Postdoctoral Research Fellow

The University of British Columbia; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of British Columbia is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Zandstra Laboratory to develop machine learning technologies for advancing stem cell bioengineering. Join a supportive research environment focused on interdisciplinary science and contribute to impactful projects in regenerative medicine. The position offers structured mentorship and opportunities for high-impact publications.

Benefits

Structured mentorship and career development

Collaborative environment with leading institutions

Qualifications

• PhD obtained within the last 5 years.
• Demonstrated expertise in GNNs and/or RL applied to biological data.
• Experience with spatial omics datasets.

Responsibilities

• Develop and apply IQCELL 2.0 for spatial gene expression modeling.
• Identify molecular targets for thymic environment engineering.
• Automate differentiation protocols using AI.

Skills

Deep learning techniques

Gene regulatory network simulations

Machine learning frameworks

Spatial transcriptomics

Education

PhD in bioengineering, computational biology, machine learning, or related discipline

Tools

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Job description

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Department

Zandstra Laboratory | School of Biomedical Engineering | Faculty of Medicine (Peter Zandstra)

Academic

Job Category

Faculty Non Bargaining

Job Title

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Department

Zandstra Laboratory | School of Biomedical Engineering | Faculty of Medicine (Peter Zandstra)

Posting End Date

July 6, 2025

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

Jun 30, 2026

The expected salary range for this position is $70,000 to $80,000 per year.

Postdoctoral Fellowship: AI-Enabled Stem Cell Bioengineering Discovery and Therapy

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

The School of Biomedical Engineering (SBME) at the University of British Columbia (UBC) , Vancouver campus is seeking a passionate and collaborative postdoctoral fellow, committed to advancing inclusive and interdisciplinary science, to join an international team applying state-of-the-art machine learning technologies to stem cell and immune engineering in the Zandstra Stem Cell Bioengineering Laboratory

The Zandstra Lab, develops integrated computational and experimental approaches to enable advanced therapies from renewable sources. With expertise in quantitative bioengineering, machine learning, and systems immunology, our team aims to accelerate discovery and translation in regenerative medicine and immune engineering technologies. The lab is part of the CIFAR Multiscale Human Program (MHU), providing access to a global network of collaborators and resources at the frontier of human developmental and computational biology.

This post-doctoral fellow position focuses on advancing the integration of gene regulatory network (GRN) simulations into multicellular and tissue-level systems using machine learning—particularly graph neural networks (GNNs) and reinforcement learning (RL)—to address challenges in spatial genomics, cell fate control, differentiation automation, and drug/cell perturbation analysis.

Research Focus:

The successful candidate will:

• Co-lead the further development and application of IQCELL 2.0, our lab’s next-generation GRN-cell simulation platform, to model spatial gene expression, cell-cell communication, and T-cell developmental repertoires within the thymic niche.
• Identify molecular and signaling targets to guide the engineering of functional thymic environments and optimize T-cell output from pluripotent stem cell-derived progenitors.
• Automate differentiation protocols using AI-augmented control systems to improve immune lineage specification.
• Work directly with academic and industry collaborators to apply IQCELL to real-world CGT development and target discovery challenges.
  
  

Qualifications:

• PhD in bioengineering, computational biology, machine learning, systems immunology, or related discipline, obtained within the last 5 years, by the time of the appointment start date.
• Demonstrated expertise in current deep learning techniques (especially GNNs and/or RL) applied to biological data.
• Experience with spatial transcriptomics or single-cell omics datasets.
• Familiarity with stem cell differentiation systems and CGT workflows is a strong asset.
• Proficiency in ML frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow).
• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own.
• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
  
  

Opportunities and Environment:

• Collaborate with leading academic institutions and biotech partners at the intersection of AI and regenerative medicine.
• Work with unique multi-scale data from human thymic tissue, engineered in vitro models, and high-throughput spatial omics platforms.
• Publish high-impact research and drive innovations with clear translational potential.
• Contribute to a global CIFAR program exploring the multiscale logic of human development.
  
  

The Zandstra Lab fosters a supportive, collaborative, and inclusive research environment. Postdoctoral fellows benefit from structured mentorship and career development opportunities tailored to diverse career goals and lived experiences.

The start date is July 1st, 2025 but flexible; funding has already been received. The position is full-time for one year with the possibility of extension subject to work performance, funding availability and compliance with UBC policies. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. The expected salary range for this position is $70,000 to $80,000 per year.

How to Apply:

To apply, please submit a single PDF containing:

Cover letter (2 pages max) describing your research interests and fit for the role Curriculum vitae including publication list Names and contact information for 3 references

Send applications via Workday Careers. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For any inquiries regarding this position, please contact Dr. Peter Zandstra ([e-mail]).

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

The Zandstra Lab and the University of British Columbia are committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in our research and hiring practices. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, particularly those from equity-deserving groups, including but not limited to Indigenous Peoples, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, women, and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. We recognize that diversity of thought, background, and experience strengthens innovation and scientific discovery.

The University is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and equitable work environment for all members of its workforce. An inclusive work environment presumes an environment where differences are appreciated, recognized, and integrated into current structures, planning, and decision-making modes. Within this hiring process we are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable process for all candidates (including but not limited to people with disabilities). Confidential accommodations are available on request. Please contact Dr. Peter Zandstra via email at [e-mail]. If you have any questions regarding accommodations or accessibility during the recruitment and hiring process or for more information and support, please visit UBC’s Centre for Workplace Accessibility website at https://hr.ubc.ca/health-and-wellbeing/workplace-accessibility/centre-workplace-accessibility or contact the Centre at [e-mail].

Land Acknowledgment

We acknowledge that the University of British Columbia’s Vancouver campus is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) people. As a lab committed to inclusive and responsible research, we recognize the importance of honoring Indigenous knowledge systems and histories, and we are continually learning how to engage in ethical collaboration and stewardship on this land.

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.

We recognize that not all candidates will meet every qualification listed. If you are excited about this role and believe you have the relevant skills and experiences, we encourage you to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Internship

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Research, Analyst, and Information Technology

• Industries

  Higher Education

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