Postdoctoral Fellow in biomedical engineering and/or preclinical neuroscience/cardioscience, Physiology & Pharmacology

Description

Area: Biomedical Engineering and/or Preclinical Neuroscience/Cardioscience 

Duration: 2 years 

Start Date: January 1, 2025

Salary: minimum $50,000 CAD per annum, plus University of Calgary Plan C health benefits (negotiable based on experience)

The Department of Physiology & Pharmacology in the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary is accepting applications for a Postdoctoral Scholar with broad experience in biomedical engineering and/or preclinical neuroscience/cardioscience.

Job Description:

The research team focuses on understanding the sympathetic nervous system, and how it changes after the loss of supraspinal control (i.e., spinal cord injury). The team then uses this knowledge to conceive and develop new therapeutics, primarily neurotechnology. A central focus of the research associated with this position is helping to understand the circuits underlying blood pressure regulation and blood pressure stability that builds off our work published in Nature 2021. We have harnessed the knowledge gained from this work to develop next-generation therapies for stabilizing blood pressure, and ultimately reduce the incidence of death and disease after spinal cord injury.

Training Environment: We have a fully translational lab that provides training opportunities that span from animal models to clinical trials, that study the autonomic nervous system and its role in regulating blood pressure. Our research questions revolve around manipulating neuronal structures that regulated hemodynamics and blood pressure. We use circuit-targeted neurostimulation of sympathetic structures to stabilize hemodynamics after the loss of supraspinal control (i.e., spinal cord injury). Our approaches include but are not limited to electrical stimulation, optogenetics, single-cell transcriptomics, tissue clearing and 3D visualization, high-resolution MR and CT imaging, and full clinical trials to test these technologies. We are also involved in developing new technologies including implantable stimulators, closed-loop systems, signal processing, machine learning, and implantable sensors. Furthermore, we are undertaking the commercialization process for several of these approaches. For example, our closed-loop system for electrical spinal stimulation was developed in animal models and is now licensed to industry and starting the testing process in humans through clinical trials.  

Our lab is well funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Wings for Life, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), amongst others. We work in close collaboration with the core facilities within the Libin Cardiovascular Institute and the Hotchkiss Brain Institute and with a multidisciplinary team of scientists and clinicians through the RESTORE Network. As such, the training environment is excellent within the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, and our weekly seminar series features leading international and national neuroscientists. All trainees have access to the REALISE program (https://hbi.ucalgary.ca/our-education/realise) which provides professional skills to aid in trainee success. Additionally, trainees may receive additional support for the development of novel neurotechnologies through the Brain CREATE program (https://cumming.ucalgary.ca/braincreate). We have strength in autonomic, computational, and electrophysiological techniques within and surrounding our lab. Thus, the successful candidate will have access to a wide variety of techniques and approaches that will provide a unique training experience in neural and cardiovascular physiology. 
 

Qualifications:

We are looking for a highly motivated and energetic individual to conduct independent research and participate in the development of new technologies aimed at improving cardiovascular health after the loss of supraspinal control (i.e., spinal cord injury). This research will involve preclinical validation in wildtype or transgenic animal models (mice, rats), along with translating new technologies clinically. Successful applicants will have exemplary communication and project management skills, coding ability, and interest and experience in engineering. 

Furthermore, applicants should value working both independently and as part of a highly interactive and multidisciplinary team environment. 

• Postdoctoral Scholars: PhD (completed within the last three years) and/or MD in the field of neuroscience, biomedical science, biomedical engineering, hemodynamics
• Engineering: Solid and demonstrated engineering experience is an asset
• Experience with signal processing and analysis of physiological signals, including spectral analysis, complex filtering, denoising, and applying modern machine learning methods to these signals
• Experience coding in MATLAB, python, and R is preferred
• Knowledge of microfabrication and prototyping is seen as a benefit
• Experience with physiological technology development/validations 
• Demonstrated excellence in the form of peer-reviewed publications
• Experience with preclinical animal neuro/physiological or clinical neuro/physiology
• Exemplary critical thinking skills and a demonstrated ability to troubleshoot independently
• Communication: Fluency in English, both written and oral. Experience presenting to an academic audience is required
• Time-management: The applicant must have excellent time management skills and be able to work in a self-directed manner within an interdisciplinary environment
• Supervision: Previous experience mentoring undergraduate and graduate students is an asset

Application Details:

All applications should include:

• Cover letter describing research background and interests
• CV with complete list of publications
• Names and contact details of three professional references

Please send application materials to:
Dr. Aaron Phillips, Associate Professor ([email protected])
Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Libin Cardiovascular Institute
Calgary, Alberta

The terms and conditions of employment are covered under the UCalgary and PDAC Collective Agreement. To find out more about postdoctoral scholar program at the University of Calgary visit our Postdocs website.  

To learn more about postdoctoral scholar opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Postdoc Careers website.

About the University of Calgary

UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

About Calgary, Alberta

Calgary is one of the world's cleanest cities and has been named one of the world's most livable cities for years. Calgary is a city of leaders' in business, community, philanthropy and volunteerism. Calgarians benefit from the strongest economy in the nation and enjoy more days of sunshine per year than any other major Canadian city. Calgary is less than an hour's drive from the Rocky Mountains and boasts the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway network in North America.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion ([email protected]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources ([email protected]).