students terminology and jargon relevant to genomic research to enable access to medical and scientific literature, and how to translate it for specific contexts and audiences. Students are also trained to effectively and bi-directionally translate clinical information into accessible language.

• Effective science communication
• Visual communication
• Writing of genetic test reports
• Direct-to-consumer genetic testing and communication
• Communication in a professional environment
• Journalism and entrepreneurship
• Artificial intelligence in genetic analysis and communication

Estimated TA support: 28 TA hours Estimated course enrolment: 22 students

Class schedule:
Wednesday and Fridays (9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.)

Sessional dates of appointment:
September 1, 2026 to December 15, 2026. Some coordination of guest speakers will take place in summer 2026 to schedule fall sessions.

$19,994.95 for Sessional Lecturer I; $21,398.43 for Sessional Lecturer I Long Term; $21,398.43 for Sessional Lecturer II; $21,907.92 for Sessional Lecturer III, inclusive of vacation pay.

The applicant should be acquainted with concepts in Medical Genetics, including variant interpretation. The applicant should also be experienced with science communication and communication with a lay audience. Previous teaching experience is desirable but not required.

The course is structured as a twice weekly three-hour lecture & activity session each Monday and Friday mornings, from 9:00am-12:00pm throughout the semester. Many sessions have a guest lecture component, and contain group activities and case studies. The instructor is expected to attend all sessions, coordinate with guest speakers, prepare for the lecture beforehand based on existing lecture content and assignments, answer student questions, and grade assignments.

Approximate time commitment is 12 hours per week.

The course has been taught for 7 years. The successful applicant will work with the course materials of the professor who previously taught this course and will have the support of the previous course instructor, program director and a teaching assistant from the previous year. A complete course syllabus, course slides, assignments and answer keys / rubrics, and other critical components have already been designed and used successfully.

Minimal modification of these materials may be required to update them for use this year.

Applications should include a single PDF with the following components in this order:

• the CUPE 3902 Unit 3 application form
• a cover letter
• a CV that includes evidence of expertise in medical genetics and communication, as well as the name(s) of one or more qualified referees.

Submit electronically to:
Dr. Timothy Hughes, Professor and Chair, Department of Molecular Genetics -

The University of Toronto embraces diversity and builds a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes.

The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission. The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). We provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.

If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact