Position Summary

The School of Biomedical Engineering (SBME) at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver campus, in partnership with Michael Smith Health Research BC, invites applications for a Research Associate (RA) position as part of the newly launched BioDevice Innovation Fellow Program. This prestigious role will support the Conconi Family BioDevice Foundry — a new core facility at UBC dedicated to advancing research, innovation, and translation of next-generation biomedical devices.

The School of Biomedical Engineering (SBME) is a partnership between the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Applied Science, acting as a nucleus for education and training, research, and innovation in biomedical engineering, creating new knowledge, new academic and training programs, and fostering translation and innovation. Its vision is to transform health care outcomes through unconstrained exploration of the best possible integrative solutions across engineering, medicine, and biology. Through a collaborative, innovative, and interdisciplinary approach and building on UBC academic and research excellence, the School of Biomedical Engineering aspires to be a global leader in biomedical engineering research, education and translation. For more information about the School of Biomedical Engineering, please visit https://www.sbme.ubc.ca/.

The successful candidate will hold the inaugural Michael Smith Health Research BC–Conconi Family Foundation BioDevice Innovation Fellow designation. While formally appointed as a Research Associate, the selected candidate will also be recognized as a BioDevice Innovation Fellow, reflecting the unique leadership and research opportunity this program represents. This Fellowship accelerates early-career researchers working at the interface of engineering, biology, and medicine—equipping them with the skills, mentorship, and networks needed for leadership in academia, industry, or entrepreneurship.

The Conconi Family BioDevice Foundry is Western Canada’s first core facility that bridges semiconductor microfabrication and cutting-edge life sciences research. The Foundry enables rapid development and translation of medical devices through access to cleanroom infrastructure, interdisciplinary mentorship, and prototyping tools, supporting innovation in healthcare diagnostics, biomanufacturing, and therapeutics. It is a collaborative hub that supports both off-the-shelf and first-in-kind solutions. Through this program, fellows will drive high-impact, specialized research that strengthens SBME’s leadership in biodevice innovation and biomedical engineering at UBC.

Organizational Status

This position will play a key role at the Foundry and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams across SBME and UBC. The Research Associate will report to the Foundry Scientific Director and work closely with a faculty sponsor within SBME. The Fellow will also participate in SBME's innovation ecosystem, including access to industry mentorship through SBME Innovates.

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will have the unique opportunity to collaborate with the members of the SBME, integrating cutting-edge micro-technologies, bioassays, and health applications, pushing the boundaries of integration of life sciences research and applications.

The responsibilities of the fellow depend on the skills and research interests of the successful applicant. Specific tasks for this position may include:

• Developing, optimizing, and testing biodevices for biochemical and biophysical interactions with biological material,

• Assembling devices and platforms to leverage new Biodevices and microscale assays with a view to clinical usage and translation,

• Designing and performing experiments, analyzing results, and presenting findings,

• Assisting with the design and implementation of new research projects,

• Preparing grants and assisting with grant applications, publications, and with fulfilling regulatory requirements (animal ethics, biosafety, etc.),

• Managing and running a research project at the intersection of biodevice and health innovation,

• Analyzing data and presenting the data in reports, publications, and presentations,

• Presenting research at international conferences,

• Working as an interdisciplinary node for collaboration between multiple labs within SBME and beyond,

• Helping to enhance our collaborative research environment,

• Training and mentoring lab personnel and trainees,

• Ensuring all team members receive relevant orientation and training and that all work is performed in accordance with relevant policies and legislation,

• Coordinating the maintenance of foundry equipment;

• Contributing to cutting-edge knowledge in the scientific community.

Qualifications

• The BioDevice Innovation Fellow Program aims to recruit outstanding early-career researchers specializing in biodevice development. Eligible candidates should have completed their PhD within the past eight years as of May 2025 with due consideration for career interruptions such as parental leave, clinical training, or other extenuating circumstances, including COVID.

• Candidates should have a strong background in biomedical engineering, biophysics, or experimental biology with experience in solving clinical challenges.

• Candidates should have a strong research background, as demonstrated by past publications, accomplishments, and references.

