Research Associate, United Therapeutics

Academic

Job Category

Faculty Non Bargaining

Job Title

Research Associate, United Therapeutics

Department

Yachie Laboratory | School of Biomedical Engineering | Faculty of Medicine (Nozomu Yachie)

Posting End Date

October 11, 2023

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above.

Job End Date

Aug 31, 2024

A few positions for the project may be located within a health-care facility, therefore, the successful candidates will be required to provide verification of full vaccination against Covid-19 provided prior to the start date, as required by a provincial health mandate.

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.

Position Summary

The School of Biomedical Engineering (SBME) at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, BC, Canada invites applications for Research Associate positions to work on a team-based project spanning pluripotent stem cells, lung differentiation, and genomics in the de Boer (https://deboer.bme.ubc.ca/), Shakiba (https://shakiba.bme.ubc.ca/), Yachie (https://yachie-lab.org/), Zandstra (https://www.stemcellbioengineering.ca/), and Lynn (https://www.lynnlab.com/) labs.

The project is in collaboration with United Therapeutics and seeks to enable the robust, large-scale production of lung cells from patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). The project involves the use of single-cell RNA-seq, DNA barcoding, reprogramming, and lung cell differentiation.

The Faculties of Medicine and Applied Science have partnered to create the SBME, a new flagship entity at UBC, and a top strategic priority for the University and both Faculties. The SBME is a nucleus for education and training, research, and innovation in biomedical engineering, creating new knowledge, new academic and training programs, and fostering translation and innovation. UBC SBME distinguishes itself by deep training in biology, and engineering science and design, enabling SBME researchers to address the most pressing biomedical challenges of the day. Our SBME faculty conduct research that advances our fundamental understanding of human biology, and yields technologies and therapies that advance our health and wellbeing.

Organizational Status

Individuals will report to one or more of Drs. Nika Shakiba, Dr. Carl de Boer, Dr. Nozomu Yachie, Dr. Francis Lynn, or Dr. Peter Zandstra, depending on the position, but will work collaboratively with teams across these labs regardless.

Responsibilities

Successful candidates will have the unique opportunity to collaborate with the members of the laboratories involved in this project, integrating cutting-edge stem cell, bioinformatics and synthetic biology techniques.

The responsibilities of this position, to be determined by the Supervisor, are flexible and depend on the skills and research interests of the successful applicant. Specific tasks may include:

• Helping to enhance our collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment.
• Single-cell RNA-seq, perturb-seq, and/or other transcriptomic analysis
• Contributing to cutting-edge knowledge in the scientific community
• Analyzing data and presenting the data in reports, publications, and presentations at local and international conferences
• Lung cell differentiation and culture
• Next generation sequencing and bioinformatics analysis
• Training and mentoring lab personnel
• Derivation of induced pluripotent stem cells through reprogramming of PBMCs
• Machine learning/AI
• Coordinating the maintenance of lab equipment
• Genetic engineering of mammalian cells
• Designing and performing experiments, analyzing results, and presenting findings
• Human pluripotent stem cell culture including maintenance, expansion, and characterization
• Preparing grants and assisting with grant applications, publications and with fulfilling regulatory requirements (animal ethics, biosafety etc.)

Qualifications

• Candidates with experience in project management will be prioritized
• Candidates should have a strong research background, as demonstrated by past publications, accomplishments, and references
• Preference will be given to experimental candidates who have skills in any of the following areas: stem cell culture, lentiviral delivery, lung cell differentiation and culture, iPSC derivation, transcriptomics, bioinformatics, single-cell RNA-seq
• The successful candidate will be a passionate, self-driven, independent thinker with excellent organizational, oral and written communication, and interpersonal skills, and a strong work ethic
• Candidates must hold a PhD or MD
• Candidates with strong background in either computational or experimental biology (or both) will be considered
• Preference will be given to computational candidates who have skills in any of the following topics: bioinformatics, statistics, machine learning, deep learning, single cell omics, transcriptomics, and programming in R, Python, and Bash

Supervision received

The incumbent will receive supervision directly from one or more of Drs. Shakiba, de Boer, Yachie, Lynn, and Zandstra, depending on their exact role, but will have the opportunity to work closely with all laboratories involved in this project.

Supervision given

The incumbent may be required to supervise trainees involved in the research program.

Start date and stipend

The start date is as soon as possible but flexible; funding has already been received. The position is full-time for one year with the possibility of extension subject to work performance. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

How To Apply

Candidates should provide a CV, names and contact information of 3 references, and a cover letter describing past achievements and future research interests. Note that there are several similar positions available and candidates should apply to any that interest them. Please submit your applications directly via Workday from this link.

For any inquiries regarding this position, please contact Dr. Nika Shakiba ([email protected]), Dr. Nozomu Yachie ([email protected]), and Dr. Carl de Boer ([email protected]).

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.