Senior Research Associate, Protein Biosciences and Drug Discovery Suite. Full-time

The expected salary range for this position is CAD $110,000 – $130,000 per annum

Job Description

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. 

Job Description Summary

The Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at the University of British Columbia is seeking to hire a highly motivated full-time Senior Research Associate in Protein Biosciences and Drug Discovery Suite to support PROGENITER, a multi-year research program to develop therapeutics that target infectious diseases at an accelerated pace, within the laboratory of Dr. Sriram Subramaniam. Salary will be commensurate with experience.

For more than fifty years, the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology has played an active and important role at UBC and in the greater scientific community. The Department is home to approximately 90 research laboratories from fifteen Departments organized into nine research clusters, fostering a strong foundation for innovation and collaborations. All members of the Department maintain active, well-funded research programs that encompass many areas of modern biochemistry, and molecular and structural biology. The Department hosts an active Graduate program with more than 90 students and offers over fifteen undergraduate courses and laboratory courses for honours, major and minor Undergraduate programs.

Organizational Status

The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations, strategic planning, and user support within the PROGENITER’s Protein Biosciences and Drug Discovery Suite. This core facility supports academic and translational research undertaken by PROGENITER by providing high-quality recombinant proteins for structural, biochemical, and therapeutic applications for integration with cryo-EM structure determination and antibody discovery. The Senior Research Associate, Protein Production Suite ensures that the facility operates efficiently, safely, and in alignment with UBC research and compliance standards. We are looking for a dynamic and self-motivated team player who thrives in a fast-paced and challenging lab environment.

PROGENITER is a University of British Columbia-affiliated, nationally recognized, multi-year research program to enable the rapid design, engineering, and production of antibody leads against present and future viral diseases to ensure Canada is better prepared for the next pandemic. PROGENITER is a key component of Canada’s Immuno-Engineering and Biomanufacturing Hub (CIEBH). Our interdisciplinary team of researchers, students, staff, and industry partners work together to discover, test, and advance therapeutics that target infectious diseases at an accelerated pace. This mission aligns with CIEBH’s vision for rapidly responding to new health threats and Canada’s national pandemic preparedness strategy (BLSS).

The incumbent will report to Dr. Sriram Subramaniam, the Director of PROGENITER and will work closely with the other members of the research team, including Research Technicians, Research Associates, Postdoctoral Fellows and Graduate Students.

Work Performed

Facility Operations and Management

• Oversee all operational aspects of the protein production suite, including resource planning, procurement, scheduling, equipment maintenance, and execution of preventative maintenance programs for all facility equipment.
• Ensure smooth workflows for gene-to-protein production, including construct design, expression screening, scale-up, purification, and quality control.
• Maintain and improve standard operating procedures, safety protocols, and data management systems.
• Manage facility budget, billing, and cost recovery in coordination with the finance team.
• Facilitate the development of documentation and obtaining necessary approvals, including development and submission of facility safety certificate applications, material and data sharing agreements.

Technical Expertise and Support

• Provide hands-on technical expertise in protein expression (e.g., E. coli, insect cells, mammalian cells), purification (e.g., affinity, ion exchange, SEC), and characterization.
• Advise and assist users (faculty, postdocs, students) with project planning, troubleshooting, and experimental design.
• Evaluate and implement new methods, automation systems, and emerging technologies in recombinant protein production.
• Have intimate familiarity with downstream steps in protein purification including structure determination using cryo-EM and X-ray crystallographic methods and biochemical assays

Staff Supervision & Training

• Provide expertise, direction and supervision to PROGENITER staff, research technicians, and trainees to ensure efficient use and functionality of the Protein Biosciences and Drug Discovery Suite, as well as provide consultation on project work and data collection support for internal and external collaborative research projects.
• Promote a collaborative, service-oriented environment.

Research Support & Strategic Development

• Lead development and implementation of research plans; facilitate dialogue between collaborators to maintain regular updates to research; manage and update project management timelines.
• Responsible for the management, coordination, and communication for all multi-disciplinary facility research projects (internal projects and external collaborative research), acting as sole liaison with external users.
• Contribute to grant proposals and external partnerships to expand the facility’s capabilities and funding base.
• Track metrics on usage, performance, and impact for annual reporting and reviews.
• Facilitate collaborative research agreements (e.g. with industrial collaborators) through the preparation and management of contract budgets, communications and formal reports on research progress and facility usage.
• Develop and facilitate research collaborations with faculty whose research programs can benefit from the capabilities of the protein production suite and engage in joint grant proposals as appropriate.
• Coordinate meetings with key stakeholders to disseminate data, discuss recommendations on research methodology and facilitate consensus.
• Assist in writing, reviewing and submitting research publications and grant applications in conjunction with facility researchers.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Qualifications/ Experience

• PhD in a relevant discipline, preferably post-graduate level.
• Experience in the management, operation and maintenance of high-end protein production infrastructure an asset.
• Proven experience with protein expression systems, purification techniques, and QC/QA methods.
• Familiarity with LIMS, automated chromatography systems (e.g., ÄKTA), and high-throughput workflows.
• Preferred experience in facility management activities including basic and advanced training and evaluation of users in the protein production workflow, supervision of personnel, resource management, and vendor engagement are desired.
• Demonstrated competency in academic or technical writing and communication.
• Ability to manage effectively in a dynamic environment which requires multi-tasking and working effectively under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Possess strong time management and organizational skills.
• Ability to prioritize and work effectively under pressure to meet deadlines.
• High-level interpersonal communications skills and the ability to liaise with staff and research students, professional/technical staff, industrial collaborators, vendors and service engineers.
• Proficiency in the use of relational databases for sample submission and inventory tracking.
• Knowledge of university policies, procedures, governance and administrative systems for research conducted in a university setting, including ethical requirements.
• Ability to successfully foster and maintain relationships with diverse external stakeholders.
• Ability to communicate with diplomacy, tact, and integrity in both verbal and written communication.

Candidates interested must apply via the [Please click the Apply button for the link or address].

UBC – One of the World’s Leading Universities

As one of the world’s leading universities, the University of British Columbia creates an exceptional learning environment that fosters global citizenship, advances a civil and sustainable society, and supports outstanding research to serve the people of British Columbia, Canada and the world.

UBC hires on the basis of merit and is committed to employment equity. All qualified persons are encouraged to apply.

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 will be given priority.

Tagged as: Life Sciences