Postdoctoral Fellow - UBC, Vancouver

Role overview

The University of British Columbia is seeking a highly motivated and innovative Postdoctoral Fellow to join our interdisciplinary research team within the Kalra Lab at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Our lab focuses on bridging the gap between benchtop drug discovery and clinical translation through the development of advanced physiological models. In this role, you will lead projects focused on designing, validating, and using complex in vitro models to evaluate the efficacy, toxicity, and cellular uptake of novel therapeutic formulations in a collaborative environment.

Day-to-day

As part of this postdoctoral research position at UBC Vancouver Campus - Vancouver, your day-to-day responsibilities will include the following:

• Model Development: Design, optimize, and characterize 3D cell culture systems, multi-cellular spheroids, or organ-on-a-chip platforms that accurately mimic human tissue microenvironments.
• Formulation Testing: Evaluate the biodistribution, and cellular mechanisms of novel drug delivery systems using these complex in vitro models.
• Assay Design: Develop high-throughput screening assays, utilizing flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, and molecular biology techniques (qPCR, Western blotting, ELISA).
• Data Leadership: Analyze complex datasets, prepare rigorous scientific reports, and present findings at national and international conferences.
• Mentorship: Provide technical guidance and mentorship to graduate (MSc/PhD) and undergraduate researchers in the lab.
• Writing and Presenting: Lead the preparation of high-impact peer-reviewed publications and contribute to other knowledge translation and knowledge mobilization activities.

Qualifications

To qualify for these healthcare jobs and academic UBC careers, candidates must meet the following required and preferred criteria:

• Ph.D. (completed within the last 2 years or expected shortly) in Bioengineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cell/Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated expertise in mammalian cell culture, specifically with complex in vitro systems (3D cultures, primary cells, co-cultures, or stem cell-derived organoids).
• Hands-on experience characterizing and testing drug formulations or nanomedicines in vitro.
• Record of scientific productivity, evidenced by first-author publications in reputable, peer-reviewed journals.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
• Familiarity with advanced imaging modalities (e.g., live-cell confocal imaging, multi-photon microscopy).
• Familiarity with cannabinoids and cannabinoid formulations.
• Background in the synthesis or physical characterization of drug delivery vectors (e.g., DLS, zeta potential).

Perks and benefits

This role offers several professional and personal advantages typical of top UBC jobs:

• Salary: Competitive and commensurate with experience, aligning with Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and UBC Postdoctoral guidelines at $60,000 CAD annually.
• Professional Development: Access to UBC’s Postdoctoral Fellows Office (PDFO) resources, including grant writing workshops, career coaching, and leadership training.
• Environment: Access to world-class core facilities (imaging, flow cytometry, sequencing, and nanofabrication) nestled in Vancouver.
• Benefits: This position is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package.