Postdoctoral Fellow Position – Cell Division and Mammary/Epithelial Cancer Biology

This position is subject to the satisfactory completion of required background checks.

Postdoctoral Fellow Position – Cell Division and Mammary/Epithelial Cancer Biology

Maxwell Lab | BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute | University of British Columbia

Position Summary

The Maxwell Laboratory invites applications for a highly motivated Postdoctoral Fellow with strong expertise in mammary gland biology, epithelial tissue organization, or mechanisms of cell division and mitosis, with a particular interest in cancer susceptibility and genome instability.

The successful candidate will join a dynamic research team focused on understanding how errors in cell division and tissue organization contribute to hereditary and childhood cancers, with emphasis on BRCA1-associated pathways, spindle orientation, and epithelial cell fate decisions in mammary and related tissues.

About the Lab

The Maxwell Lab, led by Dr. Chris Maxwell at BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute and UBC, investigates how cell division is regulated at the molecular and tissue level, and how its disruption contributes to hereditary cancers and pediatric malignancies (https://bcchr.ca/maxwell-lab).

Key areas include:

• Mechanisms of cell division fidelity, spindle orientation, and cell polarity
• Role of BRCA1 and associated pathways (e.g., PLK1, HMMR) in mammary epithelial biology
• Cellular origins of genome instability in cancer predisposition syndromes
• Development of in vivo and ex vivo models of pediatric and hereditary cancers
• Translation toward personalized medicine approaches in childhood cancer

The lab has extensive expertise in:

·       Human primary mammary epithelial cell systems

·       Mouse and genetically engineered cancer models

·       High-content and live-cell imaging

·       Tumor evolution and therapeutic response modeling

Research Environment

The fellow will be embedded in a highly collaborative environment within: BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, UBC Department of Pediatrics, and the Michael Cuccione Childhood Cancer Research Program. The lab also actively collaborates with national and international partners in the fields of: Hereditary cancer biology; Oriented cell division mechanisms; Pediatric leukemia and breast cancer modeling; and, Precision oncology initiatives

Project Focus (Representative Areas) and Responsibilities

Applicants may contribute to one or more of the following:

1. Mammary epithelial cell fate and division orientation

• Mechanisms controlling symmetric vs asymmetric division
• Role of spindle orientation in differentiation and tumor initiation

2. Genome instability in hereditary cancer syndromes

• Role of spindle orientation in differentiation and tumor initiation

·       Interaction between mitotic machinery and DNA damage responses

3. Cell division regulation in epithelial tissue architecture

4. Translational cancer modeling

·       Patient-derived mammary epithelial systems

·       In vivo modeling of cancer predisposition states

The fellow will be responsible for conducting basic/translational research in one or more of the above research focus areas, design and execute research plans and perform data analyses, contribute to writing manuscripts and grants, present research findings in internal and external meetings, and/or mentor junior trainees in the laboratory.

Required qualifications

1.       PhD in Cell Biology, Cancer Biology, Developmental Biology, Biochemistry, or related field

2.       Strong expertise in at least one of:

Mammary epithelial biology or organoid systems; Cell division / mitosis / spindle dynamics; Genome instability or DNA damage responses

3.       Proven record of first-author publications in high-impact journals

4.       Experience with at least one of:

Live-cell imaging or advanced microscopy; Mouse models or genetically engineered systems; Primary cell culture or organoid systems; Molecular perturbation (CRISPR, RNAi, etc.) 

Preferred qualifications

• Background in BRCA1, HMMR, PLK1, or related mitotic regulators
• Experience in epithelial polarity or tissue architecture
• Quantitative or systems biology approaches (imaging analytics, proteomics, or genomics)
• Demonstrated ability to lead projects independently
• Experience in epithelial polarity or tissue architecture

• Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own.
• Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

What We Offer

• Opportunity to work on fundamentally important questions in cell division and cancer biology
• Access to human tissue models and state-of-the-art imaging platforms
• Strong mentorship toward academic independence or research scientist careers
• Integration into a collaborative translational pediatric, adolescent and young adult oncology network
• The expected salary for this position is $60,000 per annum. The Faculty of Medicine is committed to offering equitable and competitive salaries, commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the candidate.

Application procedure

To apply, please submit the following as one PDF file via https://ubc.wd10.myworkdayjobs.com/ubcfacultyjobs (JR#):

·       Curriculum Vitae (including publication list)

·       Cover letter describing research interests, career goals, and a brief summary of prior research accomplishments (1–2 pages)

·       Contact information for three referees

Should you have any queries around this position, please contact Brenda Tse at brenda.tse@ubc.ca

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and will continue until the position is filled. The start date for this position will be a date to be mutually agreed.

We invite applications from qualified candidates who share our commitment to employment equity and inclusive excellence, and we welcome applications from candidates belonging to historically, persistently, or systemically marginalized groups: Indigenous (First Nation, Métis, Inuit) Peoples, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, women, 2SLGBTQIA+ people, and trans and non-binary people.

The University is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and equitable work environment for all members of its workforce. An inclusive work environment presumes an environment where differences are appreciated, recognized, and integrated into current structures, planning, and decision-making modes. Within this hiring process we are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable process for all candidates (including but not limited to people with disabilities).  Confidential accommodations are available on request. Please contact Brenda Tse via email at Brenda.tse@ubc.ca. If you have any questions regarding accommodations or accessibility during the recruitment and hiring process or for more information and support, please visit UBC’s Centre for Workplace Accessibility website at https://hr.ubc.ca/health-and-wellbeing/workplace-accessibility/centre-workplace-accessibility or contact the Centre at workplace.accessibility@ubc.ca.

With gratitude, we acknowledge that the University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine and its distributed programs, which include four university academic campuses, are located on traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of First Nations Peoples and communities around the province.

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 12,000 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 – comprised of approximately 2,200 administrative support, technical/research and management and professional staff, as well approximately 650 full-time academic and over 10,000 clinical faculty members – is composed of 19 academic basic science and/or clinical departments, three schools, and 24 research centres and institutes. 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.

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UBC hires on the basis of merit and is committed to employment equity. All qualified persons are encouraged to apply. 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.