Postdoctoral Fellow - Cell Biology

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

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 just.

Position summary

Redox control of Endoplasmic Reticulum – Mitochondria Contacts and their Relevance for Neurodegeneration

A postdoc position is available immediately to study calcium and redox signaling between the Endoplasmic Reticulum and Mitochondria in the Simmen laboratory (Department of Cell Biology, University of Alberta). The successful applicant will be studying the function of redox-sensitive ER proteins in this mechanism. These proteins localize to ER-mitochondria contact sites dependent on oxidation and reduction of cysteines. A special focus interest will be on the significance of this mechanism for the crosstalk between various CNS cell types, using co-culture approaches. Candidate proteins, novel or identified by the lab previously (e.g., TMX1, PERK, Ero1), will have to be mechanistically characterized using yeast and/or mammalian cell culture; more details are available in our publications and on our websites http://www.ualberta.ca/CELLBIOLOGY/simmen.html

Minimal requirements are previous experience with cell biology, potentially with yeast and two first author publications in an international journal. Applicants need to provide a cover letter that outlines their career objectives and how they would address the questions associated with the project, CV and scanned university grades. Primarily, this position is for Canadian nationals or permanent residents. Outstanding applicants from abroad will be considered but must have excellent English knowledge both spoken and written (high TOEFL/GRE scores or equivalent).

The location of the job is at the University of Alberta, the 5th largest university in Canada with world-class biomedical research labs. Edmonton is a culturally vibrant, young city that lies in close proximity to the Rocky Mountains, offering excellent opportunities for sports enthusiasts.

Note: Online applications are accepted until midnight Mountain Standard Time of the closing date.