Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Pharmacogenomics and Clinical Pharmacology

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Pharmacogenomics and Clinical Pharmacology with a Focus on Adverse Drug and Vaccine Reactions

Postdoctoral Fellow (2 Vacancies)

Departments of Pediatrics and Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine

University of British Columbia

Successful candidates will join the laboratory of Dr. Bruce Carleton and the multi-centre research team of the Canadian Pharmacogenomics Network for Drug Safety (CPNDS).

We are seeking scientists to lead research projects with a specific focus on the genetic determinants of severe adverse drug and vaccine reactions. Potential projects focus on severe ADRs to a range of different medications. Current priority ADRs include cisplatin-induced ototoxicity, anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity, COVID-19 vaccine-induced myocarditis, and vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia.

The successful candidate would be expected to have a strong foundation in genetics and/or genomics. Experience in pharmacology, bioinformatics, or data analysis is highly desirable and would be considered a valuable asset. Additional skills that would strengthen a candidate’s application include:

1. Experience with whole-genome or exome sequencing pipelines.
2. Proficiency in genomic association analyses, particularly involving large-scale datasets.
3. Familiarity with cloud computing and/or high-performance computing (HPC) environments for bioinformatics workflows.

The successful candidate must exhibit excellent communication skills; a demonstrated potential for excellence in research productivity; a Ph.D., or M.D., or Pharm.D., or equivalent degree. They will seek to share their research findings through publications, presentations, and other knowledge transfer activities, and collaborate with various parties including internal and external researchers, stakeholders, and national and international bodies. Additionally, the successful candidate should demonstrate some experience in writing or assisting with the writing of grant applications.

CPNDS is an energetic, international multidisciplinary consortium of researchers and clinicians from hospitals and universities that was established to improve drug safety. CPNDS has catalyzed national and international collaborations and established an active surveillance network to identify patients that have suffered severe ADRs across Canada. The candidate will have access to one of the largest clinical and genomic databases on drug and increasingly, vaccine responses. The database currently contains data from more than 12,000 children, linked to 12,493 detailed ADR reports and 116,635 records of medication use without ADRs. The vaccine data is more recent and is built through two global networks. Genotyping data includes both array-based platforms (Illumina Global Screening Array) and cutting-edge sequencing technologies, such as exome and short- and long-read whole-genome sequencing. The candidate will also benefit from state-of-the-art analytical tools and high-performance computing resources through the AWS cloud system and the UBC High Performance Computing Cluster, enabling efficient analysis at all stages of data processing.

The expected salary for this position is $60,000 per annum (Canadian). The period of funding is 2-3 years, with 3 years being preferred given the complexity of the work involved.

This offer is conditional upon successful completion of a Criminal Record Check.

Applications, accompanied by a cover letter stating their research interests, detailed curriculum vitae including a list of your publications, and the names of three potential references, should be directed to admin@popi.ubc.ca with “Postdoc Position – PGx & ADRs” listed in the subject line.

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. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority.