Postdoctoral Fellow - Lung Autoimmunity and Biomarkers Lab

McMaster University; Hamilton; On-site; CAD 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mechanistic project

Spectral flow cytometry access

Single-cell genomics facilities

Mentorship towards independence

Job summary

McMaster University’s Lung Autoimmunity and Biomarkers Lab invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow to lead a discovery project on autoimmune mechanisms in the lung, focusing on B cells, using high‑dimensional cytometry and single‑cell genomics on patient samples.

The role offers an in-person, 35 hours/week position at St. Joseph's Hamilton, with mentorship, career development opportunities, and collaboration with clinicians and bioinformaticians.

Qualifications

• PhD or MD/PhD required with immunology or related field.
• Hands-on spectral flow cytometry and panel design experience.
• Experience with high-dimensional cytometry analysis and single-cell genomics.

Responsibilities

• Design and run experiments with patient samples and in vitro models.
• Build multi-parameter flow cytometry panels and perform sorting.
• Analyze cytometry data using FlowSOM and UMAP.
• Run single-cell and bulk RNA-seq and integrate with clinical data.
• Write first-author papers and mentor students.

Skills

Flow cytometry

High-dimensional cytometry

RNA-seq

R programming

First-author publications

Independent work

Education

PhD or MD/PhD

Tools

FlowSOM

UMAP

Spectral flow cytometry

RNA-seq

R

Job description

Postdoctoral Fellow - Lung Autoimmunity and Biomarkers Lab

Regular/Temporary

Temporary

Location

HSC- Central Campus

Open Date

2026/09/30

Job Type

Limited Term (>12 months)

Close Date

2026/10/29

Employee Group

Favorite Job

Department

Full/Part Time

Full-Time

Job Code

000913

Existing Vacancy

Yes - Newly Created Position

Contract Duration

24.4 Months

Target Number of Openings

1

Schedule 35 hours per week, Monday - Friday (occasional evening or weekend work may be required)

Education Level PhD or MD/PhD

Location St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Charlton Campus

Salary Commensurate with experience ($50,000 - $65,000 annually)

Duration 2 years, extendable

Existing Vacancy? Yes, new position

Job Description

About the Lab

The Lung Autoimmunity and Biomarkers Lab at Firestone Institute of Respiratory Health, McMaster University is a diverse, fast-paced group studying mechanisms of lung autoimmunity in chronic lung diseases. We work on human-derived samples from well-characterised patients, and our trainees at Firestone Institute for respiratory Health publish first-author papers and go on to strong careers in academia, medicine and industry.

The Position

We are looking for a Postdoctoral Fellow to lead a discovery project on autoimmunity in the lung with a focus on B cells. This is a mechanistic, hypothesis-driven role, not a study coordination job.

The questions you would work on:

Why does autoimmunity develop in the airway in the first place?

Why does it often stay local to the lung instead of becoming systemic?

How does it drive disease progression: remodelling, mucus plugging, exacerbations and loss of lung function?

You would answer these using high-dimensional flow cytometry and single-cell approaches on patient samples, and translate what you find into biomarkers.

What You Would Do

• Design and run your own experiments with patient-derived samples, and create in vitro models.
• Build and run multi-parameter and spectral flow cytometry panels, including sorting.
• Analyse cytometry data using FlowSOM, UMAP and similar clustering methods.
• Run single-cell and bulk RNA-seq experiments end to end, and integrate them with clinical data.
• Do your own analysis in R, with reproducible code.
• Write first-author papers, present at meetings, and apply for your own fellowships.
• Mentor students and work with clinicians, imaging scientists and bioinformaticians.

What We Are Looking For

• PhD or MD/PhD
• Primary training in immunology, cell or molecular biology, bioinformatics, or a related field.
• Hands-on flow cytometry (spectral) expertise, including panel design and titration.
• Experience with high-dimensional cytometry analysis (FlowSOM, UMAP or equivalent).
• Experience with single-cell and/or bulk RNA-seq.
• Working proficiency in R
• First-author publications in high-impact journal
• Able to work independently, and generously with a team.

Would be an Asset

• Experience with primary human samples, especially airway specimens.
• B cell, plasma cell or autoantibody biology.
• Imaging, multiplex immunoassays, or capillary Western (Jess).
• Spatial transcriptomics, BCR repertoire analysis, or machine learning.
• Python, Git, or high-performance computing.

What We Offer

A real mechanistic project, with the patient cohorts and samples and funding already in place.

Access to spectral flow cytometry, cell sorting, single-cell genomics and imaging facilities.

An international, collegial team with active collaborations.

Mentorship towards independence: fellowships, papers, and career development.

Additional Information

Fully in-person at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton (Charlton Campus).

Monday to Friday; occasional evening or weekend work may be required.

No formal supervisory responsibility, but day-to-day mentoring of students is expected.

Help with extramural grant applications

Pay Transparency Statement

The starting salary will not be less than $50,000.

Employment Equity Statement

McMaster University is located on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga Nations and within the lands protected by the "Dish With One Spoon" wampum agreement.

The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community with a Shared Purpose, McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity, and has a strong commitment to employment equity.

The University seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, who will contribute to the diversification of ideas and perspectives, and especially welcomes applications from indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) peoples, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women, and persons who identify as 2SLGBTQ+.

As part of McMaster's commitment, all applicants are invited to complete a confidential Applicant Diversity Survey through the online application submission process. The Survey questionnaire requests voluntary self-identification in relation to equity-seeking groups that have historically faced and continue to face barriers in employment. Please refer to the Applicant Diversity Survey - Statement of Collection for additional information.

Job applicants requiring accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact:

This position is located in a host hospital or other healthcare site that has an active vaccination mandate in place. Successful applicants will need to comply with these and any other health and safety measures necessary as part of their appointment.

Interview Experience

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AI Statement

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