Job Description:
A Research Associate (RA) position is available at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Medicine under the direction of Dr. Scott J. Tebbutt, Professor of Medicine of UBC Faculty of Medicine and Principal Investigator and Director of Education of Centre for Heart Lung Innovation at St Paul’s Hospital.
The RA will work with an interdisciplinary and international team to support the Immunophenotyping of a COVID-19 pneumonia Cohort (IMPACC) Study. The RA and Dr. Tebbutt’s team members will identify molecular endotypes of long-COVID-19 (also called Post COVID-19 Syndrome) during and after COVID-19 infection, in peripheral blood, plasma, nasal swabs, and airway tissue samples, by carrying out unsupervised analysis of multi-omics profiles at a single time-point or considering the time-course profile during infection. Dr. Tebbutt’s team aims to characterize the molecular heterogeneity during COVID-19 infection and to develop biomarkers of prognostic significance as they relate to the development of long-COVID-19. The distinct molecular patterns associated with each endotype may, in turn, help elucidate novel mechanisms of action and inform drug discovery and repurposing efforts.
The RA will play a critical role in the project team, providing scientific and pulmonology-based expertise to support hypothesis generation, planning, coordination, and identification of host molecular endotypes associated with diverse COVID-19 outcomes and new variants in a longitudinal multi-omics cohort study of 1000 patients. The RA will be responsible for several domains, including, but not limited to: project coordination, critical evaluation of clinical data, applications for funding, communication with collaborators and stakeholders, The RA will provide additional support to the Principal Investigator and collaborators as needed. The COVID-19 pandemic has created a climate of rapidly evolving information, goals and questions, and the RA will be expected to respond quickly and adapt to changing demands and short timelines.
Responsibilities will include, but will not be limited to:
- Performing critical evaluation of clinical data
- Analysis of experimental data, statistical analyses (including omics), preparation of manuscripts and scientific reports, and dissemination of research findings.
- Being current on emerging COVID-19 interventions and models of care, including in the respiratory space
- Performing literature and systematic reviews relevant to above-noted goals
- Facilitating the development of scope and strategies for research registries
- Developing reports and manuscripts for publication
- Preparing and delivering presentations for research meetings
- Coordinating and developing grant applications
- Preparing background documents for stakeholder meetings
- Participating in stakeholder engagement meetings
- Coordinating research activities and chairing and co-chairing research team meetings
- Providing other support as required to Dr. Tebbutt, researchers and team
Requirements:
- MD and MSc degree with 3+ years of relevant postdoctoral experience in respiratory medicine or thoracic research
- A minimum of 5 years of clinical work experience in respiratory/thoracic medicine
- Extensive experience and knowledge of metabolomics, acute lung injury, and preclinical drug development
- Extensive research experience of COVID-19 studies
- Demonstrated high-quality publication record in COVID-19 research: i.e., multiple first-author publications about COVID-19 in high-impact journals such as NEJM, Lancet, Lancet Respir Med, JAMA, JAMA Intern Med, BMJ, AJRCCM, PNAS, etc.
- Experience in studying biomarkers for diagnosing complex diseases of the lungs
- Demonstrated a successful track record of grant (e.g., CIHR) applications (as a co-applicant or applicant)
- Demonstrated experience in managing multiple projects with conflicting timelines and priorities, and excellent time-management skills
Duration and salary:
The position will begin March 1, 2024 for a period of 1 year with the possibility of extension.
Salary is $65,000.00 per annum.
Application:
The deadline for interested individuals is February 10, 2024. Applicants should send a cover letter and curriculum vitae to Dr. Tebbutt: scott.tebbutt@hli.ubc.ca
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 will be given priority.