• The successful candidate will be a passionate, self-driven, independent thinker with excellent interpersonal, facilitation, and organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple activities simultaneously.

• Excellent communicator with strong written and verbal communication skills and demonstrated ability to deliver presentations and present information clearly and concisely.

Supervision received

The Research Associate will be supervised by the Scientific Director of the Conconi Family BioDevice Foundry and supported by a faculty sponsor within SBME. Fellows will also be integrated into SBME's broader innovation and mentorship networks.

Supervision given

The incumbent may be required to supervise trainees involved in the research at the Foundry.

Start date and stipend

The anticipated start date is Sept 01, 2025 or upon a date to be mutually agreed. The position is full-time for one year with the possibility of extension each year up to 5 years in total, subject to work performance and funding availability.

The expected salary as determined by the Biodevice Innovation Fellow program is $90,000/annum.

How to Apply

As part of the BioDevice Innovation Fellow Program, applicants are required to propose a translational research program at the intersection of biodevice engineering and healthcare applications. This research program will be expected to contribute not only to novel biodevice development but also to advancing the Foundry's role as a translational research platform and collaborative hub supporting industry engagement, knowledge transfer, and talent development within the SBME.

The research should ideally align with one of the Foundry’s core research pillars:

• Bioanalytics-on-a-Chip (Measure): Microdevices for ultra-sensitive detection and disease monitoring,

• Organ-on-a-Chip (Model): Physiologically relevant platforms for drug discovery and disease modeling, or

• Biomanufacturing-on-a-Chip (Manufacture): Scalable production systems for advanced therapeutics.

The template for the proposal and the list of documents requested for the program application are available at:

Program Application Link

Program Evaluation Link

Candidates should submit the following materials:

• Research proposal

• Curriculum Vitae

• Cover Letter outlining past achievements and research goals

• Letter of Support from a faculty sponsor

• Contact information for three referees

Please submit your applications directly via Workday from this link (JR20892). For any inquiries regarding this position, please contact hr@sbme.ubc.ca.

Review of applications will start on June 15, 2025, and will continue until the position is filled.

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 of Canada will be given priority.

About University of British Columbia

UBC - One of the World's Leading Universities. As one of the world's leading universities, the University of British Columbia creates an exceptional learning environment that fosters global citizenship, advances a civil and sustainable society, and supports outstanding research to serve the people of British Columbia, Canada and the world. Our Vision: To Transform Health for Everyone. Ranked among the world’s top medical schools with the fifth-largest MD enrollment in North America, the UBC Faculty of Medicine is a leader in both the science and the practice of medicine. Across British Columbia, more than 11,000 faculty and staff are training the next generation of doctors and health care professionals, making remarkable discoveries, and helping to create the pathways to better health for our communities at home and around the world. The Faculty of Medicine is comprised of approximately 2,200 administrative support, technical/research and management and professional staff, as well approximately 650 full-time academic and over 9,000 clinical faculty members - is composed of 19 academic basic science and/or clinical departments, three schools, and 24 research centres and in...stitutes. Together with its University and Health Authority partners, the Faculty delivers innovative programs and conducts research in the areas of health and life sciences. Faculty, staff and trainees are located at university campuses, clinical academic campuses in hospital settings and other regionally based centres across the province. The Faculty of Applied Science includes all UBC Engineering activities at both the UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan, as well as the Schools of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, Community and Regional Planning and Nursing. The Faculty was one of UBC's three founding faculties, admitting some of the University's first students in engineering in 1915. The Faculty includes over 300 full-time faculty members and more than 8,600 students. The Faculty of Applied Science comprises a unique constellation of disciplines and is committed to creating lasting change by discovering and applying knowledge. Our core purpose is to discover, design, and innovate, provide unwavering top-tier education, and champion a community of responsible professionals devoted to serving a thriving, sustainable and healthy society. Our work and the professional disciplines we represent span the entire human-centred built environment. We represent innovation at all scales from nanoscale electronic devices that power communications to the design of entire cities. The UBC Vancouver Campus is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of thex?m ??k??y??m (Musqueam) people. The City of Vancouver is located on Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations territory.

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