Careers

Position Overview

The Section of Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) is seeking a highly motivated Research Associate to support research in abdominal wall reconstruction and digestive disorders. This role is ideal for individuals with strong organizational skills and a passion for clinical research, offering hands-on experience in project management, data analysis, and academic publication.

Under the supervision of Dr. Rachel Liu Hennessey, the Research Associate will collaborate with surgeons, surgical residents, and international research teams to drive impactful surgical research.

Responsibilities 

• Coordinate and manage research projects from inception to publication.
• Maintain research databases, ensuring data accuracy and compliance with ethics protocols (REB).
• Assist in grant writing, funding applications, and budget tracking.
• Conduct literature reviews, systematic analyses, and data collection for clinical studies.
• Support multicenter research collaborations and supervise medical trainees in research tasks.
• Prepare manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals and assist with conference submissions (e.g., Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons).
• Organize research meetings, seminars, and multidisciplinary conferences.

Required Qualifications 

• Master’s degree in life sciences or a related field.
• 1+ years of research coordination experience (clinical or academic preferred).
• Proficiency in data management tools (REDCap, Excel, SPSS, etc.).
• Strong writing skills for ethics applications, grants, and manuscripts.
• Ability to work independently and with interdisciplinary teams.
• Knowledge of research ethics (TCPS2) and regulatory compliance is mandatory.
• Eligibility to work in Canada (citizen, permanent resident, or valid work permit).

Why join us?

• Work alongside surgeons working at the forefront of complex hernia care and minimally invasive and robotic surgery.
• Contribute to high-impact research with co-authorship.
• Gain exposure to multicentre collaborations and international conferences.
• Professional development in grant writing, project management, and academic surgery.

Application Procedure 

Submit the following to gs@hnsy.ca by August 31, 2025

• Cover letter (highlighting research experience and career goals).
• CV/resume.
• Contact information for 3 professional references.

Application deadline: August 31, 2025.

Salary: $25/hour

Position Overview

The Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences and the Edwin S. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging (ELCHA) at The University of British Columbia (UBC) invites applications for a full-time faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor, tenure-track. The successful candidate will have expertise in area(s) related to cardiovascular physiology, metabolic regulation and dysregulation, and/or hormonal mechanisms that maintain homeostasis, with a focus on aging.

Research Focus and Expertise

We are seeking an early career scientist with demonstrated potential to establish a robust, externally funded research program. The successful candidate will employ innovative molecular, cellular, and physiological approaches to investigate the regulation of cellular and whole-body metabolism, cardiovascular physiology, or hormonal control of homeostasis under normal conditions and how these processes become disrupted with age or in age-associated pathology. Research programs of interest may address mechanisms of impaired vascular or cardiac function, metabolic dysregulation in tissue and cells, altered nutrient sensing, or other cellular and hormonal processes that contribute to age-related decline in physiological resilience and homeostasis. Studies that seek to identify cellular determinants of health span, uncover early markers of dysfunction, or reveal targets for therapeutic intervention in age-associated diseases are welcome. Candidates whose research bridges fundamental discovery with translational relevance to aging and chronic disease will find a highly supportive and collaborative environment. The position aligns with departmental priorities in cardiovascular physiology, and metabolic regulation and dysregulation, and with ELCHA priorities on molecular and cellular mechanisms of aging and age-related diseases.

Responsibilities 

Reporting to the Head, Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, the successful candidate will be expected to:  

• Develop an internationally recognized research program in cellular and molecular physiology to understand dysregulation during aging.  
• Attract and manage external research funding to develop and support an innovative research program.
• Mentor postdoctoral fellows, graduate, and undergraduate students.  
• Teach undergraduate and graduate students.  
• Engage in departmental and university service.

Required Qualifications 

• A PhD, MD/PhD, MD, or equivalent in the biological or biomedical sciences.  
• Demonstrated evidence of ability in teaching and scholarly activity.
• A developing record of research excellence.   
• A strong commitment to excellence in teaching. 
• Demonstrated a willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including those in conflict with one’s own, and a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to respect, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

The Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences 

The Department (www.cellphys.ubc.ca), located in the Life Sciences Institute, is internationally recognized for using diverse approaches and model systems to investigate fundamental cellular and physiological mechanisms underlying human health and disease. The Department has particular strengths in cardiovascular physiology, cell and developmental biology, cancer, diabetes, endocrinology, tissue regeneration, neuroscience and stem cell biology, with translational research projects in therapeutics and their delivery. 

The Edwin S. H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging

The Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging (ELCHA, https://healthyaging.med.ubc.ca/)is an interdisciplinary research Centre at UBC with the broad goal of defining the pathways through which individuals, communities, health systems, and whole societies can deliver a future with healthy, optimized aging for all. The ELCHA has particular strengths in the molecular and cellular mechanisms of aging and age-related diseases; the social, cultural, environmental, lifestyle and behavioural determinants of healthy aging; and the development and implementation of strategies and interventions to promote healthy aging and prevent chronic diseases. 

Application Procedure 

Applicants should submit the following materials to the online portal: 

https://ubc.wd10.myworkdayjobs.com/ubcfacultyjobs

• Cover letter outlining interest in the position.  
• Curriculum vitae including a full list of publications.  
• Research statement describing current work and future research plans (3-5 pages). 
• Teaching and mentorship statement detailing teaching philosophy and student supervision experience (if applicable) (1 page). 
• Diversity statement describing your lived background experience (if comfortable), and your past experience and future plans regarding working with a diverse student body, your approach to mentoring women and others from historically marginalized communities and contributing to a culture of equity and inclusion (1/2 - 1 page). 
• References – names and contact information of three referees.

The expected starting salary for this position is $140,000 per annum. Competitive grant funding is not required to support the salary. The Faculty of Medicine is committed to offering equitable and competitive salaries, commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the candidate. At UBC, in addition to a generous benefit package and highly valued pension plan, faculty members also have access to a comprehensive range of leaves, services, resources and career development opportunities. This includes on-campus housing below market rates, housing assistance, maternity, parental and adoptive leave and UBC Child Care Services. For more information, please visit: https://hr.ubc.ca/benefits/benefit-plan-details.

Should you have any queries around this position, please contact our Human Resources Manager at Zaira dot Khan at UBC doc ca.

Research and office space will be assigned in a modern, highly collaborative, multidisciplinary team environment within the Life Science Institute (https://lsi.ubc.ca/).  The successful applicant will have access to state-of-the-art core facilities within the LSI and other research centers on the UBC campus and will be eligible to apply for infrastructure funds for highly specialized equipment.  A generous start-up package will be provided along with protected time in the first years of the appointment to establish a competitive research program. All positions are subject to budgetary approval.

Application Deadline: September 15, 2025. The earliest anticipated start date for this position is July 1, 2026, or upon a later date to be mutually agreed upon.