Postdoctoral Fellow (Clinical Research), Physical Function, Body Composition, and Cancer Full-time

Postdoctoral Fellow (Clinical Research), Physical Function, Body Composition, and Cancer

The Cancer Exercise & Physiotherapy (CEPL) in the UBC Faculty of Medicine, Vancouver Campus, is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join an established group of scientists and clinicians in the laboratory of Dr. Kristin Campbell.

Under direction of Dr. Kristin Campbell, the Cancer Exercise & Physiotherapy Lab and the Department of Physical Therapy in the Faculty of Medicine, is seeking a full time (1.0 FTE) Postdoctoral Research Fellow to perform research within a collaborative translational research program focused on assessment of sarcopenia, cachexia and body composition changes in people with GI cancers, with a particular focus on pancreatic cancer. This work is part of a broad program that is defining cachexia biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

The CEPL is a research lab that aims to develop, test, and implement physiotherapy and exercise interventions that support people living with and beyond cancer in managing treatment side effects and enhancing their quality of life. Through partnering with these individuals, caregivers, and healthcare providers and administrators, we advocate for the better integration of physiotherapy and exercise programs into standard cancer care, aiming to translate research into clinical practice to improve clinical outcomes and overall well-being for those living with and beyond cancer.

The primary project will involve research related to feasibility of incorporating physical function measures in a clinic visit for patients with newly diagnosed pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma as well as examination of both the trajectory of physical function and body composition in this population and the correlation between established markers from CT imaging, physical function and quality of life.

The CEPL is committed to undertaking research to translate evidence into clinical practice.

This full time Postdoctoral Research Fellow position is located at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.

Start date of 1 July 2026.

Reporting to Dr. Kristin Campbell, the successful candidate will be responsible for:

• Coordinating research activities and manage project timelines
• Leading the development and collection of measures of physical function and patient-reported outcomes within the clinical setting
• Leading evaluation of body composition, using CT scans or other innovative methods
• Organizing and collecting clinical data
• Conducting rigorous quantitative research analyses with a strong methodological foundation.
• Contributing to literature reviews and research syntheses
• Preparing conference abstracts and manuscripts stemming from this work and other work
• Presenting findings on a regular basis to team members
• Collaborating within multidisciplinary teams across UBC, BC Cancer, and other institutes, including clinical, technical, and patient partner stakeholders.
• Supervising research assistants and trainees involved in data collection, analysis, writing, and related projects.
• Contributing to additional projects led by the Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigators
• Providing support with future research proposals and/or for new funding opportunities
• Maintaining accountability for the quality and integrity of the research and data, as well as the effective and efficient management of research projects and deliverables

The successful applicant will have:

• A PhD in exercise physiology, rehabilitation, nutrition, epidemiology or related field.
• Strong background in exercise oncology and/or body composition, muscle physiology, and/or epidemiological data analysis, is an asset.
• Ability to manage all aspects of a project, from experimental design to data interpretation and assembly of manuscripts.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work in a team environment.
• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one's own.
• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one's own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

The expected salary for this position is $60,000 per annum. The Faculty of Medicine is committed to offering equitable and competitive salaries, commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the candidate.

Terms of Appointment:

• Full-time (1.0 FTE) Postdoctoral Fellow appointment
• 2-year funded term (01 July 2026 – 30 June 2028), with possibility of extension based on performance and successful additional funding

Application procedure:

• An application package should include:
• A cover letter (1-2 pages) outlining the applicant's research experience; with specific examples of experience and research interests.
• A detailed curriculum vitae;
• Contact information for two referees