Research Associate, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

University of Calgary; Calgary; On-site; CAD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Calgary invites applications for a Research Associate in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. This full-time fixed-term role (approx. 1 year, with extension possible) focuses on genomics, evolution, and surveillance of mosquitoes and other vector species, with collaboration across Canada and internationally.

Reporting to the PI, the role combines genomic analyses, lab work, and project coordination. Strong publication history and proficiency with Linux/HPC are required.

Qualifications

• A PhD or equivalent in a relevant field with strong publication record
• Postdoctoral or substantial research experience
• Expertise in genomics and bioinformatics demonstrated by first-author papers
• Experience with de novo genome assembly and long-read data
• Experience with genome annotation pipelines and repeat masking
• Experience with phylogenomics and comparative methods is an asset
• Proficiency in Linux, HPC, and scripting (Python/R/Bash)
• Strong written and verbal communication in English

Responsibilities

• Genomic and computational research including genome assembly and annotation
• Develops and documents bioinformatic pipelines for reproducibility
• Manages large genomic datasets on university computing resources
• Deposits data and code in public repositories in line with funder rules
• Performs molecular lab work as needed and handles sample tracking
• Participates in insect specimen collection and curation as required
• Reports progress, writes manuscripts, and supports grant applications

Skills

Genomics

Bioinformatics

Linux

Python

R

Shell scripting

Git

Snakemake/Nextflow

HPC/SLURM

Education

PhD in evolutionary biology, genomics, or bioinformatics

BSc or MSc acceptable with relevant experience

Tools

hifiasm

Hi-C scaffolding

BUSCO/compleasm

Merqury

BRAKER

IQ-TREE

ASTRAL

minimap2

SyRI

CAFE

Snakemake

Nextflow

Conda/containers

Git

Oxford Nanopore sequencing

Job description

Description

This opportunity is currently available for internal applicants only as THERE IS A STRONG INTERNAL CANDIDATE FOR THIS POSITION.

The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine invites applications for a Research Associate. This Full-time Fixed Termposition is for approximately 1 year (based on length of grant funding), with the possibility of extension.

This position reports to the Principal Investigator and receives direction from the PI on research priorities. The position supports a research program on the genomics, evolution and surveillance of mosquitoes and other biting insects, including native and invasive vector species and the pathogens they carry. Much of this work is carried out with collaborating institutions in Canada and internationally.

Workload has peak periods tied to the summer field season, sequencing runs, manuscript revisions, and grant and funder reporting deadlines, and the position may occasionally require work outside regular hours (e.g., time-sensitive sample processing or field collections). Occasional travel to field sites, collaborating institutions or scientific meetings may be required.

Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):

Genomic and computational research:

• Produces high-quality genome assemblies and annotations by planning sequencing strategies with the PI, running and comparing assembly and scaffolding approaches, curating assemblies, and documenting quality metrics
• Conducts comparative genomic, phylogenomic and phylogenetic comparative analyses that answer the project‿s research questions, choosing appropriate methods and models and checking results for robustness
• Develops, maintains and documents bioinformatic pipelines and code so that analyses are reproducible and usable by other lab members
• Manages large genomic datasets on university computing resources, and deposits data, assemblies and code in public repositories (e.g., NCBI, GitHub) in line with funder and journal requirements.

Laboratory and field work:

• Performs molecular laboratory work as needed by projects, including nucleic acid extraction, PCR, and sequencing library preparation, and keeps accurate records of samples and protocols
• Participates in collection, identification and curation of insect specimens as required by projects
• Disposes of chemical and biological waste properly, keeps work areas in line with safety standards, and helps ensure the safe operation of laboratory instruments

Project coordination, communication and dissemination:

• Reports progress and results regularly to the PI and laboratory members, and actively participates in lab meetings and journal clubs
• Writes manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication, as well as reports that meet deliverable requirements of partners and funders, and presents results at scientific meetings
• Contributes to the preparation of grant applications and progress reports

Training and mentorship:

• In conjunction with the PI, trains and supports graduate and undergraduate students and other lab personnel in genomic, bioinformatic and laboratory methods, and assists the PI with their day-to-day guidance

General:

• Works within established University research guidelines and project-specific protocols, including data management and biosafety requirements
• Advises the PI of any incident or occupational illness as outlined in University of Calgary Safety and Security protocols
• Identifies problems and recommends solutions to the PI
• Interacts with lab members, collaborators and University staff in a respectful and professional manner, and maintains confidentiality of unpublished data and partner information
• May be involved in additional research projects as required and when time is available

Qualifications / Requirements:

• A PhD in evolutionary biology, genomics, bioinformatics, or a related field, or equivalent multi-year work experience with a BSc or MSc, depending on degree achieved
• Previous postdoctoral or other significant research experience
• Demonstrated expertise in genomics and/or bioinformatics, shown by first-authored peer-reviewed publications
• Hands-on experience with de novo genome assembly and quality assessment from long-read data (e.g., hifiasm or similar assemblers, Hi-C scaffolding, BUSCO/compleasm, Merqury), and with genome annotation (e.g., repeat masking and gene prediction pipelines such as BRAKER)
• Experience with comparative genomic and/or phylogenomic analyses (e.g., orthology inference, multiple sequence alignment, maximum-likelihood and coalescent species-tree inference with tools such as IQ-TREE and ASTRAL)
• Proficiency working in a Linux command-line environment and on high-performance computing clusters (job schedulers such as SLURM), with scripting skills in at least one of Python, R or Bash
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including scientific writing in English
• Ability to work independently and manage several projects at once, with demonstrated teamwork, organizational and time-management skills
• Experience building reproducible workflows (e.g., reproducible scripts, or Snakemake, Nextflow, Conda/containers) and using version control (Git) an asset
• Experience with phylogenetic comparative methods in R (e.g., ape, phytools, geiger, or similar) an asset
• Experience with synteny and structural variant analysis (e.g., minimap2, SyRI) and gene family evolution analyses (e.g., CAFE) an asset
• Experience with genomic analyses, or with target-capture/anchored hybrid enrichment data an asset
• Wet-lab experience with DNA extraction and library preparation, particularly Oxford Nanopore sequencing an asset
• Knowledge of the biology, taxonomy or ecology of mosquitoes or other arthropod disease vectors, or of vector-borne pathogens

Application Deadline: November 6, 2026

This position is part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the Technical Job Family, Phase 2.

For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website.

About the University of Calgary

UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy ii' taa'poh'to'p committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

The university's commitment to the Indigenous Strategy is evident through the oversight of 18 Elders serving on the Circle of Advisors and the many unit-based circles working towards implementation of the strategy including the Faculty Advisory Circle and teams such as the Office of Indigenous Engagement, the Writing Symbols Lodge, and the Indigenous Research Support Team. Many Indigenous-based events and processes are impacting curriculum, programming and polices at the University of Calgary.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments ([e-mail]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to People & Culture ([e-mail]).

Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role.

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.