Job Opportunities

JOB POSTING #918113

Positing: Postdoctoral Fellow
Site: Princess Margaret Cancer Center
Department: Cancer Biology & Imaging Program
Reports to: Principle Investigator
Status: : Temporary Full-Time (1 year) with option to extend beyond 1 year and convert to permanent position.

University Health Network (UHN) is looking for an experienced professional to fill the key role of Postdoctoral Fellow in our Cancer Biology & Imaging Program 

The University Health Network, where “above all else the needs of patients come first”, encompasses Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and the Michener Institute of Education at UHN. The breadth of research, the complexity of the cases treated, and the magnitude of its educational enterprise has made UHN a national and international resource for patient care, research and education. With a long tradition of groundbreaking firsts and a purpose of “Transforming lives and communities through excellence in care, discovery and learning”, the University Health Network (UHN), Canada’s largest research teaching hospital, brings together over 16,000 employees, more than 1,200 physicians, 8,000+ students, and many volunteers. UHN is a caring, creative place where amazing people are amazing the world.

University Health Network (UHN) is a research hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto and a member of the Toronto Academic Health Science Network. The scope of research and complexity of cases at UHN have made it a national and international source for discovery, education and patient care. Research across UHN’s five research institutes spans the full spectrum of diseases and disciplines, including cancer, cardiovascular sciences, transplantation, neural and sensory sciences, musculoskeletal health, rehabilitation sciences, and community and population health. Find out about our purpose, values and principles here.

Position Summary

The DaCosta Research Lab at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (PMCC) (https://dacostalab.ca/) is currently seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow to join our preclinical pancreatic research team.

The successful applicant will be part of a research group that uses intravital fluorescence microscopy imaging in live animals to study pancreatic cancer initiation, biology, progression, and response to novel radiotherapeutic treatment strategies using advanced animal models of cancer, within the mouse pancreas. The successful applicant will help to study the pancreatic tumor microenvironment in an orthotopic setting, with a focus on tumor vasculature, hypoxia, immune cells, stroma, and other key aspects in vivo. An important area to investigate when in this role will include the study of novel radio-sensitizers and their role in pancreatic treatment response. A key additional focus area will be on the use of immune- and cell therapies for treatment of pancreatic cancer.

The successful applicant will also collaborate extensively with other labs across UHN, as well as external collaborators. The position status is temporary full-time (1 year) with the potential to extend to permanent full-time based on the candidate’s performance and compatibility with the research team and lab objectives. The ideal candidate will have a clear career plan to become a principal investigator or independent scientist seeking an academic faculty position.

Responsibilities

  • Perform rodent microsurgeries to inoculate cells, install imaging devices, or other procedures as necessary
  • Intravital imaging of rodent models of cancer using various techniques, including but not limited to widefield imaging, confocal and multi-photon microscopy, bioluminescent imaging (BLI), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry of cells and tissues
  • Develop and conduct experiments evaluating new cancer treatment strategies, such as immunotherapies, small-molecule inhibitors, transplantations, and radiation
  • Propose new research directions and create projects
  • Troubleshoot, evaluate, and adjust protocols as necessary to improve data quality or in response to experimental needs
  • Maintain experimental cell lines and develop new reporter variants as necessary
  • Run molecular biology protocols, including but not limited to flow cytometry, ELISA, qPCR, and Western Blot
  • Maintain complete and accurate documentation of data generated and work performed on behalf of the lab
  • Adhere to Quality Control and Quality Assurance programs to support the effective operation of the lab, and to maintain appropriate laboratory standards
  • Aid in writing competitive peer-reviewed research grants relevant to the lab
  • Write and publish peer-reviewed scientific publications regarding this research
  • Co-supervise graduate and summer students with the Principal Investigator and other PDFs

Qualifications

  • Completion of a doctoral degree (Ph.D.) from a recognized academic institution
  • Strong background (minimum 5 years) in cancer biology and immunology, with a publication record, is required
  • Excellent track record of publication productivity in medium to high impact journals in the field
  • Track record in writing successful competitive peer-reviewed research grants
  • Excellent animal handling skills are required
  • Experience with animal microsurgery considered an asset
  • Strong familiarity with molecular and cellular laboratory techniques (e.g., cell culture, virus transduction, ELISA, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry) is required
  • Experience with in vivo imaging techniques, particularly confocal and/or multi-photon microscopy is highly preferred
  • Well-developed computer skills and/or the ability to learn new computer programs for analyzing imaging data (e.g., IMARIS, HALO, ImageJ) are an asset
  • Excellent problem recognition, critical thinking, organizational, detail-focused, and problem-solving skills
  • Ability to work independently and as a team member
  • Excellent verbal, presentation, and written communication skills
  • Experience in supervising and mentoring undergraduate and/or graduate students
  • Experience in managing research projects effectively, on time and within budget

 

Vaccines (COVID-19 and others) are a requirement of the job unless you have an exemption on a medical ground pursuant to the Ontario Human Rights Code

If you are interested in making your contribution at UHN, please apply on-line. You will be asked to copy and paste as well as attach your resume and covering letter. You will also be required to complete some initial screening questions.

Posting Date: April 6, 2023                    Closing Date: Until filled

Please apply here: UHN: Careers at UHN: Job Description (recruitingsite.com)