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PhD Student
PhD student position, Sugioka lab at UBC Full-time NEW
PhD position in developmental cell biology, Sugioka Lab at UBC
The Sugioka Lab at the University of British Columbia seeks a PhD student in developmental cell biology to study the developmental control of cell division and the cytoskeleton using the C. elegans embryo as a model system. The student will work with the supervisor Dr. Kenji Sugioka in the Department of Zoology, Life Sciences Institute at UBC’s Vancouver campus.
The successful candidate will lead projects investigating how cortical flow, concerted actomyosin flow, regulates embryonic morphogenesis, including asymmetric cell division and left-right asymmetry. In the past few years, our lab has identified novel mechanical regulation of cortical flow and its role in asymmetric regulation of cytokinesis (Khor et al., Current Biology, 2025; Hsu et al., Nature Communications, 2023). Building on this work, the successful candidate will investigate the molecular mechanisms and cellular information-processing principles underlying these processes.
Work will be developed in close collaboration with the supervisor, with significant opportunity for independent project development. The candidate will use a combination of C. elegans genetics, live imaging, quantitative image analysis, and molecular perturbation approaches. The candidate will also have opportunities to mentor undergraduate researchers and contribute to a vibrant and collaborative research environment. The Sugioka Lab shares space with two other C. elegans research groups, providing strong opportunities for scientific interaction and collaboration.
Required qualifications:
- B.Sc. in Life Sciences-related field
- Strong background in cell biology, developmental biology, or genetics
- Experience with molecular biology, genetics, live imaging, or image analysis.
- Strong collaborative skills and effective oral and written communication.
Desired qualifications:
- Experience with C. elegans genetics.
The position will start on January 1, 2027, or May 2027, and will be based in the Life Sciences Institute at UBC’s Vancouver campus.