Research Associate in Evolutionary Biochemistry

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

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The expected pay range for this position is $68,932 to $76,000 per year.

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, etc.

The expected pay range for this position is $68,932 to $76,000 per year.

Application Process: Interested applicants should submit a CV and cover letter that details their experience and contact details for 3 references. Application materials should be submitted to the UBC Careers portal no later than the posting end date

The appointment will be for two years commencing October 26, 2025 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.