Postdoctoral Fellow in Computational Biology - UBC, Vancouver

AI Summary

This Postdoctoral Fellow in Computational Biology position at UBC in Vancouver, BC, focuses on investigating epigenetic dysfunction in cancer.

Key duties include characterizing genomic and epigenomic landscapes using single-cell multi-omics approaches and exploring epigenetic dependencies.

Top requirements include a PhD in Bioinformatics or a related field, extensive experience in multi-omics data analysis, and proficiency in computational programming languages like Python and R.

The role contributes to a dynamic research team in the Epigenomics Laboratory under Dr. Martin Hirst.

About the Opportunity and Research Focus

The University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada, is seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow to join the Epigenomics Laboratory (EGL) under the supervision of Dr. Martin Hirst. This vital research opportunity focuses on understanding how epigenetic dysfunction contributes to cancer initiation and progression, with the ultimate goal of translating fundamental discoveries into improved health outcomes for Canadians. The Hirst laboratory possesses particular expertise in mammary, hematopoietic, and mesenchymal systems, integrating human primary tissues and clinical specimens with complementary in vitro and in vivo model systems. A major focus of their research is on cancers driven by recurrent gain- and loss-of-function alterations in epigenetic regulators, including acute myeloid leukaemia, synovial sarcoma, and malignant rhabdoid tumours. This role offers an initial one-year appointment, commencing September 1, 2026, with the possibility of renewal, and an expected salary of CAD $60,000 per year, commensurate with the successful candidate's qualifications and experience.

Project Details and Qualifications

The successful candidate will contribute to a multidisciplinary research program aimed at understanding the epigenetic and clonal evolution of synovial sarcoma (SS), an aggressive cancer with significant disease heterogeneity. This project involves employing state-of-the-art genomic technologies to characterize genomic, epigenomic, and transcriptomic landscapes using single-cell multi-omics approaches. Further research will investigate the epigenetic evolution of tumours and mechanisms underlying disease progression, including the application of spatially resolved genomic technologies to identify immune-tumour interactions. The role also explores epigenetic dependencies arising from bivalent promoter states and DNA hypomethylation, aiming to identify novel biomarkers for early diagnosis and support the development of epigenetic-based therapeutic strategies targeting critical vulnerabilities in this disease. Candidates must possess a PhD in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Statistics, Genetics, Genomics, or a related discipline, alongside demonstrated expertise in next-generation sequencing technologies, including long-read, short-read, and single-cell sequencing data generation and analysis. Extensive experience in multi-omics data analysis, including whole-genome sequencing (WGS), transcriptomics, and DNA methylation profiling, is essential. Proficiency in bioinformatics programming and workflow development using languages such as Python, R, and Bash is required, as is experience developing and optimizing computational pipelines for large-scale genomic datasets. A strong background in cancer biology and genomics research, coupled with experience working in high-performance computing (HPC) environments and version control systems like Git, is highly valued. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, a strong publication record, and the ability to work effectively both independently and within multidisciplinary, collaborative research teams are also critical for this position within the Hirst laboratory.