Aparicio Lab

The expected salary range for this position is $60,000-$80,000 per annum.

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career. ​​​​​​

The Aparicio Laboratory in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine is seeking a full-time (1.0 FTE) Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join the Aparicio Lab at the BC Cancer Research Institute to work on drug target discovery and therapeutics in genomically unstable adult and pediatric cancers. The project is tackling an unmet need by identifying modality combinations of antibodies/ADCs and small molecules. We are addressing combinatorial target identification with CRISPR functional genomics and chemical biology for targeting hard to treat cancers. The Aparicio Lab has a long track record of high impact discoveries in cancer genomics and translation to human studies (aparicio.molonc.ca), including biotech company creation. Our environment is a fast paced multidisciplinary lab, offering training and experience in genomics, computational biology, early drug discovery and clinical studies.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting to Dr. Sam Aparicio, the incumbent will be responsible for:

• Design of chemical biology approaches for exploration of combinatorial targeting and therapeutic proof of concept
• Establishment of relevant isogenic cell line backgrounds for screens
• Engaging with other team members on combinatorial CRISPR screen strategies for target credentialing in cancer models
• Computational analysis of screen data
• Design and execution of combinatorial target validation experiments in PDXO and PDX systems in the lab
• Record and analyze experimental data accurately and efficiently, maintaining detailed records and documentation.
• Training and supervision of graduate students and/or research assistants.
• Adhere to safety protocols and guidelines at all times, including proper handling and disposal of hazardous materials.

QUALIFICATIONS

Successful applicants will have:

• A PhD with experience in chemical biology in the domain of cancer biology
• Proficiency in statistical/computational analysis of chemical and functional screen data to be self-sufficient in interpretation
• Experience with tumor model systems, including isogenic knockouts, organoids and/or PDX systems
• Experience in the design and use of  CRISPR  functional genetics screening approaches and chemical library screening approaches will be an advantage
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Effective communication and teamwork abilities.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and prioritize tasks effectively.
• Commitment to upholding quality standards, safety protocols, and regulatory compliance.
• 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 $60,000-$80,000 per annum. 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:

• A letter of application outlining the applicant’s research interests;
• A detailed curriculum vitae;
• A cover letter
• Contact information for referees

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

Review of applications will begin on August 25, 2025 and continue until the position is filled. The anticipated start date for this position is September 1, 2025 or upon a date to be mutually agreed.

We invite applications from qualified candidates who share our commitment to employment equity and inclusive excellence, and we welcome applications from candidates belonging to historically, persistently, or systemically marginalized groups: Indigenous (First Nation, Métis, Inuit) Peoples, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, women, 2SLGBTQIA+ people, and trans and non-binary people.
 

The University is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and equitable work environment for all members of its workforce. An inclusive work environment presumes an environment where differences are appreciated, recognized, and integrated into current structures, planning, and decision-making modes. Within this hiring process we are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable process for all candidates (including but not limited to people with disabilities). Confidential accommodations are available on request. If you have any questions regarding accommodations or accessibility during the recruitment and hiring process or for more information and support, please visit UBC’s Centre for Workplace Accessibility website at https://hr.ubc.ca/health-and-wellbeing/workplace-accessibility/centre-workplace-accessibility or contact the Centre at workplace.accessibility@ubc.ca.

With gratitude, we acknowledge that the University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine and its distributed programs, which include four university academic campuses, are located on traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of First Nations Peoples and communities around the province.
 

Our Vision: To Transform Health for Everyone.

Ranked among the world’s top medical schools with the fifth-largest MD enrollment in North America, the UBC Faculty of Medicine is a leader in both the science and the practice of medicine. Across British Columbia, more than 12,000 faculty and staff are training the next generation of doctors and health care professionals, making remarkable discoveries, and helping to create the pathways to better health for our communities at home and around the world.

The Faculty - comprised of approximately 2,200 administrative support, technical/research and management and professional staff, as well approximately 650 full-time academic and over 10,000 clinical faculty members - is composed of 19 academic basic science and/or clinical departments, three schools, and 24 research centres and institutes. Together with its University and Health Authority partners, the Faculty delivers innovative programs and conducts research in the areas of health and life sciences. Faculty, staff and trainees are located at university campuses, clinical academic campuses in hospital settings and other regionally based centres across the province.

UBC - One of the World's Leading Universities. As one of the world's leading universities, the University of British Columbia creates an exceptional learning environment that fosters global citizenship, advances a civil and sustainable society, and supports outstanding research to serve the people of British Columbia, Canada and the world.

UBC hires on the basis of merit and is committed to employment equity. All qualified persons are encouraged to apply. 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, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority.