This position is a part of the Association of the Academic Staff of the University of Alberta (AASUA).

This position has a term length of one year with the possibility of extension.

Location - North campus

Working for the University of Alberta

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is teeming with change makers, community builders, and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to more than 40,000 students in 200+ undergraduate and 500+ graduate programs, over 13,000 faculty and staff, 260,000 alumni worldwide and have been recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for over a decade.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross section of people—from our students and stakeholders, to our renowned researchers and innovators who are quite literally curing diseases, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger, and more jus

Department summary

The Department of Biochemistry is a research-intensive department fostering fundamental investigations of biological molecular mechanisms (https://www.ualberta.ca/biochemistry/index.html). Our large undergraduate and graduate education program comprises more than 1,500 students per year and provides excellent scientific training and skills development with an emphasis on research. Broad departmental discipline expertise yields discoveries in cancer, metabolism, heart disease, neurological disorders, and infectious diseases, among others.

The FoMD is comprised of 21 departments, 7 Research Institutes, and 6 Core facilities. Core facilities provide state-of-the-art research infrastructure and expertise, including world-class Flow Cytometry and Cell Imaging Cores (https://www.ualberta.ca/medicine/research/corefacilities/index.html). The department is the home of proteomic infrastructure and expertise (https://apm.biochem.ualberta.ca/Contact.html) with an ongoing history of excellence in structural biology. 

The University of Alberta is a Top 5 Canadian University and one of the Top 150 in the world. Key strengths and strategic areas identified by the University include precision health, artificial intelligence, and biotech.

Position summary

The project involves generation and molecular characterization of breast cancer Patient Derived Organoids (PDOs). PDOs are generated from an individual patient tumor and are cultured as 3D organoids. The candidate will use PDO culture models and next-generation-sequencing  to evaluate PDO drug sensitivity and mechanisms of resistance.  These studies will provide valuable insight on PDO potential as precision health tools.

Duties

• Establish and maintain PDOs from primary tumor material
• Microscopy-based evaluations of PDOs with respect to morphology and dynamic growth properties
• Culture-based evaluations, especially viability, in response to drug treatments
• Coordinate next-generation sequencing and analysis

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD degree in Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Physiology, Oncology or related discipline
• Extensive expertise in cell biology (cell culture, microscopy)
• Expertise in data analysis and statistics

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with live tissue or 3D culture models is an asset
• Experience in genomic and bioinformatic analysis
• Experience in flow cytometry
• Excellent organizational and communication skills