Current Positions

JOB SUMMARY

The Research Technician will assist with daily operations, experiments and maintenance of a research laboratory. Emphasis for this position is to assist the research group with daily activities including molecular, cellular and animal experiments as part of active research projects. The individual will be joining a dedicated and highly motivated team of bioengineers, molecular biologists and immunologists. The work and environment are interdisciplinary, with the research focused on development of clinically translational RNA vaccines and therapies.

ORGANIZATIONAL STATUS

The Research Technician will assist the Principal Investigator and lab members with experiments and day-to-day lab activities. The individual will interact closely with members of the research group including graduate and undergraduate students; UBC and department staff and administrators; and collaborators. The lab technician position is fundamental to the ongoing success of the lab.

WORK PERFORMED

• Plans and performs cloning of new plasmids and synthesizes RNA
• Formulates RNA into nanoparticles
• Characterizes formulations using standardized protocols
• Conducts standard molecular and cell biology experiments on mammalian cells
• Coordinates and supports tissue culture of skin explants
• Sets up and performs in vivo vaccine studies and imaging of protein expression
• Assists with development of novel techniques and methodologies to achieve research goals
• Assists lab members in troubleshooting experiments
• Assists with analyses and compiles data in report preparation, presents results, and participates in the preparation of scientific manuscripts
• Assists with maintenance of equipment in the laboratory
• Ships hazardous and non-hazardous reagents in accordance with TDG regulations
• Identifies and proposes  strategies and procedures to ensure the safe operation of research laboratories. Ensures compliance with safety regulations in the lab
• Maintains a clean and fully functional lab environment
• Carries out any other related duties as required in keeping with the qualifications and requirements of positions in this classification.

CONSEQUENCE OF ERROR

Exercises a considerable amount of judgement, responsibility, and initiative related to the functioning of the lab. Incorrect decisions could jeopardize research progress, collaborations, finances and employee safety, and adversely impact future project objectives and personnel. Poor judgment would result in loss of experimental data and delay in conducting research. The Research Technician will be responsible for errors in their work, for reporting problems and mistakes in a timely way, and for correcting those errors.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Reports directly to the Principal Investigator to ensure priorities are addressed. Works under minimum supervision, receiving specific instructions only on unusual problems or on matters which depart significantly from established policy and procedure.

SUPERVISION GIVEN

The Research Technician will work as part of a team. They may have joint responsibility for supporting and training more junior personnel and graduate students.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Completion of a university degree in a relevant discipline or technical program and a minimum two years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Relevant undergraduate degree, and preferably a MASc or MSc, in the field of bioengineering, immunology, molecular biology or related fields in the life sciences. Demonstrated experience working in laboratory setting is required, and lab experience would be beneficial. Computer experience with Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook) and figure design in BioRender is an asset

SKILLS

• Ability to maintain a high level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Ability to work with the Principal Investigator and research lab members to plan and implement experiments and to analyze data
• Demonstrate initiative in determining work priorities and meet deadlines
• Effective oral and written communication, interpersonal, analytical, experimental, multi-tasking, and organizational skills are required
• Demonstrate flexibility and responsiveness to changing needs
• Ability to develop and maintain cooperative and productive working relationships

The UBC Michael Smith Laboratories at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver invites applications for a Research Associate (RA) position in Evolutionary Biochemistry to join the laboratory of Dr. Nobuhiko Tokuriki. The successful candidate will use microfluidic systems to perform single enzyme kinetics and high-throughput enzyme screening. The candidate will work on enzyme systems including alkaline phosphatase, phosphotriesterase, and APOBEC.

The successful candidate is expected to have completed their PhD and at least four years of postdoctoral research experience. The successful candidate must have advanced capability and research experience in microfluidics fabrication, fluorescence microscope, high-throughput enzyme screening, protein biochemistry. Especially, the candidate must have demonstrated with (1) single enzyme kinetics using a microfluidic system (2) high-throughput enzyme screening using a microfluidic system; (3) generate various mutagenized libraries including saturation mutagenesis and error-prone PCR; (4) ability to develop and utilize scripts for microscope imaging analyses for single enzyme kinetics and high-throughput microfluidics enzyme screening; (5) protein purification and biophysical characterizations. Additionally, experience in protein bioinformatics (sequence similarity networks and phylogenetic analyses) is preferred. Demonstrated experience must be documented with first-author publications in impact-factor (>5) journals. The successful candidate must have demonstrated experience in the preparation of research proposals for funding agencies and patent applications. The history of obtaining international or national fellowship would be preferred.

Responsibilities will include: Conduct the research project including design, perform and analyze single enzyme kinetics and high-throughput enzyme screening experiments using microfluidic devices of alkaline phosphatases, phosphotriesterases and APOBEC. Supervise undergraduate students to perform various experiments, molecular cloning, protein purification etc. Supervise the lab organizations including waste disposals, biological and chemical safeties.

Interested applicants should submit a letter of application that highlights their experience, detailed curriculum vitae including a list of publications and contact details for 3 references no later than June 21st, 2023. Application materials should be submitted to the UBC Careers portal at https://ubc.wd10.myworkdayjobs.com/ubcfacultyjobs/job/UBC-Vancouver-Campus/Research-Associate-in-Evolutionary-Biochemistry_JR12874

The appointment will be initially for two years commencing November 1, 2023 with a possibility for extension, subject to satisfactory performance and funding.

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 Canadian and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority.

Dr. Sabrina Leslie at UBC Michael Smith Laboratories is recruiting a graduate student with interest in biophysics and nanomedicines. Our group develops and utilizes single-molecule fluorescence microscopy techniques to study lipid nanoparticle loading and delivery of biomolecules in cell-like environments. We’ve developed the Convex Lens-induced Confinement (CLiC) imaging platform, which makes it possible to watch individual, freely diffusing biomolecules/ nanoparticles as they search for and bind to each other, allowing us to make measurements that are not possible with other methods. This technique is applied both to basic biophysical research and development of drugs and therapeutics.

