Research Associate - Pouladi Lab

UBC; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 76,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

University of British Columbia (UBC) invites applications for a fixed-term full-time Research Associate in the Pouladi Lab within the Department of Medical Genetics. The role focuses on developing mouse and human pluripotent stem cell models to study genetic neurological disorders and their brain development.

The candidate will perform advanced histology, molecular biology, and cell culture techniques, with emphasis on CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, neural differentiation, and in vivo/in vitro

Qualifications

• MD/PhD in Anatomy, Histology, or Pathology with a focus on neurobiology and 5+ years postdoctoral experience.
• At least 10 years of experience in laboratory research involving mouse models.
• Expertise in histology techniques including immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, ISH labeling, TEM, Golgi staining, and brain mapping.
• Molecular biology skills: Western blotting, PCR/qPCR, cloning, Co-IP, ChIP/CLIP.
• Experience with ex vivo/in vitro cell culture and neural differentiation from pluripotent stem cells.

Responsibilities

• Develop and analyze novel mouse and human pluripotent stem cell models of genetic neurological disorders.
• Analyze brain development defects in mouse models of genetic disorders.
• Conduct preclinical therapeutic studies in human and mouse disease models.
• Perform and supervise behavioral and histological analyses on mouse models to study disease mechanisms.
• Differentiate human pluripotent stem cells into neural cell types and organoids.
• Maintain, expand, and analyze cell lines, brain slices, and primary neurons.
• Apply CRISPR-Cas9, shRNA, and transfection to modify gene expression.
• Perform electrophysiological recordings (MEA).

Skills

Mouse model research

Neurobiology

Laboratory management

Education

MD/PhD in Anatomy, Histology, or Pathology

Tools

Immunofluorescence

Immunohistochemistry

In situ hybridisation

Transmission electron microscopy

Golgi staining

Dye tracing

3D brain imaging

Western blotting

PCR / qPCR

ChIP/CLIP

Lentivirus infection

Organotypic brain slice culture

CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing

Electrophysiology / MEA

Job description

Job Title Research Associate - Pouladi Lab Job Category Faculty Non Bargaining Job Family Group Academic Department Pouladi Laboratory | Department of Medical Genetics | Faculty of Medicine (Mahmoud Pouladi) Job End Date March 31, 2028 Posting End Date December 12, 2026 Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date. The expected pay (or pay range) for this position is between $76,128 - $90,000 per annum. 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 UBC Department of Medical Genetics seeks to be an inspiring and productive community of scholars; an outstanding provider of knowledge, technical expertise, and compassionate care for our patients; contributors to the scientific advance of our discipline; and a credible and respected source of information and advice to society at large. While focusing on areas of genetic medicine that we deem to be particularly important, we view diversity of approach and techniques to be an essential strength of our Department. We acknowledge that the University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine and its distributed programs, which include four university academic campuses, are located on traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of Indigenous peoples around the province.

The Department of Medical Genetics at The University of British Columbia (UBC) invites applications for a fixed-term full-time Research Associate. Reporting to Dr. Mahmoud Pouladi, the successful candidate will hold an MD/PhD in Anatomy, Histology, or Pathology with a focus on neurobiology and 5+ years of postdoctoral experience and have:

• At least 10 years’ experience in laboratory research involving mouse models.
• Expertise in histology such as immunofluorescence staining, immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridisation (ISH) labelling, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Golgi staining, dye tracing for anatomical brain connectivity mapping, whole brain 3D structure staining, clearing and imaging.
• Animal husbandry and related skills such as weaning, tailing, mouse behaviour testing, perfusions, tissue microdissection, in vivo delivery in the nervous system, in utero electroporation, and stereotaxic injections.
• Expertise in molecular biology techniques such as Western blotting, PCR, quantitative PCR, molecular cloning, Co-IP, and ChIP/CLIP.
• Expertise with ex vivo / in vitro cell culture techniques such as organotypic brain slice culture, brain tissue transplantation, primary cell culture, cell line culture, transfections, and lentivirus infection.
• Experience working with human pluripotent stem cells and their neural differentiation.
• Experience using genome editing using CRISPR/Cas9 in immortalized and human pluripotent stem cell lines.

Responsibilities include:

• Development and analysis of novel mouse and human pluripotent stem cell models of genetic neurological disorders.
• Analysis of brain development defects in mouse models of genetic disorders.
• Preclinical therapeutic studies in human pluripotent stem cell and mouse disease models.
• Performing and/or supervising behavioral and histological analyses of novel mouse models of genetic neurological disorders to elucidate the pathophysiology behind the disease, including managing mouse lines and carrying out relevant procedures such as behavioural experiments, microinjection, tissue collection, various types of sectioning, and staining.
• Differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells into neural cell types and organoids.
• Maintenance, expansion, and analysis of cell line, brain slice, and primary neuron cultures.
• Perform CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, lentivirus infection shRNA, and transfection to knockout, knockdown, or overexpress to regulate gene expression levels.
• Electrophysiological recording, such as multi-electrode array (MEA).

The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world. Since 1915, UBC’s entrepreneurial spirit has embraced innovation and challenged the status quo. UBC encourages its students, staff and faculty to challenge convention, lead discovery and explore new ways of learning. At UBC, bold thinking is given a place to develop into ideas that can change the world. Our Vision: To Transform Health for Everyone. Ranked among the world’s top medical schools with the fifth-largest MD enrollment in North America, the UBC Faculty of Medicine is a leader in both the science and the practice of medicine. Across British Columbia, more than 12,000 faculty and staff are training the next generation of doctors and health care professionals, making remarkable discoveries, and helping to create the pathways to better health for our communities at home and around the world. The Faculty - comprised of approximately 2,200 administrative support, technical/research and management and professional staff, as well approximately 650 full-time academic and over 10,000 clinical faculty members - is composed of 19 academic basic science and/or clinical departments, three schools, and 24 research centres and institutes. Together with its University and Health Authority partners, the Faculty delivers innovative programs and conducts research in the areas of health and life sciences. Faculty, staff and trainees are located at university campuses, clinical academic campuses in hospital settings and other regionally based centres across the province.

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. UBC - One of the World's Leading Universities As one of the world's leading universities, the University of British Columbia creates an exceptional learning environment that fosters global citizenship, advances a civil and sustainable society, and supports outstanding research to serve the people of British Columbia, Canada and the world. UBC hires on the basis of merit and is committed to employment equity. All qualified persons are encouraged to apply. 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, and/or Indigenous person. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.