Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Salker Laboratory at University of British Columbia in Canada

Summary

The University of British Columbia’s Salker Laboratory seeks a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to advance maternal and infant health research. The fellow will work within a multidisciplinary team at UBC Hospital, BC Women’s Hospital, and the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, accessing extensive clinical cohorts and multi‑omics datasets. Responsibilities include conducting biospecimen collection, multi‑omics and computational analyses, publishing findings, mentoring trainees, and contributing to grant development. The position offers a salary of $55,000‑$60,000 CAD, comprehensive health benefits, and conference travel support. The appointment is a full‑time fixed‑term contract of one year, ending 31 October 2027, with possible renewal pending external funding. Applications close on 29 October 2026.

Key Facts

Department	Salker Laboratory
Position Type	Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Discipline	Biology
Research Area	Maternal and infant health
Degree Required	Doctoral degree (PhD or equivalent)
Experience	Minimum 2 years post-doctoral experience
Salary	$55,000 to $60,000 CAD per annum
Funding	Salary
Contract Duration	1 year (October 31, 2027 job end date) with possibility of renewal
Deadline	2026-10-29
Required Documents	Cover Letter (2-page maximum), Detailed Curriculum Vitae, Names and Contact Information for 2-3 Referees
Employer Address	UBC Hospital Site – Vancouver, BC, Canada
Employer Contact	[email protected]

About the Project

The fellow will contribute to biomarker discovery for pregnancy complications and neonatal outcomes using multi‑omics approaches (single‑cell, cfRNA/DNA, methylation, proteomics). Work will integrate laboratory validation with clinical data, develop predictive models through machine learning, and support prospective clinical studies. The role includes publishing results, presenting at conferences, and pursuing external post‑doctoral funding to expand the research program.

Key Responsibilities

• Advance patient‑oriented and clinic‑based research including dissemination of existing data
• Publish and present research findings
• Launch new research initiatives
• Contribute to prospective clinical studies and laboratory workflows
• Perform biospecimen collection, processing, and molecular or biomarker analyses
• Conduct multi‑omics analyses and computational analyses
• Collaborate with the multidisciplinary team at BCCHR and WHRI
• Mentor research trainees (undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate students)
• Support teamwork and professional interactions with patients and colleagues
• Participate in grant applications (concept development, data analysis, background preparation, writing sections)
• Apply for postdoctoral funding from federal, provincial, and other relevant agencies

Required Skills

• Excellent organization, ethics/record keeping, time management, and communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills supporting teamwork
• Professional interactions with patients and colleagues
• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives
• Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion
• Demonstrated experience with women’s, maternal, or infant health research
• Expertise in molecular or cellular laboratory methods
• Experience with multi‑omics and/or bioinformatics (asset)
• Quantitative research methods and analysis
• Strong or growing publication record as first author

Who Should Apply

Applicants should hold a PhD (or equivalent) in biology, biomedicine, molecular biology, women’s health or related fields, with at least two years of post‑doctoral experience. Candidates must have demonstrated expertise in women’s, maternal, or infant health research, molecular or cellular laboratory methods, and preferably multi‑omics or bioinformatics. Strong organizational, communication, and teamwork skills, a commitment to equity and inclusion, and a record of first‑author publications are required.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health benefits
• Conference Travel Support (registration, travel, and shared accommodations for at least one North American conference)
• Competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and experience

About the Employer

The University of British Columbia emphasizes employment equity and inclusive excellence, actively encouraging applications from Indigenous peoples, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, women, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, and trans and non‑binary people. The university provides confidential accommodations on request, follows merit‑based hiring, and gives priority to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the salary range for this position?

$55,000 to $60,000 CAD per annum.

When is the application deadline?

Applications must be submitted by 29 October 2026 (11:59 PM).

What is the length of the contract?

The appointment is for approximately one year, ending on 31 October 2027, with possible renewal.

Which documents must be submitted with the application?

A cover letter (max 2 pages), a detailed curriculum vitae, and the names and contact information for 2‑3 referees.

Are health benefits provided?

Yes, comprehensive health benefits are included in the compensation package.