Postdoctoral Fellow

Ottawa Hospital Research Institute; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 46,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute is seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow to join the laboratory of Dr. Laszlo Radvanyi, within the OHRI Cancer Research Program.

This full-time position focuses on translational cancer research, including non-coding regions, endogenous retroelements, and their role in anti-tumour immunity across biliary tract, pancreatic, and breast cancers. The lab develops cancer immunotherapies using mRNA vaccines as cancer interception strategies and uses ERE re-expression as a

Qualifications

• PhD degree, obtained within the last five (5) years, in molecular biology, immunology, or related field
• Experience in cell culture, basic handling of human blood products and tissues for research
• Experience with basic molecular biology techniques, including next-generation RNA and DNA sequencing and data analysis, gene cloning, gene knock-in and knock-down technology, PCR and quantitative PCR techniques
• Knowledge of human immunological assays including working with human PBMCs
• Experience and/or willingness to work with pre-clinical animal models
• Excellent organizational and analytical skills, along with a high degree of independence and the flexibility to thrive in a novel and rapidly evolving research environment
• Proven track record of publication and written communication skills
• Ability to coordinate and work effectively with a diverse team of clinicians, senior scientists, post-docs, graduate students, and technicians.

Skills

Cell culture

RNA/DNA sequencing data analysis

PCR / qPCR

PBMC handling

Animal models

Publication/written communication

Team coordination

Education

PhD in molecular biology, immunology, or related field

Tools

Gene cloning

Gene knock-in/knock-down

Bioinformatics

Job description

Postdoctoral Fellow

Category: Clinical Research Program: Cancer Research Dr. Laszlo Radvanyi Posted: October 28, 2026 Submission Deadline: November 11, 2026

The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute is the research arm of The Ottawa Hospital – one of Canada’s largest learning and research hospitals. We are proudly affiliated with the University of Ottawa and supported by The Ottawa Hospital Foundation. With more than 2,200 scientists, clinician investigators, trainees and staff, and total revenues of more than $120 million, we are one of the foremost Canadian hospital-based research institutes. Our research spans more than a hundred different diseases, conditions, and specialties with an overall focus on translating discoveries and knowledge into better health.

The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI) Cancer Research Program is looking for an experienced professional to fill the key role of Postdoctoral Fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Laszlo Radvanyi. Dr. Radvanyi is a Senior Scientist at the OHRI Cancer Program as well as a Professor and Tier I Canada Research Chair in the Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology Department at the University of Ottawa.

The OHRI Cancer Research Program is a collaborative centre that conducts and enables high-impact translational cancer research. We accelerate the development of discoveries for patients. OHRI strives to turn cancer research insights into precision medicine innovations that are translated into new therapeutics.
The laboratory of Dr. Laszlo Radvanyi at OHRI and BMI at uOttawa is seeking a post-doctoral to join our research efforts on several projects focusing on the expression and role of non-coding regions composed of endogenous retroelements (EREs), including LINEs, SINE/Alu elements, human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), and human satellite DNA in cancer development and their role in modulating anti-tumour immune responses in biliary tract, pancreatic, and breast cancer. The lab is also working on new cancer immunotherapies targeting the tumour-specific expression of LINEs and HERVs in cancer using mRNA vaccines as a form of “cancer interception” to curtail early cancer development as well as developed new tools leveraging ERE re-expression in tumours as an approach to cancer detection and monitoring.

Our work employs a variety of cutting-edge techniques in molecular biology, cell biology human immunology, gene modification/manipulation in cell lines and primary human tissues, and bioinformatics. It also takes uses rodent models of cancer to study the role of EREs in tumour development to invasive cancer focusing on role of inflammation-mediated events related to ERE activation and how these can be modulated to impinge on the tumorigenic process.

Basic Requirements

• PhD degree, obtained within the last five (5) years, in molecular biology, immunology, or related field
• Experience in cell culture, basic handling of human blood products and tissues for research
• Experience with basic molecular biology techniques, including next-generation RNA and DNA sequencing and data analysis, gene cloning, gene knock-in and knock-down technology, PCR and quantitative PCR techniques
• Knowledge of human immunological assays including working with human PBMCs
• Experience and/or willingness to work with pre-clinical animal models
• Excellent organizational and analytical skills, along with a high degree of independence and the flexibility to thrive in a novel and rapidly evolving research environment
• Proven track record of publication and written communication skills
• Ability to coordinate and work effectively with a diverse team of clinicians, senior scientists, post-docs, graduate students, and technicians.

This is a full-time position.
Minimum Annual Stipend: $50,739

The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute is committed to building and sustaining a welcoming and supportive culture that promotes equity, diversity and inclusion for trainees, researchers, and staff. We are devoted to identifying and removing barriers that limit equitable access to opportunities within our organization. The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute strongly supports initiatives that encourage the participation of all groups, in particular the four groups defined in the Employment Equity Act (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities).

We thank all applicants for their interest. However, only those invited for an interview will be contacted. The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute is an equal-opportunity employer. Upon request, accommodations due to a disability are available throughout the selection process.