Postdoc Research Associate Jobs in British Columbia

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

The expected salary range for this position is $55,000-$65,000 per annum.

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.

The Quandt Laboratory at the University of British Columbia is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Fellow to lead an independent research project investigating mechanisms of inflammation, tissue injury, and repair in multiple sclerosis (MS) and related neuroinflammatory conditions.

The Postdoctoral Fellow will be a key scientific leader within the Quandt Laboratory and will report directly to Dr. Jacqueline Quandt, Associate Professor, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia.

The successful candidate will join a collaborative and translational research environment focused on understanding how innate immune cells contribute to disease progression and recovery within the central nervous system. A major goal of the position is to develop new mechanistic insights into pathways that regulate myelin damage and repair, with the potential to inform future therapeutic strategies for MS. The project will focus heavily on how a mutation in a cholesterol transporter-identified in families with severe, progressive Multiple Sclerosis (MS)-impacts inflammatory demyelination, tissue injury, and repair. Strong applicants should demonstrate a passion for neuroimmunology and CNS disease, a proven record of research productivity, strong scientific rigor and work ethic, and evidence of creativity, initiative, and scientific independence. The ideal candidate will be excited to develop and lead a research program while working collaboratively with trainees and team members across disciplines.

The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at UBC is a hybrid, academically intensive Department within the UBC Faculty of Medicine whose activities span a broad spectrum of teaching, research, and academic service, often performed in the milieu of clinical practice, and are ultimately devoted to improving the care, treatment, and well-being of patients. The Department offers academic degrees at the bachelor's (Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (BMLSc)) and graduate (MSc, PhD) levels with the graduate program, one of the largest in the Faculty of Medicine, which has been recognized by UBC for its quality. The Department plays a major role in the MD undergraduate program and offers an accredited residency-training program. Faculty members participate across a spectrum of research from basic investigative to translational to clinical applied research and are recognized locally, nationally and internationally for their excellence.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting to Dr. Quandt, the incumbent will be responsible for:

• Leading an independent research project investigating mechanisms of neuroinflammation, myelin injury, and repair in experimental models of multiple sclerosis.
• Designing, implementing, troubleshooting, and optimizing experimental approaches.
• Developing and executing studies utilizing transgenic mouse models relevant to MS pathogenesis and recovery.
• Performing and overseeing cellular and molecular studies involving macrophages, microglia, and other CNS-resident or infiltrating immune cells.
• Conducting and interpreting experiments involving phagocytosis assays, immunohistochemistry, microscopy, flow cytometry, and molecular analyses as appropriate.
• Analyzing, interpreting, and communicating complex datasets.
• Preparing manuscripts for publication and contribute to grant applications and research reports.
• Presenting research findings at laboratory meetings, departmental seminars, and national and international scientific conferences.
• Mentoring graduate students, undergraduate trainees, research assistants, and summer students.
• Contributing to the development of new research directions and collaborative initiatives within the laboratory.
• Collaborating with academic, clinical, and industry partners as appropriate.

QUALIFICATIONS

Successful applicants will have:

• PhD in neuroscience, immunology, pathology, cell biology, molecular biology, biomedical sciences, or a related field.
• Strong record of peer-reviewed publications and research productivity relative to career stage.
• Demonstrated expertise in neuroimmunology, immunology, neuroscience, or related biomedical disciplines.
• Experience with one or more of the following is highly desirable:
  • Mouse models of neuroinflammatory and demyelinating disease;
  • Macrophage and/or microglial biology;
  • Flow cytometry;
  • Immunohistochemistry and microscopy;
  • Cellular and molecular biology techniques;
  • Transcriptomic or systems biology approaches.
• Demonstrated ability to independently design and execute research projects.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple priorities and work with minimal supervision.
• Proven ability to work both independently and within a collaborative, interdisciplinary research environment.
• Commitment to scientific rigor, reproducibility, and mentorship.
• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one's own.
• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one's own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

The expected salary for this position is $55,000-$65,000 per annum. The Faculty of Medicine is committed to offering equitable and competitive salaries, commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the candidate.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

An application package should include:

• A letter of application outlining the applicant's research and teaching interests;
• A detailed curriculum vitae outlining foundational and technical training and proficiency;
• Contact information for 3 referees

Applications should be submitted to:

Jacqueline Quandt

Associate Professor

UBC Pathology & Laboratory Medicine

Subject: PDF in Neuroinflammation

Email: jquandt@pathology.ubc.ca

Should you have any queries around this position, please contact Jacqueline Quandt at jquandt@pathology.ubc.ca

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. The anticipated start date for this position is October 2026 or upon a date to be mutually agreed.

We invite applications from qualified candidates who share our commitment to employment equity and inclusive excellence, and we welcome applications from candidates belonging to historically, persistently, or systemically marginalized groups: Indigenous (First Nation, Metis, Inuit) Peoples, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, women, 2SLGBTQIA+ people, and trans and non-binary people.

The University is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and equitable work environment for all members of its workforce. An inclusive work environment presumes an environment where differences are appreciated, recognized, and integrated into current structures, planning, and decision-making modes. Within this hiring process we are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable process for all candidates (including but not limited to people with disabilities). Confidential accommodations are available on request. Please contact Jessy Lee via email at jessy.lee@ubc.ca. ]If you have any questions regarding accommodations or accessibility during the recruitment and hiring process or for more information and support, please visit UBC's Centre for Workplace Accessibility website at https://hr.ubc.ca/health-and-wellbeing/workplace-accessibility/centre-workplace-accessibility or contact the Centre at workplace.accessibility@ubc.ca.

With gratitude, we acknowledge that the University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine and its distributed programs, which include four university academic campuses, are located on traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of First Nations Peoples and communities around the province.

Our Vision: To Transform Health for Everyone.

Ranked among the world's top medical schools with the fifth-largest MD enrollment in North America, the UBC Faculty of Medicine is a leader in both the science and the practice of medicine. Across British Columbia, more than 12,000 faculty and staff are training the next generation of doctors and health care professionals, making remarkable discoveries, and helping to create the pathways to better health for our communities at home and around the world.

The Faculty - comprised of approximately 2,200 administrative support, technical/research and management and professional staff, as well approximately 650 full-time academic and over 10,000 clinical faculty members - is composed of 19 academic basic science and/or clinical departments, three schools, and 24 research centres and institutes. Together with its University and Health Authority partners, the Faculty delivers innovative programs and conducts research in the areas of health and life sciences. Faculty, staff and trainees are located at university campuses, clinical academic campuses in hospital settings and other regionally based centres across the province.

UBC - One of the World's Leading Universities. As one of the world's leading universities, the University of British Columbia creates an exceptional learning environment that fosters global citizenship, advances a civil and sustainable society, and supports outstanding research to serve the people of British Columbia, Canada and the world.

UBC hires on the basis of merit and is committed to employment equity. All qualified persons are encouraged to apply. 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.