Post Doctoral Associate, Immunology, DNA damage, and Apoptosis

University of Calgary; Calgary; On-site; CAD 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, life insurance

Two years of salary support guaranteed

Job summary

The University of Calgary within the Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute seeks a Postdoctoral Scholar in Immunology, DNA damage, and Apoptosis. Immediate start. Salary CAD 60,000. 1 year with potential extension pending funding.

Work focuses on how immune pressure shapes tumour evolution in multiple myeloma using patient samples and multi-omic datasets. You will join the H. Lee Lab to study immunology, clonal evolution, and novel immunotherapies, with access to core facilities and a collaborative

Qualifications

• PhD (or MD/PhD) in cell biology, cancer biology or immunology.
• Substantive research experience in apoptosis, cell death or DNA damage biology.
• At least one first-author publication in the last 5 years.
• Strong mammalian cell culture skills under sterile conditions.
• Experience with standard molecular and cellular methods incl. PCR, immunoblotting, flow cytometry.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute experiments using CRISPR editing and lentiviral methods.
• Perform functional assays with myeloma lines and primary immune cells, incl. T-cell engagers and apoptosis readouts.
• Analyze multi-omic data with bioinformatics support.
• Contribute to study design and interpretation across cohorts and models.
• Prepare manuscripts, abstracts, and presentations.
• Co-mentor junior trainees and collaborate with core facilities.
• Maintain current knowledge and guide the lab's direction.

Skills

Immunology

DNA damage biology

Apoptosis biology

Mammalian cell culture

PCR

Immunoblotting

Flow cytometry

Data analysis

Education

PhD in cell biology, cancer biology, or immunology

Tools

CRISPR editing

Lentiviral production

Multiparameter flow cytometry

Genomic/transcriptomic analysis

Job description

Description

Area: Immunology, DNA damage, and Apoptosis

Duration: 1 year with potential for extension pending availability of funding

Start Date: Immediate

Salary: $ CAD 60,000

The Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute in the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary is accepting applications for a Postdoctoral Scholar in Immunology, DNA damage, and Apoptosis.

The laboratory of Dr. Holly Lee at the Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, University of Calgary, is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Associate with strong expertise in immunology, DNA damage, and apoptosis biology. The research program focuses on understanding how immune pressure shapes tumour evolution in multiple myeloma by altering apoptotic thresholds and tumour genomic mutability. The successful candidate will work with banked primary myeloma tumour and immune cell samples, human myeloma cell line models, and multi-omic datasets including scRNA-seq and whole-genome sequencing.

Start date is flexible and the position will remain open until filled.

The lab

The H. Lee Lab is a new translational research group that leverages clinical tumour samples to investigate multiple myeloma tumour immunology, clonal evolution, and the development of novel immunotherapeutic strategies. The lab is embedded in the Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute and is a member of the Multiple Myeloma Research Group, which supports genomic and transcriptomic analysis.

Our research platform includes:

• Primary tumour sampling and immune cell assays
• Genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and molecular profiling
• Multiple myeloma human cell line models
• Mouse models of immunotherapy
• In vitro and in vivo evaluation of immunotherapeutic agents (T cell engagers, CAR T)
• Tumour evolution and resistance modelling

Terms and benefits

• The candidate will be enrolled in a comprehensive benefits program covering health, dental, life insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, and disability.
• Two years of salary support is guaranteed, and the successful candidate will be supported in applying for external fellowships.

Job Description

• Design and execute experiments involving gene knock-in and knock-out using molecular cloning, lentiviral production, and CRISPR-based editing
• Perform functional assays with myeloma cell lines and primary immune cells, including T-cell engager coculture, apoptosis and DNA damage readouts, and flow cytometry
• Analyze and interpret multi-omic data generated by the project, working with lab and core bioinformatics support
• Contribute to study design and interpretation across the patient cohort and the model systems
• Prepare manuscripts, abstracts, reviews, and scientific presentations
• Co-mentor junior trainees, including a graduate student working on a related arm of the T-cell engager resistance project
• Collaborate with core facilities (flow cytometry, genomics, animal facilities)
• Maintain current knowledge of the relevant literature and contribute to the lab's scientific direction

Qualifications

Required qualifications:

• PhD (or MD/PhD) in cell biology, cancer biology, or immunology
• Substantive research experience in apoptosis, cell death, or DNA damage biology
• At least one first-author publication in peer-reviewed journals in the last 5 years
• Strong mammalian cell culture skills under sterile conditions
• Experience with standard molecular and cellular methods, including PCR, immunoblotting, and multiparameter flow cytometry
• Strong experimental troubleshooting skills and rigorous record keeping
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience with molecular cloning and lentiviral vector production
• Experience with CRISPR-based editing, knock-out and/or knock-in
• Tumour¿immune cell coculture experience, particularly with primary T cells, CAR T cells, or T-cell engagers
• Familiarity with BH3 profiling and other functional measures of apoptotic priming
• Experience analyzing next-generation sequencing data, including mutational signature analysis, or a willingness to develop these skills
• Experience mentoring junior trainees

The terms and conditions of employment are covered under the UCalgary and PDAC Collective Agreement.

About the University of Calgary

UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

About Calgary, Alberta

Calgary is one of the world's cleanest cities and has been named one of the world's most livable cities for years. Calgary is a city of leaders' in business, community, philanthropy and volunteerism. Calgarians benefit from the strongest economy in the nation and enjoy more days of sunshine per year than any other major Canadian city. Calgary is less than an hour's drive from the Rocky Mountains and boasts the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway network in North America.

With a growing urban Indigenous population of approximately 50,000 people, there are several Indigenous organizations and many events and ceremonies taking place in the city throughout the year.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy ii' taa'poh'to'p committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

The university's commitment to the Indigenous Strategy is evident through the oversight of 18 Elders serving on the Circle of Advisors and the many unit-based circles working towards implementation of the strategy including the Faculty Advisory Circle and teams such as the Office of Indigenous Engagement, the Writing Symbols Lodge, and the Indigenous Research Support Team. Many Indigenous-based events and processes are impacting curriculum, programming and polices at the University of Calgary.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments ([e-mail]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to People & Culture ([e-mail]).