Job Posting #913855
Position: Research Associate I
Site: Krembil Research Institute, Toronto Western Hospital
Department: Schroeder Arthritis Institute
Reports to: Scientist
Pay Range: $67.197 to $84.006 per hour commensurate with experience and consistent with UHN Compensation Policy
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Status: Temporary Full-time (2 years)
University Health Network (UHN) is looking for an experienced professional to fill the key role of Research Associate I in our Schroeder Arthritis Institute.
Transforming lives and communities through excellence in care, discovery and learning
The University Health Network, where “above all else the needs of patients come first”, encompasses Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and the Michener Institute of Education at UHN. The breadth of research, the complexity of the cases treated, and the magnitude of its educational enterprise has made UHN a national and international resource for patient care, research and education. With a long tradition of ground breaking firsts and a purpose of “Transforming lives and communities through excellence in care, discovery and learning”, the University Health Network (UHN), Canada’s largest research teaching hospital, brings together over 16,000 employees, more than 1,200 physicians, 8,000+ students, and many volunteers. UHN is a caring, creative place where amazing people are amazing the world.
University Health Network (UHN) is a research hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto and a member of the Toronto Academic Health Science Network. The scope of research and complexity of cases at UHN have made it a national and international source for discovery, education and patient care. Research across UHN's five research institutes spans the full spectrum of diseases and disciplines, including cancer, cardiovascular sciences, transplantation, neural and sensory sciences, musculoskeletal health, rehabilitation sciences, and community and population health. Find out about our purpose, values and principles here.
Job Summary:
A Research Associate I is required to investigate to lead strategy, basic research science in Viswanathan lab and translational OrthoBiologics and cell therapy applications in a new centre at the Schroeder Arthritis Institute. Incumbent will possess strong experience in the field of osteoarthritis research with a track record of publications in this area. Previous experience in immunology, inflammation, biochemistry, animal models in the field of arthritis would be a definite asset. Incumbent should have strong technical experience with cell biology, molecular biology and immunology.
Candidates must possess strong technical research background as they will be required to lead wet lab research in the Viswanathan lab focused on developing new cellular therapies, particularly focused on immunology, MSCs, iPSCs, or other primary cell culture as well as in vitro evaluations by flow cytometry, qPCR, immunofluorescence. Candidates should have strong communication skills, demonstrated writing abilities as first author of original research papers. Grant writing experience would be an asset. Candidates should have a good understanding of statistical principles and conducting correlative analysis. A solid understanding of molecular biology, animal studies and technical immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence analyses would be an asset.
The candidate will be supervised by Dr. Sowmya Viswanathan. Dr. Viswanathan is a translational scientist who led Canada’s first cell therapy trial in Osteoarthritis (Chahal et al., 2019 Stem Cell Translational Medicine). The new Schroeder Osteoarthritis Advanced Therapeutics has launched a clinical trial (NCT05517434; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05517434) and clinical cohort studies, all focused on developing biologics/cellular therapies.
This position is a great opportunity for a talented scientist to be involved in creating this new centre from the ground-up. This position offers the opportunity to develop new advances in biologics therapies, and cell therapy clinical trials. The position is multi-disciplinary and will involve working closely with orthopedic surgeons to handle patient samples and develop new approaches to treat osteoarthritis; will involve working with
biostatisticians to design clinical trial; with bioinformaticians to process big data sets and with regulatory consultants to submit clinical trial applications.
This is a leadership position with growth potential for the right candidate.
Qualifications:
• PhD in a related field (life sciences, immunology, cell biology, biochemistry, engineering) with extensive experience in cell therapy or general immunology.
• Post Doc in arthritis field.
• Strong writing (grants, papers, proposals) and analytical skills.
• Strong communication (written and presentation) skills; ability to speak at meetings, to stakeholders and present at scientific conferences.
• Experience in clinical studies (cohort studies, clinical trials) including experience working with ethics board, developing clinical protocols, writing investigator’s brochure (pre-clinical studies).
• Statistical knowledge, particularly use of design of experiment, factorial design, regression analyses is required.
• General technical expertise in cell culture, molecular biology and immunology is required.
• Expertise in primary human cell culture and isolation from bone marrow, umbilical cord, lipoaspriate, peripheral blood is an asset.
• Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence skills are an asset.
• Animal model experience/surgical animal model experience are an asset.
Vaccines (COVID-19 and others) are a requirement of the job unless you have an exemption on a medical ground pursuant to the Ontario Human Rights Code.
If you are interested in making your contribution at UHN, please apply on-line. You will be asked to copy and paste as well as attach your resume and covering letter. You will also be required to complete some initial screening questions.
Posting Date: January 31, 2023 Closing Date: Until filled.
For current UHN employees, only those who have successfully completed their probationary period, have a good employee record along with satisfactory attendance in accordance with UHN's attendance management program, and possess all the required experience and qualifications should apply.
UHN thanks all applicants, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
UHN is a respectful, caring, and inclusive workplace. We are committed to championing accessibility, diversity and equal opportunity and welcomes all applicants including but not limited to: all religions and ethnicities, LGBTQ2s+, BIPOC, persons with disabilities and all others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process providing the applicant has met the Bona-fide requirements for the open position. Applicants need to make their requirements known when contacted.
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