Project: Nanoparticle analytics

This project will study the structure and structural transitions of nanoparticles in controlled environments, to help develop nanoparticle-based drug delivery platforms. Nanoparticles are an emerging technology used to encapsulate drugs for delivery into the body. Upon an environmental shift, the structure of the nanoparticle changes, releasing the drug. The goal of this research will be to characterize these dynamics and understand drug delivery mechanisms.

Training: Graduate students in the Leslie Lab receive training in single-molecule microscopy, specializing in the CLiC imaging technique pioneered in our lab; bulk characterization techniques such as Dynamic Light Scattering, fluorimetry, and gel electrophoresis; and computational modelling and analysis. The candidates will work with sophisticated DNA/RNA constructs as well as complex lipid nanoparticle formulations, with exposure to molecular design of oligotherapeutic compounds and biomimetic delivery vehicles. The training environment will include interactions with a start-up company, ScopeSys Inc., which is commercializing CLiC technology; as well as collaborators in pharmaceutical science, biochemistry and medicine.

We are looking for a well-organized, enthusiastic team player who enjoys lab work and troubleshooting scientific instrumentation. Background/training in biochemistry, quantitative biology, pharmaceutical sciences or surface chemistry is an asset. Proficiency with a musical instrument and/or dungeons and dragons are also assets. The successful candidates must have a passion for innovation and pushing scientific and engineering capabilities to the forefront of what is possible today.

Application deadline: December 31st, 2023

To apply, please send a cover letter and CV to leslielab [at] msl.ubc.ca.

Dr. Sabrina Leslie at UBC Michael Smith Laboratories is recruiting a graduate student with interest in biophysics, nanoscience, biotechnology, engineering and computational analysis. Our group develops and utilizes single-molecule fluorescence microscopy techniques to study interactions of biomolecules in cell-like environments. We’ve developed the Convex Lens-induced Confinement (CLiC) imaging platform, which makes it possible to watch individual, naturally fluctuating biomolecules as they search for and bind to each other, allowing us to make measurements that are not possible with other methods. This technique is applied both to basic biophysical research and development of drugs and therapeutics.

Project: Oligonucleotide therapeutics

Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are an emerging treatment for genetic diseases. They are snippets of modified DNA designed to bind to mRNA produced by a detrimental gene and targeting it for destruction. The goal of this research project will be to characterize ASO-mRNA binding dynamics to improve drug and treatment development.

Training: Graduate students in the Leslie Lab receive training in single-molecule microscopy specializing in the CLiC imaging technique pioneered in our lab, bulk characterization techniques such as Dynamic Light Scattering, fluorimetry, spectrophotometry, and gel electrophoresis, and computational modelling and analysis. The candidates will work with sophisticated DNA/RNA constructs as well as complex lipid nanoparticle formulations, with exposure to molecular design of oligotherapeutic compounds and biomimetic delivery vehicles. The training environment will include interactions with a start-up company, ScopeSys Inc., which is commercializing CLiC technology; as well as collaborators in pharmaceutical science, biochemistry and medicine.

Interested candidate should have a degree in physics, engineering, or biophysics, with passion for lab work and troubleshooting scientific instrumentation, and is creative, versatile and well-organized. Strong interest in optics and instrumentation is an asset. Proficiency with a musical instrument and/or dungeons and dragons are also assets. The successful candidates must have a passion for innovation and pushing scientific and engineering capabilities to the forefront of what is possible today.

Application deadline: December 31st, 2023

To apply, please send a cover letter and CV to leslielab [at] msl.ubc.ca

Dr. Sabrina Leslie at UBC Michael Smith Laboratories is recruiting a graduate student with interest in biophysics, nanoscience and biology. Our group develops and utilizes single-molecule fluorescence microscopy techniques to study interactions of biomolecules in cell-like environments. We’ve developed the Convex Lens-induced Confinement (CLiC) imaging platform, which makes it possible to watch individual, naturally fluctuating biomolecules as they search for and bind to each other, allowing us to make measurements that are not possible with other methods. This technique is applied both to basic biophysical research and development of drugs and therapeutics.

Project: Effects of topology on DNA structure and interactions

DNA supercoiling drives structural transitions within a DNA molecule. This project will study the dynamics of such transitions, how multiple transitions within the same molecule can compete with one another, and how such transitions affect protein-DNA interactions. The goal of the research project will be to better understand the role of these structural transitions in gene regulation and bridge the gap between in vitro and live cell studies.

Training: Graduate students in the Leslie Lab receive training in single-molecule microscopy, specializing in the CLiC imaging technique pioneered in our lab; bulk characterization techniques such as Dynamic Light Scattering, and fluorimetry; standard molecular biology techniques including cell transformation, and gel electrophoresis; and computational modelling, image processing and analysis. The training environment will include interactions with a start-up company, ScopeSys Inc., which is commercializing CLiC technology; as well as collaborators in pharmaceutical science, biochemistry and medicine.

We are looking for a well-organized, enthusiastic team player who enjoys lab work and troubleshooting scientific instrumentation. A successful candidate would have experience with or interest in DNA structure and function, fluorescence microscopy, statistical mechanics, mathematical modelling, and computer programming. Background in biophysics, molecular genetics, quantitative biology, or a related field is an asset. Proficiency with a musical instrument and/or dungeons and dragons are also assets. The successful candidates must have a passion for innovation and pushing scientific and engineering capabilities to the forefront of what is possible today.

Application deadline: December 31st, 2023

To apply, please send a cover letter and CV to leslielab [at] msl.ubc.ca.