Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Academic

Job Category
Faculty Non Bargaining

Job Title
Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Department
Brown Laboratory Department of Paediatrics Faculty of Medicine (Kelly Brown)

Posting End Date
November 30, 2022

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above.

This position is located within a health-care facility, therefore, the successful candidate will be required to provide verification of full vaccination against Covid-19 provided prior to the start date, as required by a provincial health mandate.

This offer is conditional upon successful completion of a Criminal Record Check.

Cassie & Friends Postdoctoral Fellowship in Pediatric Rheumatology

The mission of the Cassie & Friends International Postdoctoral Fellowship in Pediatric Rheumatology is to provide training to PhD researchers in the field of pediatric rheumatology and to support future investigative careers in the improved understanding of rheumatic diseases. The rheumatic disease family is a collection of multiple diseases that include the more commonly known juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), rarer conditions like vasculitis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and a relatively new group of autoinflammatory diseases. Despite genetic and phenotypic differences, all rheumatic diseases are characterized by relapsing and remitting episodes of pain and inflammation. They provide a clear example of morbidity and disability that results from immune dysregulation and uncontrolled inflammation. One of the major challenges in the management of childhood rheumatic diseases is to balance the risks associated with therapy against the risks associated with either undertreating aggressive disease or over-treating less aggressive disease. This is particularly problematic in children as there are few, if any, treatments that are specific and safe for a growing child. The successful candidate will lead investigative efforts towards the improved understanding of immunological mechanisms of childhood rheumatic diseases that will aid diagnosis and therapeutic decision making.

The fellow will be offered an appointment through the University of British Columbia (UBC, Vancouver, BC) Department of Pediatrics. The initial term will be for 1 year commencing no later than Jan 2023, with a possibility for extension for a second year. Research will be conducted at the British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute (BCCHRI, also in Vancouver, BC) under the supervision of Dr. Kelly Brown. This is a highly dedicated and collaborative research environment in which the candidate will interact regularly with clinicians and scientists in the Division of Pediatric Rheumatology at British Columbia Children’s Hospital.

Eligibility Requirements:

At the time of the application or by the award start date, the applicant must:

● Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or foreign national (must hold a valid work permit).
● Have completed a PhD within the past 3 years in a relevant field of study.

Note: Justified career interruptions (e.g. parental or medical leave) will be taken into consideration.

Note: Prior to the start of the award, successful PhD applicants must provide proof of degree completion. If unable to provide proof of degree completion, the award offer will be withdrawn.

Preference will be given to candidates experienced in immunological techniques (including flow cytometry, ELISA and qPCR) and bioinformatics as evidenced by a strong publication record in immunology and/or rheumatology. The candidate must be effective communicating and working in a team environment.

Application Requirements:
Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, CV and two letters of reference, as a single PDF document, to [email protected]. Reference letters may be from a PhD supervisor, mentor or an expert in your area of research that is outside of your host institution.

(Applications will be received until November 30th, 2022 at 11:59 pm Pacific Standard Time Zone)

About Cassie & Friends Society

Funding for the fellowship is provided by Cassie & Friends: A Society for Children Affected by Juvenile Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Diseases (http://cassieandfriends.ca). Cassie & Friends is a Canadian charity dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families affected by Juvenile Arthritis (JA) and rheumatic diseases through research, education, connection and support. Founded by a small group of parents and clinicians in 2007, C+F has earned recognition as a trusted home for those living with these painful and sometimes devastating conditions, both across Canada and internationally. To date, over $3 million has been raised towards our vision of a pain-free future for kids, including high-profile partnerships with BC Children’s Hospital/the University of British Columbia, UCAN CAN-DU and the European Joint Programme for Rare Diseases where C+F is leading the activities of the Patient Advocacy Partners from Europe and Israel to provide evidence on the real-life socio-economic impacts of living with a rare disease.

Pediatric Rheumatology at BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH) and BCCH Research Institute (BCCHR)

The Division of Pediatric Rheumatology is located on a 46-acre campus that is home to the British Columbia (BC) Children’s Hospital (BCCH), Canada’s largest full-service child health centre, and to the BCCH Research Institute (BCCHRI), the largest research institute of its kind in Western Canada. First and foremost, the Division provides diagnosis and treatment for children and adolescents in BC with rheumatic diseases; these diseases include chronic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, scleroderma, vasculitis, and other less common inflammatory diseases. Research is an integral part of the clinical and academic mission of the Division. Members of the Division are leaders in the development of Canadian and North American pediatric multi-centre clinical research cohorts in juvenile arthritis, lupus, and vasculitis. In addition, Division members are active collaborators in Canadian, North American, and international pediatric rheumatology research groups. Dr Brown is the Division’s first full-time basic scientist, and is a key player in creating the best evidence-based care for children and youth in BC that are affected by rheumatic diseases. Trainees under Dr Brown’s supervision have unique opportunities to work on priority clinical issues in rheumatology and obtain a true bedside-bench-bedside approach for patient-oriented health research.