Research Associate Full-time NEW

Job Title

Research Associate

Job Description

The Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver campus, invites applications for a full time Research Associate. This position is a 1-year appointment, renewable subject to work performance and funding availability.

The Research Associate provides senior level scientific leadership through the design, execution, analysis, and dissemination of original research in advanced materials, polymers, bio-based materials, nanomaterials, and environmental technologies. Working across the Foster and Cranston research groups as a senior member, the successful candidate works with a high degree of independence and scientific judgment to lead research projects within priorities established by the Principal Investigators. The role includes developing and implementing experimental methodologies, generating and interpreting research, leading collaborative studies and scientific work packages, publishing scholarly outputs, preparing grant proposals, identifying new research opportunities, managing research resources and laboratory infrastructure, mentoring research personnel, and supporting program growth through external funding. The successful candidate collaborates with students, postdoctoral fellows, research staff, academic and industry partners, and external stakeholders, and consults with the Principal Investigators on matters that may significantly affect the laboratory or research program.

The role has two integrated and approximately equally weighted areas of responsibility, both centred on advancing original research:

1. Research Execution, Scientific Leadership, and Laboratory Operations – 50%

• Independently designs, conducts, and leads original experimental research on functional bio-based polymers, cellulose and other nanomaterials, composites, sustainable materials processing, and environmental technologies, as appropriate to active Foster and Cranston laboratory projects.
• Develops research questions, experimental plans, performance targets, and validation strategies based on critical assessment of scientific literature.
• Leads material synthesis, processing, testing and characterization; selecting and optimizing analytical techniques, research protocols and experimental methods.
• Analyzes and interprets experimental data using statistical and computational methods to evaluate reproducibility and uncertainty, identify structure-property-performance relationships, and guide future research.
• Provides scientific leadership for complex research projects and multidisciplinary collaborations, including study design, technical troubleshooting, milestone delivery, coordination of research activities, and dissemination of findings.
• Develops, validates, and documents new experimental methods and standard operating procedures; maintains complete, accurate research records and sound data-management and research-integrity practices.
• Mentors and trains graduate students, undergraduate researchers, postdoctoral fellows, and research staff in experimental design, advanced methods, data interpretation, scientific writing, and responsible research practices.
• Oversees specialized research instrumentation, laboratory infrastructure, safety, procurement, maintenance, and equipment training to support reliable and efficient complex research operations.

2. Research Program Development, Grants, and Scientific Dissemination – 50%

• Identifies emerging research opportunities and develops innovative research concepts, and funding initiatives aligned with the group's strategic priorities and expertise.
• Leads the development of grant and sponsored research proposals, including research design, methodology, feasibility assessment, budgets, timelines, risk management, and integration of contributions from collaborators.
• Works with the Principal Investigators and collaborators to develop coherent multi-year research programs, define research objective and work packages, foster collaborations with academic, government, community, and industry stakeholders.
• Generates and synthesizes preliminary data, proof-of-concept results, figures, technical analyses, and scientific justifications that strengthen grant applications and support funding decisions.
• Leads and contributes to scholarly publications, peer-reviewed manuscripts and technical reports.
• Presents and disseminates research outcomes through presentations, conferences, seminars, and meetings with industry and research stakeholders.
• Contributes to research reporting, grant renewals, project evaluation, knowledge mobilization, intellectual property assessments, and future research and infrastructure planning.
• Performs other related duties consistent with a senior, research-active Research Associate appointment.

Supervision Received

The Research Associate works under the general direction of the Principal Investigators.

The Research Associate provides scientific and functional supervision, and guidance to trainees regarding research methods and project execution but does not replace the formal academic supervisory responsibilities of faculty members. They may supervise research personnel and may provide input to the Principal Investigator regarding recruitment, work assignments, training needs, research performance, and allocation of laboratory resources.

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Chemistry, Polymer Science, Biomedical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or another discipline relevant to the research program, or equivalent qualifications and research experience.
• Demonstrated record of original research contributions and scientific productivity, including peer-reviewed publications in relevant disciplines.
• Significant hands-on experience designing, conducting, analyzing, and troubleshooting experimental research in an academic, government, or industrial research environment.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex research projects independently and collaboratively from scientific conception to validated results and dissemination.
• Experience developing and validating experimental methods for materials preparation, characterization, processing, or performance testing.
• Demonstrated scientific writing experience, including preparation and authorship of peer-reviewed manuscripts, technical reports, and research proposals.
• Strong scientific and technical writing skills, with the ability to translate complex multidisciplinary research into clear and persuasive proposals.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze scientific literature, identify research gaps, and develop technically rigorous research concepts.
• Experience mentoring or training students, research staff, or other researchers.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills and demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within multidisciplinary and collaborative research teams.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and demonstrated ability to interact professionally with researchers, students, staff, research sponsors, industry partners, and external collaborators.
• Demonstrated commitment to creating a respectful, inclusive, collaborative, and safe research environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing successful research proposals for major Canadian or international funding programs.
• Experience with NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR, CFI, Mitacs, Genome Canada, provincial research programs, industry-sponsored research, or comparable funding mechanisms.
• Experience developing research partnerships involving industry, government, community organizations, or other external stakeholders.
• Experience preparing research budgets, work plans, milestones, deliverables, risk registers, and project-management documentation.
• Experience managing laboratory equipment, procurement, research infrastructure, laboratory safety, and research operations.
• Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publications in advanced materials, polymers, bio-based materials, nanomaterials, environmental technologies, or related fields.
• Experience with intellectual property, technology translation, industry collaboration, or commercialization of university research is considered an asset.
• Familiarity with UBC research administration, policies, systems, and research-support structures is considered an asset.

The University of British Columbia's primary language of instruction and research is English. Accordingly, individuals are required to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.

Applicants must submit the following:

• curriculum vitae;
• concise statements of research interests; and
• the names and contact information of three references.

All applications must be submitted online at https://ubc.wd10.myworkdayjobs.com/ubcfacultyjobs. Review of applications will commence on December 1, 2026. The anticipated start date is January 1, 2027.

The expected salary for the position is $76,128/annum. This position is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package. For details, see https://hr.ubc.ca/benefits

Information on the Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering is available at http://www.chbe.ubc.ca

Inquiries about the position may be directed to Dr. Johan Foster at johan.foster@ubc.ca.

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.

The Department is located on UBC's Point Grey campus in Vancouver, British Columbia, a vibrant and culturally diverse city situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Coast Mountains and consistently ranked among