Postdoctoral Research Fellow Full-time

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Endometriosis Oncogenomics and Pathology Research Lab (EDGE Research) at the University of British Columbia is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Fellow to study the process driving malignant transformation of endometriosis to clear cell and/or endometrioid ovarian carcinomas. This work will form the basis of prevention, treatment, and etiological understanding of disease.

The successful candidate will work within a multidisciplinary team integrating molecular biology, genomics, epigenomics, microbiome science, proteomics, and clinical research. The position will focus on the development and evaluation of low-input whole genome sequencing and study of genotoxic stress markers.

This project is funded through a four-year US Ovarian Cancer Research Program grant. This is an on-site position located at Vancouver Hospital Campus.

Key Responsibilities

• Project management and co-ordination of incoming specimen including maintaining ethics, operational approvals, and relationships with contributing hospitals.
• Support assay development and validation activities involving cellular and genotoxic stress, predominantly IHC/IF based assays.
• Lead review and enrichment (laser capture) of endometriosis, cancer, and control tissues for whole genome sequencing including co-ordination of external sequencing contracts and bioinformatics.
• Contribute to study design, data interpretation, quality control, and experimental troubleshooting.
• Lead genomic analysis and integration of multi-omics data including microbiome and cell stress phenotypes.
• Lead collaboration with spatial transcriptomics and functional genomics team (external). Assist with the development and optimization of laboratory and analytical workflows.
• Contribute to grant applications, manuscripts, reports, and presentations, with strong scientific writing skills and attention to reproducibility.
• Collaborate with clinicians, laboratory scientists, trainees, and external partners. This will include supervision, training and recruitment of junior trainees (e.g. undergraduate, and graduate students involved with aspects of the project)

Required Qualifications

• PhD in molecular biology, translational research, genomics, bioinformatics, proteomics, cancer biology, reproductive biology, or a related field. Experience in gynecologic cancer genomics is an asset.
• Experience with at whole genome next-generation sequencing analysis and related approaches is needed.
• Strong understanding of molecular pathology and biomarker development.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects and work independently.
• Demonstrated commitment to research reproducibility and rigorous scientific practices.
• Excellent written communication skills, including experience assisting with grant writing, manuscripts, and scientific reports.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with clinical specimens.
• Experience integrating multiple data types within translational research projects.
• Familiarity with women's health, reproductive biology, gynecologic cancers, and microbiome research.
• Experience collaborating across multidisciplinary teams.
• Flexible to travel to international conferences and collaborating sites in Canada, the US, and overseas.
• Eligibility for post-doctoral funding from MITACS (Elevate) and/or Canada Postdoctoral Research Award program (CPRA)

The ideal candidate is scientifically rigorous, highly organized, adaptable, and excited to work at the interface of molecular biology, translational medicine, and biomarker development.

Salary range is commensurate to experience and is expected to be between $65,000 – 75,000 per annum plus benefits including extended health. Candidates with external funding will be eligible for incentive-award/top up funding.

Apply through workday only:

• Provide a cover letter (2-page maximum) outlining your interest, potential to contribute, and qualifications/eligibility aligned to the advert above.
• A full CV with publications/contributions to scientific advancement
• Transcripts from most recent (terminal) degree.
• Names and contact details for three professional references

Only qualified candidates will be contacted, and interviews will proceed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

We invite applications from qualified candidates who share our commitment to employment equity and inclusive excellence, and we welcome applications from candidates belonging to historically, persistently, or systemically marginalized groups: Indigenous (First Nation, Métis, Inuit) Peoples, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, women, 2SLGBTQIA+ people, and trans and non-binary people.

The University is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and equitable work environment for all members of its workforce. An inclusive work environment presumes an environment where differences are appreciated, recognized, and integrated into current structures, planning, and decision-making modes. Within this hiring process we are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable process for all candidates (including but not limited to people with disabilities). Confidential accommodations are available on request. Please contact Lygia Siqueira via email at lygia.siqueira@phc.ca . If you have any questions regarding accommodations or accessibility during the recruitment and hiring process or for more information and support, please visit UBC's Centre for Workplace Accessibility website at https://hr.ubc.ca/health-and-wellbeing/workplace-accessibility/centre-workplace-accessibility or contact the Centre at workplace.accessibility@ubc.ca.

With gratitude, we acknowledge that the University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine and its distributed programs, which include four university academic campuses, are located on traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of First Nations Peoples and communities around the province.