Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Bioinformatician)

We are seeking a highly motivated full-time (1.0 FTE) Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Bioinformatician) to join the Salker research group, an innovative multidisciplinary initiative focused on improving maternal and infant health through advanced biomarkers, multi-omics, and translational research. This is a 6 months full time position with a competitive salary, comprehensive health benefits, conference travel support, and the potential for extension subject to external funding.

The successful candidate will join a collaborative research environment within the University of British Columbia, BC Women's Hospital + Health Centre, and the BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, working closely with clinicians, scientists, bioinformaticians, and trainees across obstetrics, neonatology, genomics, immunology, and computational biology. This position offers an exceptional opportunity for individuals interested in pursuing careers in medicine, computational biology, translational research, maternal-fetal medicine, reproductive biology, genomics, or precision health.

Upon appointment, the Fellow will have access to well-characterized clinical cohorts and existing multi-omics datasets for analysis and publication. They will also contribute to the development of new prospective clinical studies, including the establishment of standardized clinical databases and biospecimen collection pipelines across maternal and neonatal cohorts. The Fellow will be encouraged to develop independent research questions aligned with the program and lead high-impact publications and grant applications. The Fellow may contribute to projects involving:

• multi-omics analyses (single-cell, cell-free RNA/DNA, methylation, proteomics);
• biomarker discovery for pregnancy complications and neonatal outcomes;
• computational biology, machine learning, and predictive modelling;
• translational studies integrating laboratory discoveries with clinical implementation.

  Vancouver is a vibrant coastal city located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Coast Salish peoples. The city offers stunning natural beauty with easy access to the Pacific Ocean, Coast Mountains, and world-class outdoor recreation. Known for its diverse population, rich arts and food culture, and progressive values, Vancouver consistently ranks as one of the most livable cities in the world.

  Responsibilities

  Reporting to Dr. Mady Salker, the Fellow will:

  • Advance patient-oriented and clinic-based research which includes dissemination of existing data (i.e., publications and presentations) as well as launching new research.
  • Develop and maintain bioinformatics pipelines for bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing, cell-free RNA, DNA methylation, proteomics, and other multi-omics datasets.
  • Integrate diverse molecular and clinical datasets to identify biomarkers associated with adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes.
  • Apply statistical modelling, machine learning, network analysis, and systems biology approaches to large-scale datasets.
  • Perform longitudinal and multi-modal data integration to investigate disease trajectories and biological mechanisms.
  • Collaborate with the multidisciplinary team at BCCHR and WHRI and mentor research trainees (e.g., undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate students).
  • Participate in grant applications, including concept development, analysis of preliminary data, preparing background information, and writing grant sections.
  • Apply for postdoctoral funding from federal, provincial, and other relevant agencies.

    Qualifications

    Successful applicants will have:

    • A doctoral degree (PhD or equivalent) in computational biology, biomedicine, women's health research, or related fields.
    • Substantial experience in R, python or other relevant computational languages.
    • Experience with single-cell RNA sequencing and/or ATAC-seq.
    • Demonstrated experience developing and maintaining reproducible bioinformatics pipelines for high-dimensional or multi-omics datasets.
    • Experience with statistical modelling, machine learning, and integration of molecular and clinical datasets.
    • A strong or growing publication record as first author.
    • Excellent organization, ethics/record keeping, time management, and communication skills.
      • Excellent interpersonal skills that support teamwork.
      • Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one's own.
      • Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one's own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

        The expected salary for this position is $55,000 to $60,000. Dr. Salker will cover conference registration, travel, and shared accommodations for at least 1 North American conference, if presenting first author research. The Faculty of Medicine is committed to offering equitable and competitive salaries, commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the candidate.

        Application Procedure

        An application package should include:

        • Cover letter describing (a) relevant experience in bioinformatics, computational biology, and/or multi-omics research, (b) personal research interests, (c) reasons for pursuing a postdoctoral fellowship with the Salker research group, and (d) interest in a multi-year fellowship, pending external funding (2-page maximum);
        • A detailed curriculum vitae, including a full list of publications and conference presentations;
        • Names and contact information for 2-3 referees who will be able to provide a letter of reference within 5 business days upon request.

          Applications should be submitted online at https://ubc.wd10.myworkdayjobs.com/ubcfacultyjobs

          Review of applications will begin on October 1, 2026 and continue until the position is filled. Please apply as soon as possible to facilitate timely review of your application. The anticipated start date for this position is November 1, 2026 or on a mutually agreed upon date.