Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Pharmaceutical Sciences in University of British Columbia – Canada

Summary

The Finbloom Lab at the University of British Columbia seeks a full‑time Postdoctoral Research Fellow to work on a CIHR‑funded project developing bacterial therapeutics. The role involves designing and executing experiments in bacterial synthetic biology, genetic engineering, and in vivo mouse models of inflammatory bowel disease. The fellow will analyze data, contribute to manuscripts and grants, present findings, and mentor students. A PhD in a relevant field completed within five years, strong publication record, and expertise in bacterial engineering and molecular biology are required. The position offers a salary of $60,000 CAD per year plus comprehensive benefits, a one‑year contract renewable until April 2028, and a rolling application deadline of 28 February 2027.

Key Facts

Department	Finbloom Lab, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Position Type	Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Discipline	Pharmaceutical Sciences
Research Area	Bacterial synthetic biology and biomaterials for therapeutic delivery
Degree Required	PhD
Experience	PhD completed within 5 years prior to start date
Salary	$60,000 CAD per year + comprehensive benefits package
Funding	CIHR-funded
Contract Duration	1 year, renewable until April 30, 2028
Deadline	2027-02-28
Required Documents	Cover letter (max 2 pages), Curriculum Vitae (max 5 pages), Contact information for at least 2 references
Employer Address	UBC Vancouver Campus, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Employer Contact	[email protected]

About the Project

The project focuses on developing and delivering bacterial therapeutics by engineering synthetic biology platforms, creating biomaterial interfaces, and testing engineered strains in murine models of inflammatory bowel disease and bacterial infection. The aim is to advance nanomaterial‑bacterial interactions for improved human health outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Independently design, execute, and troubleshoot experiments in bacterial engineering and synthetic biology
• Lead genetic engineering of bacterial strains and associated in vitro and in vivo (mouse model) studies
• Conduct mechanistic investigations into nanomaterial‑bacterial interactions using microbiology, molecular biology, and materials science techniques
• Analyze, interpret, and summarize experimental data; prepare figures and contribute to manuscript and grant writing
• Attend and present at weekly lab meetings and present research findings at conferences and in peer‑reviewed publications
• Mentor and assist graduate and undergraduate students with their projects

Required Skills

• PhD in Microbiology, Cell and Molecular Biology, Bioengineering, or related field
• Strong first‑author publication record
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Expertise in bacterial synthetic biology, genome engineering, strain development, and quantitative phenotyping (E. coli required)
• Molecular biology techniques such as PCR, cloning, and Western blots
• Experience with mouse models of disease, preferably infection or IBD models
• Preferred: experience in biomaterials or drug delivery

Who Should Apply

Applicants who have earned a PhD in Microbiology, Cell and Molecular Biology, Bioengineering or a related discipline within the past five years, possess a strong first‑author publication record, and have demonstrated expertise in bacterial synthetic biology, genome engineering (especially E. coli), molecular biology techniques, and mouse disease models are encouraged to apply. Excellent communication skills and the ability to mentor students are also essential.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package

About the Employer

The Finbloom Lab, part of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at UBC, designs nanomaterials that interact with bacterial communities to advance human health, focusing on bacterial therapeutics and drug delivery innovations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the salary for this position?

$60,000 CAD per year plus comprehensive benefits.

What is the application deadline?

February 28, 2027.

How many references are required?

Contact information for at least two references must be provided.