Academic

Job Category

Faculty Non Bargaining

Job Title

Research Associate

Department

Shakiba Laboratory | School of Biomedical Engineering | Faculty of Medicine (Nika Shakiba)

Posting End Date

February 28, 2025

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

Job End Date

Mar 9, 2026

Start date and stipend

The start date is flexible but preferably as soon as possible after the job posting end date; funding has already been received. The position is located at the University of British Columbia (Vancouver campus). The position is full-time for one year with the possibility of extension subject to funding availability and performance. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The expected salary range for this position is $70,000 - $110,000 per year.

Candidates should provide a CV, names and contact information of 3 references, and a cover letter describing past achievements and future research interests. For any inquiries regarding this position, please contact Dr. Nika Shakiba () and Dr. Carl de Boer ().

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.

Research Associate position in Pluripotent Stem Cell, Lung Differentiation, and Genomics Project

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 a full-time Research Associate to work on a team-based project spanning pluripotent stem cells, lung differentiation, and genomics in the de Boer () and Shakiba () labs, on a one year term.

The project is in collaboration with , an industry partner interested in understanding how lung cells can be made from patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). This specific project aims to decipher the cell circuits underlying iPSC differentiation to lung cells. This project will use single-cell RNA-seq in combination with genetic perturbations (e.g. perturb-seq) to reveal the gene regulatory networks that underlie lung cell differentiation. This is an exciting and unique opportunity for a motivated researcher to be able to collaborate with and supervise a technician to generate state-of-the-art single cell genomics data, and apply cutting edge and novel approaches to analyze these data.

SBME is a partnership between the and , acting as 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. Its vision is to transform health care outcomes through unconstrained exploration of the best possible integrative solutions across engineering, medicine, and biology. Through collaborative, innovative, and interdisciplinary approach and building on UBC academic and research excellence, the School of Biomedical Engineering aspires to be a global leader in biomedical engineering research, education and translation. For more information about the School of Biomedical Engineering, please visit .

Organizational Status

The Research Associate will report to Dr. Nika Shakiba and Dr. Carl de Boer as part of a collaborative project that includes multiple labs from SBME and globally.

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 may include:

• Single-cell RNA-seq, perturb-seq, and/or other transcriptomic analysis.
• Next generation sequencing and bioinformatics analysis.
• Machine learning/AI.
• Analyze data and present the data in reports, publications, and presentations at local and international conferences.
• Train and mentor lab personnel, including supervising a wet lab technician.
• Human pluripotent stem cell culture including maintenance, expansion, and characterization.
• Derivation of induced pluripotent stem cells through reprogramming of PBMCs.
• Lung cell differentiation and culture.
• Genetic engineering of mammalian cells.
• Help to enhance our collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment.
• Contribute to cutting-edge knowledge in the scientific community.
• Design and perform experiments, analyze results, and present findings.
• Prepare and assist with grant applications, publications and with fulfilling regulatory requirements (animal ethics, biosafety etc).
• Manage, run, and assist with design and implementation of new projects.
• Oversee and lead trainees within projects.
• Coordinate the maintenance of lab equipment.
• Contribute to cutting-edge knowledge in the scientific community.
• Candidates must hold a PhD or MD.
• Candidates should have a strong research background, as demonstrated by past publications, accomplishments, and references.
• Candidates with strong background in either computational or experimental biology (or both) will be considered.
• 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.
• Preference will be given to candidates who have skills in any of the following areas: single-cell RNA-seq, transcriptomics, bioinformatics, machine learning, stem cell culture, lentiviral delivery, lung cell differentiation and culture, and iPSC derivation.
• Preference will be given to candidates who have >2 years of experience in a postdoctoral and/or Research Associate role.

Supervision received

The incumbent will receive supervision directly from Dr. Shakiba and Dr. de Boer, but will have the opportunity to work closely with all laboratories involved in this project.

Supervision given

The incumbent will be the primary supervisor of a technician who will be performing the experimental procedures related to this project. They may also be required to supervise other trainees involved in the research program.