Postdoctoral Research Fellow Full-time NEW

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of British Columbia is seeking a highly motivated full-time Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join our lipid nanoparticle enabled gene delivery group. Our group focuses on the development of nanomedicine and gene therapy against chronic diseases and these specific aims to develop novel cancer nanomedicine using gene therapy to deliver functional proteins that tackle the dense, protective barrier around tumors, allowing advanced immunotherapies to reach and treat cancer. The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences strives to enact this vision by supporting the optimization of drug therapy in pursuit of improving patient outcomes, and empowering future generations of healthcare practitioners in the pharmaceutical sciences.

Project

This interdisciplinary project will focus on the development and evaluation of a novel lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-mRNA platform for functional gene delivery in cancer. The research will integrate formulation science, molecular biology, and preclinical cancer modeling to investigate both the delivery performance of the LNP-mRNA system and the biological impact of the encoded gene in relevant in vitro and in vivo models. The candidate will play an active role across multiple aspects of the project, from nanoparticle preparation and nucleic acid design to mechanistic analysis and animal studies.

The candidate will be expected to:

• Work closely with graduate students and other team members to formulate and optimize LNPs for mRNA delivery, including assisting with nanoparticle preparation, characterization, and quality assessment. This will also involve contributing to the design and generation of plasmid DNA templates and mRNA constructs for functional studies.
• Perform transcriptomic analyses to evaluate cellular responses following gene delivery, including sample preparation, data generation, and interpretation of gene expression changes associated with treatment. The candidate will help identify molecular pathways affected by the delivered gene and relate these findings to therapeutic response.
• Establish and work with preclinical small animal cancer models to assess in vivo gene delivery and treatment outcomes. This will include animal handling, administration of formulations through appropriate injection routes, IVIS imaging for monitoring biodistribution or reporter expression, and collection of tissues for downstream processing, histological assessment, and molecular analysis.

We are seeking candidates with a strong background in nanomedicine, RNA biology, cancer biology and preclinical cancer studies. Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in biology, biomedical engineering, pharmaceutical sciences, biochemistry, or a related field with relevant experience (obtained within the last 5 years) and have a strong record of research productivity.

The ideal candidate will have experience in preclinical model, experience with single-cell transcriptomics, proteomics, or multimodal data integration is highly desirable. Candidates with experience in cancer genomics or oncology, as well as those with preclinical cancer model experience are strongly recommended to apply. Strong communication skills and the ability to independently drive research projects are essential.

The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world. At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

The Postdoctoral Fellow will join a collaborative, interdisciplinary research environment at UBC, with access to state-of-the-art equipment. The position offers opportunities to work closely with experimental and computational researchers, to lead publications, and to develop an independent research profile. Vancouver is consistently ranked among the world's most livable cities, and UBC provides an outstanding environment for scientific research and career development.

The expected salary for this position is $55,000 – $65,000 CAD plus benefits per year, commensurate with experience.

Appointment

The appointment will be for one year, with the possibility of extension subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding. This appointment will be a full-time position.

Application Process

Interested applicants should submit a single PDF containing a curriculum vitae (including publication list), a brief cover letter (1 page), and contact information for 2-3 references. Applications should be submitted to the UBC Careers portal no later than the posting end date. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

UBC's campuses are located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Syilx (Okanagan) Peoples and of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil Waututh) Nations.

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority.