Research Associate - Photonic Biosensing

13 Feb 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

The University of British Columbia (UBC)

Research Field

Engineering » Biomedical engineering

Researcher Profile

Leading Researcher (R4)
Established Researcher (R3)

Country

Canada

Application Deadline

14 Mar 2024 - 22:00 (UTC)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

40

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Reference Number

EU-57846

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of British Columbia Vancouver campus is seeking applications for a full-time research associate in the area of photonic biosensing. The successful applicant will join a multidisciplinary team working to develop a portable biosensor built from state-of-the-art silicon photonics technology. The multiplexed architecture of this biosensor will allow simultaneous detection of different biomarkers for more informative sensing and diagnostics.

Job description:

The research associate will work closely with the principal investigators of the interdisciplinary silicon photonic biosensor team and remain in close communication while independently leading the day-to-day research operations of the team. The successful applicant may be involved in designing photonic integrated circuits, biosensing assays and microfluidic devices, running experiments, microfabricating microfluidic devices, prototyping, building instrumentation, developing data analysis workflows, communicating with the team, training students, and writing manuscripts and grant applications. The successful applicant will also be involved in leading research projects and supervising co-op students and research staff.

This multidisciplinary team consists of Principal Investigators Prof. Karen Cheung, Prof. Lukas Chrostowski, and Prof. Sudip Shekhar. Prof. Cheung brings microfluidics and biomedical device expertise and oversees microfluidic delivery and assay development. Prof. Chrostowski brings lasers and silicon photonics expertise and oversees photonic device design and laser integration. Prof. Shekhar brings optoelectronics expertise, and oversees the readout, detection, and signal processing. 

Candidates must have a PhD in electrical engineering, biomedical engineering, physics, or a related discipline, as well as at least three years of relevant postdoctoral training. Strong written and oral English communication skills are required. Experience working in interdisciplinary teams is strongly desired. Experience with microfluidics, evanescent field sensors (silicon photonics or surface plasmon sensors), immunoassay development, and/or point-of-care microdevice design and operation are required. The applicant should be a self-driven leader and highly motivated researcher with an excellent publication record and experience mentoring and supervising researchers.

Responsibilities will include, but not be limited to:

• Leading a multidisciplinary research team to demonstrate simultaneous multiplexed detection of multiple biomarkers using silicon photonic biosensors
• Developing immunoassays for silicon photonic biosensors, including sensor biofunctionalization
• Designing microfluidic devices, and training and supervising students on microfluidic design and fabrication
• Coordinating design and fabrication of silicon photonic biosensor devices
• Developing protocols and workflows for analytical validation and performance characterization of novel biosensors
• Using, improving upon, and developing scripts and programs for data acquisition and data analysis using Python and MATLAB
• (Co)-Supervising 3-7 students and research staff
• Using project management tools and workflows to manage the research progress of our interdisciplinary team
• Contributing to grant proposals
• Preparing manuscripts for publication
• Preparing and delivering presentations at research meetings and conferences
• Performing critical evaluation of the team’s experimental data and offering feedback and guidance on protocol improvements

Experience desired:

• Experience with immunoassay development, particularly using label-free biosensing approaches
• Experience with sensor calibration and analytical validation techniques
• Experience with microfluidic devices, microfabrication, and rapid prototyping
• Experience in designing microfluidic systems
• Experience performing opto-electrical testing for biosensor applications
• Strong troubleshooting ability and experience
• Knowledge of programming software drivers to control hardware
• Fluent with Python, MATLAB, and/or similar programming languages
• Experience with Photonic Integrated Circuit design software such as KLayout or similar programs
• Experience with Photonic Integrated Circuit tapeout
• Experience with the Ansys Lumerical Design Suite or similar simulation software
• Experience supervising trainees at the undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral level, as well as research staff
• Experience with using and adapting project management tools and workflows for academic research groups
• Experience writing successful grant proposals

Minimum requirements:

• Doctorate degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Physics, or a related discipline
• Graduating thesis in the field of biosensors, immunoassay development, silicon photonics, or microfluidics
• At least three years of postdoctoral training in a relevant discipline (biosensors, immunoassay development, silicon photonics, or microfluidics – ideally complementary to the discipline of their thesis)
• An excellent publication record, with multiple first-author and co-authored publications in relevant fields (biosensors, immunoassay development, silicon photonics, and microfluidics)

Job details and application process:

Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on March 14, 2024. The anticipated start date is as soon as possible after closing date. This initial appointment is for a one-year term, with possibility of extension subject to work performance and available funding. The starting salary is $120,000 per annum.

To apply, please provide the following: a one-page letter of intent which includes a statement of your research interest, a detailed curriculum vitae, a PDF copy or a link to one of your recent and related peer-reviewed publications, and the names of three references. Please submit the requested documents in one combined PDF file. Only completed applications will be considered.

Complete application packages should be submitted online through the UBC Faculty Careers job portal https://ubc.wd10.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/ubcfacultyjobs/job/Research-As… ).

About the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering:

The University of British Columbia is a Tier One research university with over 55,000 students and 5,700 faculty, ranked among the top twenty universities in the world and the top three in Canada. The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering is one of the largest academic units at UBC, with over 400 graduate students and 1,100 undergraduate students. The department is situated on UBC’s Point Grey campus in Vancouver, British Columbia. Vancouver is consistently rated as one of the world’s most livable cities. The University of British Columbia and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering acknowledge the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓-speaking xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) people on whose traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory the University resides.

For more information about the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, please visit https://ece.ubc.ca/ .

 

This posting is for the UBC Vancouver campus in British Columbia, Canada.

Please refer to reference number EU-57846 during correspondence about this position.

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 will be given priority.

About UBC
The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world. Since 1915, UBC's entrepreneurial spirit has embraced innovation and challenged the status quo. UBC encourages its students, staff and faculty to challenge convention, lead discovery and explore new ways of learning. At UBC, bold thinking is given a place to develop into ideas that can change the world.

About UBC's Faculty of Applied Science
The Faculty of Applied Science comprises a unique constellation of disciplines – including the Schools of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, Community and Regional Planning and Nursing, as well as all engineering activities at both the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses. Our work and the professional disciplines we represent span the entire human-centred built environment and innovation at all scales – from nanoscale electronic devices that power communications to the design of entire cities.

There has never been a more urgent time for our professions – as planners, architects, nurses and engineers – to come together to build upon our existing strengths and ambitions to ensure a thriving society, to make real impact locally and globally.

With a community of over 300 full-time faculty members and more than 8,600 students across our undergraduate and graduate programs, we shape the leaders and professions that shape the world.

About Vancouver
Vancouver is a dynamic, cosmopolitan and progressive city, consistently ranked as one of the top cities to live in the world. Canada's third largest city has it all: sea, parks, mountains, beaches, and four seasons per year, including beautiful summers and mild, wet winters with snow in the mountains. It's the perfect backdrop to your academic research.

Requirements

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Excellent

Additional Information

Website for additional job details

https://ubc.wd10.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/ubcfacultyjobs/job/Research-Associate-…

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

The University of British Columbia (UBC)

Country

Canada

State/Province

British Columbia

City

Vancouver

Postal Code

V6T 1Z4

Street

2329 West Mall

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://ubc.wd10.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/ubcfacultyjobs/job/Research-Associate-…

Contact

State/Province

British Columbia

City

Vancouver

Street

2329 West Mall

Postal Code

V6T 1Z4

STATUS: EXPIRED