Postdoctoral Fellowship in Next-Generation Nanomedicine

Job Category: Faculty Non Bargaining

Job Title: Postdoctoral Fellowship in Next-Generation Nanomedicine

Department: Research | Blakney | Michael Smith Laboratories | Faculty of Science (Anna Blakney)

Posting End Date: May 9, 2025

Job End Date: Jun 30, 2026

The expected pay for this position is $60,000 per year.

Overview: The Michael Smith Laboratories at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow (PDF) to join a dynamic and multidisciplinary team under the co-supervision of Dr. Anna Blakney and Dr. Jay Kizhakkedathu. The successful candidate will work on a project developing new lipid and polymeric strategies for RNA delivery.

Project: RNA medicines have gained considerable momentum in the past few years with the approval of Onpattro and the COVID-19 messenger RNA vaccines. While lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are the state-of-the-art delivery system for RNA, we recently discovered that polymeric nanoparticles are less inflammatory and induce higher protein expression than LNPs. For this project, we are keen to explore the polymer and lipid design space for RNA delivery for a variety of applications. The PDF will work with the Blakney and Kizhakkedathu labs to design and synthesize novel polymers, lipid delivery systems, and test them for RNA delivery and immunogenicity in vivo in preclinical models.

Candidate: We are hiring chemists with a background in polymer synthesis, organic chemistry, lipid synthesis, biomaterials and/or bioengineering. Candidates must have a Ph.D. in chemistry, biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, or similar fields with an excellent publication record. The candidate must be able to work well in a team environment, even in situations where an opportunity is more exciting and time-sensitive than normal. We are seeking a creative individual with great interpersonal skills and excellent communication, both written and verbal.

Opportunity: The PDF will be a member of a fun, diverse and interdisciplinary group. They will learn about RNA gene therapies and different aspects of its delivery. The successful candidate will be actively involved in projects that are intended for clinical translation. The University of British Columbia is located in Vancouver, which is world-renowned for its scenery and quality of living. UBC is a center of excellence for growing your career in nanomedicine and gene delivery technologies, and you will have opportunities to collaborate with world-class leaders in the field through the Nanomedicine Innovation Network.

The appointment will be for one year commencing July 1, 2025 with a possibility for extension, subject to satisfactory performance and funding.

Application Process: Interested applicants should submit a CV and cover letter that details their experience and contact details for 3 references. Applications should be submitted to the UBC Careers portal no later than the posting date.

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.