Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Decolonizing Science Education and Chemical Risk Assessment

Academic

Job Category: Faculty Non Bargaining Job Title: Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Decolonizing Science Education and Chemical Risk Assessment Department: Research | Oberg Lab | Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability | Faculty of Science (Gunilla Oberg) Posting End Date: May 8, 2025

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

Job End Date: May 31, 2026

Application procedure:

An application package should include:

• A letter of application outlining the applicant’s research and teaching interests, (including a list of publications and other research output)
• A detailed curriculum vitae;
• 2 research outputs (e.g., publications, podcasts, or other work)
• Contact information for three referees

The expected salary for this position is $70,000 CAD, plus benefits.

The appointment will be for one year with a possibility for extension subject to satisfactory performance and funding.

Should you have any queries about this position, please contact Dr. Gunilla Öberg at Gunilla.oberg@ubc.ca.

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Decolonizing Science Education and Chemical Risk Assessment

Our team at the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, is seeking a postdoctoral fellow (PDF) to help re-imagine the training of the next generation of chemical risk assessment professionals to boldly transform chemical risk management. The PDF will work with Indigenous and non-Indigenous experts, designing teaching materials for undergraduate and graduate students in disciplines relevant to chemical risk assessment (e.g., toxicology, chemistry, endocrinology, AI/machine learning) and governmental staff presently involved in chemical risk assessment.

The Project:

The successful candidate will be a member of the new, large, interdisciplinary, and inter-institutional initiative Towards sustainable futures. Transforming Chemical Risk Management with Indigenous Expertise led by Professor M. Murphy (Red River Métis), University of Toronto, in collaboration with Professor Sue Chiblow (Anishinaabe Kwe, Garden River), University of Guelph and Professor Gunilla Öberg (recent settler from Sweden), University of British Columbia. More information on the larger project can be found here and here.

The successful candidate will work under the supervision of Drs. Öberg and Chiblow, taking on a leadership role in supporting all aspects of the sub-project “Curriculum Development.” This includes coordinating with other member universities, planning and conducting workshops, focus groups, and interviews, and developing and testing educational modules and an online learning portal. Additionally, the candidate will prepare presentations, manuscripts, and reports. Applicants should be comfortable working in a collaborative team environment. The successful candidate will mentor and support graduate students and undergraduate members involved in the sub-project.

Key responsibilities:

Research Activities & Outputs:

• Support and manage research activities, including designing research protocols, applying for ethics approval, developing educational modules, implementing interventions, and developing evaluation strategies.
• Support the development of an online learning platform and other knowledge translation outputs, including writing academic papers and delivering presentations.

Sub-project Support:

• Organize curriculum development meetings within the subproject and across the larger project.
• Support hiring and mentoring of undergraduate research assistants.

Data Collection and Facilitation:

• Assist with participant recruitment and conduct workshops, focus groups, and interviews.

All responsibilities listed require a candidate to collaborate with research staff and trainees contributing to the research project.

Qualifications and Experience:

• A PhD in an area relevant to the project (e.g., Indigenous studies, Science communication, Science education, Science studies), completed within the last five years.
• Familiarity with present debates on decolonization of science education and governance in Canada.
• Familiarity with OCAP(c), Indigenous data sovereignty, or Indigenous research methodologies.
• Experience conducting qualitative research using interviews, participatory, or observational studies.
• Familiarity with software for qualitative data analysis, such as NVIVO, is an advantage.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills, able to communicate with diplomacy and tact with diverse participants (e.g., from various disciplines in academia, government staff, and members of Indigenous communities and organizations).
• Higher education in a discipline of relevance to chemical risk assessment professionals, for example, but not limited to: (eco)toxicology, chemistry, endocrinology, AI/machine learning.
• Documented experience in science communication and/or science education.
• Demonstrated ability to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own.
• Demonstrated a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Organizational status:

Reports to and works closely with the Principal Investigators (PIs) Gunilla Öberg and Susan Chiblow. Collaborates with other postdoctoral fellows involved in the Towards sustainable futures project hosted at the University of Toronto. Mentors and supports graduate and undergraduate students involved in the sub-project.