Position Summary
The School of Biomedical Engineering (SBME) at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, BC, Canada invites applications for a postdoctoral research fellow position to work on a team-based project spanning Mammalian Synthetic Biology and Organoid Engineering in the Yachie Lab (https://yachie-lab.org/). The incumbent in this position will report to Dr. Nozomu Yachie and will work collaboratively with teams in the Shakiba Lab as well as teams in the Josef Penninger Lab.
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 trainees will distinguish themselves by deep training in biology, deconstructed using engineering science and design, and applied to the solution of real-world biomedical challenges. Our SBME faculty conduct research that advances our fundamental understanding of human biology, and yields technologies and therapies that advance our health and wellbeing.
Dr. Nozomu Yachie and Dr. Nika Shakiba in the UBC School of Biomedical Engineering and Dr. Josef Penninger in the UBC Department of Medical Genetics recently received competitive, international funding for an exciting team project to produce designer organoids by controlling the composition of the starting human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) pool. By combining DNA-based tools and computational modeling approaches, this project seeks to reproducibly engineer hPSC-derived vascular organoids. Members of this inter-lab team will collaborate through regular meetings and training opportunities.
Synergies between the Shakiba, Penninger, and Yachie Labs: The human blood vessel organoid technology created by the Penninger Lab remains to be the most complex, physiologically relevant in vitro model of human microvasculature. Now, there is an exciting opportunity to apply synthetic biology tools to create designer vascular organoids. The Shakiba Lab specializes in the use of DNA barcoding and computational modeling to uncover genetic lineage biases within multicellular stem cell systems. The Yachie Lab recently developed a cutting-edge CRISPR-based ‘gene expression cytometry cell sorting’ technology to control the composition of hPSCs populations. Combining these approaches, the team will: (1) isolate hPSCs with biased potential (Yachie Lab); and (2) create custom cocktails of biased hPSCs to create custom vascular organoids (Shakiba Lab). Responsibilities
The successful candidates will have the unique opportunity to collaborate with the members of the three laboratories involved in this project, integrating cutting-edge synthetic biology techniques into the exciting organoid arena to push boundaries in both fields.
The responsibilities of the position depend on the skills and research interests of the successful applicant. Specific tasks for this position may include:
Cell engineering (mouse stem cells and human pluripotent stem cells);
Genetic circuit constructions;
Developing CRISPR–Cas9 genome editing technologies;
Designing and performing stem cell experiments;
Designing and performing deep sequencing-based high-throughput assays;
Designing and performing single-cell RNA sequencing experiments;
Bioinformatic algorithm design and development;
Writing fellowship applications;
Assisting with grant applications and drafting publications;
Helping to train and mentor lab personnel;
Helping to enhance our collaborative research environment; and
Establishing your successful career to fulfill our scientific community together.
Qualifications
Candidates with strong background in either computational or experimental biology (or both) will be considered.
Competitive candidates must hold a PhD, obtained within the last five years, MD or DDS obtained within the last ten years, by the time of their appointment.
Candidates should have a strong research background, as demonstrated by past publications, accomplishments, and references.
The successful candidate will be a passionate, self-driven, independent thinker with excellent organizational, oral, and written communication, excellent interpersonal skills, and a strong work ethic.
Preference will be given to experimental candidates who have skills in the following topics: mouse rearing and engineering, high-throughput sequencing, genome editing, high-throughput assays, transcriptomics, library cloning, cell culture, lentivirus, and transfection.
Preference will be given to computational candidates who have skills in the following topics: phylogeny estimation, high-throughput sequencing data analysis, algorithm development, distributed computing, software development, statistics, Unix/Linux, Python, R, machine learning, deep learning, and cloud computing.
Supervision Received
The incumbent will receive supervision directly from Dr. Nozomu Yachie. In addition, this individual will have the opportunity to work closely with all three laboratories involved in this project, allowing regular interaction with Dr. Nika Shakiba, Dr. Josef Penninger and their teams. Supervision Given
The incumbent will not be required to supervise others in the research program. If the opportunity arises to supervise research trainees and the applicant is interested, such opportunities will be discussed on a case-by-case basis. Start Date and Stipend
The anticipated start date is January 1, 2022, or upon a date to be mutually agreed; funding has already been received, and the salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. While this position is funded by an international not-for-profit entity, the successful applicant will be expected to apply for external fellowship funding. The position is full-time for one year with the possibility of extension subject to funding availability and work performance. The funding package consists of a stipend and benefits. 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. Please submit your applications to directly via Workday from this link https://ubc.wd10.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/ubcfacultyjobs/job/UBC-Vancouver-Campus/Postdoctoral-Research-Fellow_JR5002.
Review of the application will start mid-December and will continue until the position is filled.
For any inquiries regarding this position, please contact Dr. Nozomu Yachie (nozomu.yachie@ubc.ca). This posting is for the UBC Vancouver campus in British Columbia, Canada.Please refer to reference number NC-55498 during correspondence about this position. Please visit the researcher profile of the supervisor for this position to learn more about their research.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.About UBCThe University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world. Since 1915, UBC’s entrepreneurial spirit has embraced innovation and challenged the status quo. UBC encourages its students, staff and faculty to challenge convention, lead discovery and explore new ways of learning. At UBC, bold thinking is given a place to develop into ideas that can change the world.Postdoctoral Fellows at UBC VancouverUBC is home to over 900 postdocs spanning all faculties and units across two campuses and a variety of affiliated hospitals, research centres, and sites, providing unparalleled opportunities to learn, discover and contribute in one’s own way. UBC’s Postdoctoral Fellows Office (PDFO) is committed to supporting the lives and career aspirations of our Postdocs, with the goal of enriching their experience at UBC and preparing them for the future. In addition to providing support and advocacy for all postdocs, the PDFO is dedicated to providing professional development opportunities that foster the development of soft skills needed in today’s professional environments, helping them secure future careers in their chosen fields.About VancouverVancouver is a dynamic, cosmopolitan and progressive city, consistently ranked as one of the top cities to live in the world. Canada’s third largest city has it all: sea, parks, mountains, beaches, and four seasons per year, including beautiful summers and mild, wet winters with snow in the mountains. It’s the perfect backdrop to your academic research.
https://www.nature.com/naturecareers/job/postdoctoral-research-fellow-in-mammalian-synthetic-biology-and-organoid-engineering-the-university-of-british-columbia-ubc-749049
