Research Associate in Neurology

Job Summary

The Research Associate is responsible for conducting research, contributing to manuscript writing and grant development, providing advice and supervision to staff and trainees at the Cashman lab. The selected candidate will participate in a multidisciplinary research project aimed at identifying misfolding-specific protein epitopes for treatment of disease. The project is in collaboration with ProMIS Neurosciences.

ORGANIZATIONAL STATUS

The UBC Division of Neurology is one of the largest divisions within the Department of Medicine, and spans many activities in clinical, research and educational spheres. The majority of these activities are conducted at the Vancouver General Hospital, UBC Hospital, Gordon & Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre, BC Children Hospital, St. Paul’s Hospital and Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health. It is nationally and internationally recognized for its clinical and research programs in multiple sclerosis, neurodegenerative disorders including dementias, motor neuronal disease, Parkinson’s disease and stroke.

The Research Associate reports directly to the PI, Dr. Neil Cashman. The incumbent liaises with staff and trainees at the Cashman lab, located in the UBC Centre for Brain Health, and collaborating labs at UBC and beyond. The Research Associate supports, trains and provides functional direction to undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate students as well as other staff working at the lab.

WORKED PERFORMED

• Oversees progress of complex research sub-projects, actively participating in their execution and ensuring they meet objectives.
• Administers project execution by designing assay development strategies, high-throughput antibody screening and validation methods to identify lead molecules of interest for further drug discovery.
• Designs and executes biologically relevant in-vitro functional assays to enable hit-to-lead identification.
• Develops new analytical techniques and methodologies as well as new specialized immunocytochemistry protocols that will become standard procedures in the lab.
• Initiates lab workflow improvements, and proposes recommendations for increasing efficiency and productivity.
• Prepares and delivers research data presentations to industrial collaborators during regular weekly meetings.
• Works on collaborative studies with external research teams. Writes reports and updates for stakeholders.
• Makes recommendations with respect to hiring as well as giving feedback to staff/students’ performance.

CONSEQUENCE OF ERROR/JUDGEMENT

A successful candidate is required to exercise judgment with respect to experimental duties performed in each project. Makes professional decisions and recommendations in all aspects of research work. Any procedures or data recorded as part of this research must be accurate and must accurately reflect the work performed. Work is subject to checks by the principal investigator for each project. Failure to follow procedures and direction will result in incorrect data production and in the delay of research results.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

The Research Associate works independently, in consultation with the PI, to perform all work-related functions and receive direction from the PI on subsequent new assignments or changes.

SUPERVISION GIVEN

The Research Associate will be responsible for providing direction and training to trainees and technical staff as appropriate.

Qualifications

• PhD in Neuroscience, Bioengineering, Immunology, or Molecular biology is required.
• Relevant research experience. Demonstrated experience in scientific research and dissemination of results in the form of peer-reviewed research publications and conference dissemination.
• Demonstrated experience with neurodegenerative disease research and antibody drug discovery programs. Candidates with strong background in academic research and drug discovery R&D in biotech industry are preferred.
• Developed expertise in conducting experiments using mammalian cell culture, iPSC-derived human neuron and microglia culture, immune cell separation, flow cytometry techniques for cell sorting, cell-based assays, confocal and fluorescence microscopy, molecular biology expertise (including cloning, in-vitro mutagenesis, RNA quantification, cell transfection and PCR).
• Proficiency in flow cytometry, immunoprecipitation, fluorescence microscopy, cell culture, as well as proficiency in developing and performing complex experiments supporting the preclinical development of therapeutic antibodies.
• The applicant must be exceptionally detail-orientated and organized, and able to design and carry out complex experiments. The individual must be able to prioritize tasks to ensure that time-sensitive duties are completed in priority order. This person must also be self-directed, able to excel in a team environment, know personal limitations and take initiative to ask for assistance when needed.

This posting is for the UBC Vancouver campus in British Columbia, Canada.

Please refer to reference number LI-58571 during correspondence about this position.

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 will be given priority.

About UBC

The 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.

About UBC's Faculty Of Medicine

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 11,000 faculty and staff are training the next generation of doctors, health care professionals and scientists, making remarkable discoveries, and helping to create the pathways to better health for our communities at home and around the world.

The Faculty of Medicine - comprised of approximately 2,200 administrative support, technical/research and management and professional staff, as well approximately 650 full-time academic and more than 9,000 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.

About Vancouver

Vancouver 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.