Position Description

Area: Cancer Genomics

Duration: 1 year, with potential for extension for a total of 5 years

Start Date:  Position available immediately, start date negotiable

Salary:$50,000 per year plus benefits - negotiable based on qualifications and experience

The Morrissy Lab is seeking an outstanding scientist to join our team as a Postdoctoral Associate in computational cancer genomics, leading integration of long-read sequencing data.

Job Description:

Successful candidates will be recent PhD graduates who are interested in making fundamental discoveries in tumor evolution and immune response that can lead to translational impact in aggressive and largely incurable cancers.

Research approaches in our team include computational analyses of tumor multi-omic profiles at bulk and single cell level, with spatial and temporal resolution within patient samples. We are interested in how tumor cells cooperate with non-neoplastic cells of the microenvironment to respond to selective pressures in general, and in particular to standard therapy regimes. The focus of the candidate will be on establishing methods to integrate long-read sequencing data into our current workflows for genome and transcriptome analyses. Key goals include identification of novel biomarkers and targets for therapy that can be further pursued within a fully operational preclinical pipeline toward clinical translation.

The lab is part of a multi-disciplinary team of cancer researchers filled with passionate and determined individuals who will provide the successful candidate with a stimulating and conducive environment to participate and grow as a scientist. The research is conducted at the University of Calgary, in close collaboration with local and international scientists and clinicians, and thus will also provide the successful candidate with opportunities to learn from a large network of talented professionals.

Qualifications:

The successful candidate should hold a PhD, have a track record of creativity in developing analytic strategies, and a strong foundation of knowledge in one or more of the following: computational biology / bioinformatics, genomics, cancer biology, statistics, immunology. Practical experience with bioinformatics, biostatistics, genome analysis, ~omic data management and analysis, Unix, Python, R & Bioconductor is highly desirable. Must be self-motivated, have strong written and verbal communication skills in English, and evidence of scientific accomplishment via peer-reviewed publications.

Responsibilities:

The PDF will lead analyses of genome and transcriptome data from patient samples, profiled at bulk or single single cell resolution, and with a focus on long-read technologies. The candidate will use statistical and machine learning approaches to interpret data in the context of tumor evolution, with the aim of (1) understanding the dynamics of tumor growth, relapse, metastasis and progression, and (2) defining novel biomarkers of progression and targets for rational therapy. The PDF will design and carry out computational experiments and lead the writing of scientific manuscripts.

Experience/Skills:

* PhD with training in bioinformatics, computer science, statistics or cell biology

* Experience working in a Unix and HPC environment (shell scripting, command-line tools)

* Experience conducting large-scale data analyses (genomic/multi-omic)

* Expertise with machine-learning methods, and statistical analyses using R or python

* Experience with assembly methods is highly desirable

* Experience with long-read technologies is highly desirable

* Understanding of cancer cell biology or immunology is highly desirable

* Evidence of scientific accomplishment via peer-reviewed publications is required

* Highly motivated with excellent organizational, problem-solving and communication skills (verbal and written)

Application details:  

Interested and qualified applicants should send (1) a cover letter describing previous work, career goals, and proposed start date, (2) CV, and (3) contact information for three referees. Address to Dr. Morrissy at [email protected].

Application Deadline:  July 6, 2022

Additional Information

To learn more about postdoctoral scholar opportunities at the University of Calgary and all we have to offer, view our Postdoc Careers website. For more information about the Cumming School of Medicine visit Careers in the Cumming School of Medicine.

The University strongly recommends all faculty and staff are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

About the University of Calgary

The University of Calgary is Canada’s leading next-generation university – a living, growing and youthful institution that embraces change and opportunity with a can-do attitude. Located in the nation’s most enterprising city, the university is making tremendous progress on its Eyes High journey to be recognized as one of Canada’s top five research universities, grounded in innovative learning and teaching and fully integrated with the community it both serves and leads. The University of Calgary inspires and supports discovery, creativity and innovation across all disciplines. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

To succeed as one of Canada’s top universities, where new ideas are created, tested and applied through first-class teaching and research, the University of Calgary needs more of the best minds in our classrooms and labs. We’re increasing our scholarly capacity by investing in people who want to change the world, bringing the best and brightest to Calgary to form a global intellectual hub and achieve advances that matter to everyone. For more information visit research.ucalgary.ca/postdocs.

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 in line with the foundational goals of Eyes High, 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]).