Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Job Title

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Job Category

Faculty Non Bargaining

Job Family Group

Academic

Department

Talhouk Laboratory | Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology | Faculty of Medicine (Aline Talhouk)

Job End Date

December 31, 2027

Posting End Date

December 14, 2026

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

Starting salary will be commensurate with experience, in the range of $70,000 - $80,000 per year plus benefits.

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.

The Uterine Health Research Lab at UBC, led by Dr. Aline Talhouk, is a data-driven research group working at the intersection of uterine health, gynecologic oncology, computational biology, clinical informatics, and artificial intelligence. The lab develops and applies innovative data science and AI approaches to improve cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment decision-making, and patient outcomes, with a growing focus on personalized medicine and AI-assisted clinical decision support.

Our research integrates clinical, molecular, and real-world data with emerging computational approaches, including large language models, predictive modelling, and multi-omics data integration. The lab coordinates and contributes to large-scale national and international research initiatives and works closely with clinicians, computational scientists, and patient partners to translate research findings into clinically meaningful tools.

The research team is also part of BC's Gynecologic Cancer Initiative, a world-leading interdisciplinary team working together to drive innovative research that transforms how we prevent, diagnose, treat, and improve survivorship care for people with gynecologic cancer conditions for a rewarding career. ​​​​​​

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Fellow to support the development and validation of novel non-invasive biomarkers for endometrial cancer risk assessment and early detection.

The successful candidate will work within a multidisciplinary team integrating molecular biology, genomics, epigenomics, microbiome science, proteomics, and clinical research. The position will focus on the development and evaluation of multi-omics approaches using vaginal and cervicovaginal specimens to improve risk stratification and disease detection.

This is an on-site position located at Vancouver Hospital Campus.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate and advance multi-omics biomarker development projects across multiple collaborating laboratories.
• Support assay development and validation activities involving microbiome profiling, (human) methylation analysis, mutation detection, deep/targeted sequencing-based approaches, and proteomic technologies.
• Contribute to study design, data interpretation, quality control, and experimental troubleshooting.
• Assist with the development and optimization of laboratory and analytical workflows.
• Integrate findings across multiple biological platforms to support biomarker discovery, validation, and translation to clinical application.
• Contribute to grant applications, manuscripts, reports, and presentations, with strong scientific writing skills and attention to reproducibility.
• Collaborate with clinicians, laboratory scientists, trainees, and external partners.

Required Qualifications

· PhD in molecular biology, translational research, genomics, bioinformatics, proteomics, cancer biology, reproductive biology, or a related field.

· Experience with at least one omics technology platform, such as next-generation sequencing, methylation analysis, microbiome profiling, proteomics, transcriptomics, or related approaches.

· Strong understanding of molecular pathology and biomarker development.

· Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.

· Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects and work independently.

· Demonstrated commitment to research reproducibility and rigorous scientific practices.

· Excellent written communication skills, including experience assisting with grant writing, manuscripts, and scientific reports.

Preferred Qualifications

· Experience working with clinical specimens.

· Experience integrating multiple data types within translational research projects.

· Familiarity with women's health, reproductive biology, gynecologic cancers, or microbiome research.

· Experience collaborating across multidisciplinary teams.

· Eligibility for post-doctoral funding from MITACS (Elevate) and/or CPRA

The ideal candidate is scientifically rigorous, highly organized, adaptable, and excited to work at the interface of molecular biology, translational medicine, and biomarker development.

Starting salary will be commensurate with experience, in the range of $70,000 - $80,000 per year plus benefits.

Apply through workday only:
· Provide a cover letter (2-page maximum) outlining your interest, potential to contribute, and qualifications/eligibility aligned to the advert above.
· A full CV with publications/contributions to scientific advancement
· Names and contact details for three professional references

We invite applications from qualified candidates who share our commitment to employment equity and inclusive excellence, and we welcome applications from candidates belonging to historically, persistently, or systemically marginalized groups: Indigenous (First Nation, Métis, Inuit) Peoples, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, women, 2SLGBTQIA+ people, and trans and non-binary people.

The University is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and equitable work environment for all members of its workforce. An inclusive work environment presumes an environment where differences are appreciated, recognized, and integrated into current structures, planning, and decision-making modes. Within this hiring process we are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable process for all candidates (including but not limited to people with disabilities). Confidential accommodations are available on request. Please contact Sharon Borja via email at [[email protected]]. ]If you have any questions regarding accommodations or accessibility during the recruitment and hiring process or for more information and support, please visit UBC’s Centre for Workplace Accessibility website at https://hr.ubc.ca/health-and-wellbeing/workplace-accessibility/centre-workplace-accessibility or contact the Centre at [email protected].

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.

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