Postdoctoral Position in Syphilis Vaccine Development
Description: The Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)/Sexually Transmitted and Blood Borne Infections (STBBIs) Research Labs at the University of Victoria (see http://www.cameronlaboratory.com/) and University of Manitoba (see https://umanitoba.ca/medicine/faculty-staff/derek-stein) are seeking a Postdoctoral Scientist with expertise in microbiology and vaccine development to join a syphilis vaccine development project funded by a Team Grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. We are looking for committed team members interested in advancing global health research. Our primary research focus is the bacterium that causes syphilis, Treponema pallidum.
Project: Candidates who are passionate about research and discovery with expertise in protein engineering and an understanding of microbiology and molecular biology are encouraged to apply. Expertise in vaccine development and pre-clinical models of infection are advantageous. The successful candidate will be recruited to perform bioinformatic analyses, protein engineering, protein functional analyses, and pre-clinical investigations, as well as to supervise trainees and provide project management. It is expected the postdoctoral scientist will be located at the University of Victoria for Years 1-3, and the University of Manitoba for Years 4-5. The postdoctoral scientist will dedicate 100% effort to this project (12 calendar months). A comprehensive understanding of experimental design and assay optimization is required for this position. Salary will be $70,000/year, in alignment with the CIHR Fellowship Stipend Policy.
Necessary qualifications: Candidates must have obtained, or expect to complete, their doctoral degree no later than August 2025, and have obtained their PhD no earlier than 2022. Candidates must have a strong scientific background, as evidenced by publication record and research statement.
Interested applicants should send a CV with full publication listing, a document explaining their interest in the position (maximum ½ page), and the names of three references to Amanda Assen (aassen@uvic.ca). Applications will be reviewed starting May 15, 2025 on a rolling basis and the position will stay open until filled.
This posting is for the University of Victoria campus (Years 1-3) located in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada and the University of Manitoba campus (Years 4-5) located in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Please visit www.cameronlaboratory.com to learn more about the research focus of the Cameron lab and https://umanitoba.ca/medicine/faculty-staff/derek-stein to learn more about the Stein Lab. Learn more about UVic’s areas of research strengths at https://www.uvic.ca/research/index.php, and the University at https://www.uvic.ca/about-uvic/about-the-university/index.php. For additional information about Postdoctoral Scientist appointments at the University of Victoria and the University of Manitoba please see https://www.uvic.ca/research-innovation/postdoctoral-fellows/index.php, or https://umanitoba.ca/graduate-studies/postdoctoral-fellows.
UVic is at the forefront of innovative research on disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment, care and cure. UVic also conducts community-responsive research on the social, cultural and biomedical determinants of health and wellness.UVic campus, situated “at the edge” of Canada’s Pacific Rim in Victoria, British Columbia, is a beautiful place to live and work. View our campus by air or take a personal interactive walking tour. UVic is committed to upholding the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion in our living, learning and work environments. In pursuit of our values, we seek members who will work respectfully and constructively with differences and across levels of power. We actively encourage applications from members of groups experiencing barriers to equity. Read our full equity statement here: www.uvic.ca/equitystatement.
The Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases within the Max Rady College of Medicine is primarily involved in education and research activities related to infectious disease and medical microbiology in the College. The Department has close associations related to infectious disease with the clinical departments in the College of Medicine and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, medical microbiology and clinical microbiology laboratories of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, the Cadham Provincial Laboratory, the National Microbiology Lab of the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Food inspection Agency’s Foreign Animal Disease Unit. With the increased emphasis from external funders on team focused research and “research clusters”, Medical Microbiology will increasingly need to serve as the academic, research and administrative home to several broad research initiatives that involve multiple institutions locally, nationally and internationally. There are over two hundred academic, technical, administrative personnel, graduate student and postgraduate trainee population. Combined research/operating dollars exceeds $10 million per annum. https://umanitoba.ca/medicine/department-medical-microbiology-and-infectious-diseases
Data Management Specialist
Description: The Sexually Transmitted Infections Research Lab at the University of Victoria (see http://www.cameronlaboratory.com/) is seeking to hire a Data Management Specialist with and understanding of microbiology or a related life sciences field and experience in managing and documenting scientific datasets to support and advance global health research. Under the direction of the Principal Investigators and Senior Research Scientists, the data management specialist will oversee the organization, submission, security, and archiving of research data in accordance with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and institutional data-sharing requirements. This role will be essential in ensuring all datasets are properly curated, indexed, and made accessible to the scientific community. Please visit www.cameronlaboratory.com to learn more about the research focus of the Cameron lab. Learn more about UVic’s areas of research strengths at https://www.uvic.ca/research/index.php, and the University at https://www.uvic.ca/about-uvic/about-the-university/index.php.
Key Responsibilities:
- Manage the submission of research data to public repositories, including the University of Washington’s ResearchWorks repository and Dryad.
- Ensure datasets are indexed in Thomson-Reuters Data Citation Index, Scopus, and Google Dataset Search, allowing for broad accessibility and citation tracking.
- Oversee compliance with NIH data-sharing policies, ensuring that all scientific data, including null and negative findings, are appropriately archived.
- Coordinate with the project’s principal investigators, Dr. Caroline Cameron and Dr. Lorenzo Giacani, and senior research scientists, to ensure timely submission of finalized datasets.
- Monitor the status of submitted datasets, ensuring they remain accessible and meet repository requirements.
- Support additional data management and research documentation tasks as needed.
- Coordinate data backups and recovery.
- As needed, participate in independent and collaborative bioinformatic-based research projects, including:
- Development of novel antigen-based direct diagnostic tests
- Multi-omic investigations of T. pallidum and T. pallidum-host interfaces
- Syphilis vaccine development
- Investigations into the pathogenic mechanisms of T. pallidum
Necessary qualifications:
- Candidates must have a BSc. or MSc. in Microbiology- or Computational Biology (i.e. computer science, bioinformatics, software engineering)-related fields.
- One year research experience
- Experience organizing and uploading scientific data to online repositories
- Proficiency in database management / bioinformatics
- Ability to work independently and take initiative
- Excellent problem-solver
- Superb communication skills and proven ability to work collaboratively on a team
Preferred qualifications:
- Familiarity with data indexing and citation tracking systems, including Thomson-Reuters Data Citation Index, Scopus, and Google Dataset Search.
- Experience with Dryad or similar data-sharing platforms.
This is a full-time, in-person position within the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, at the University of Victoria (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada) with the possibility of hybrid or remote work. After a six month probationary period, performance will be assessed and, if satisfactory, the position will be extended for an additional 6 months, with yearly extension possible for up to 3 years (upon successful annual review). Starting salary will be $70,000/year. Interested applicants should send a CV, a document explaining their interest in the position (maximum ½ page), and the names of three references to Amanda Assen (aassen@uvic.ca). Only Canadian Citizens, legal residents, or residents with a legal work permit will be considered. Applications will be reviewed starting June 15, 2025 on a rolling basis and the position will stay open until filled.
Territory Acknowledgement: We acknowledge and respect the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees and Xʷsepsəm/Esquimalt) Peoples on whose territory the university stands, and the Lək̓ʷəŋən and WSÁNEĆ Peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.
Equity Statement: UVic is committed to upholding the values of equity, diversity, inclusion and human rights in our living, learning and work environments. In pursuit of our values, we seek members who are eager to actively participate in that shared responsibility. We actively encourage applications from members of historically and systemically marginalized groups. Read our full equity statement here: www.uvic.ca/equitystatement.