Postdoctoral Fellow - saRNA for Vaccine Development

Competition 1644

This position offers a benefits package found at Postdoctoral Fellows Benefits.

Location - Work primarily takes place at North Campus Edmonton.

Working at the University of Alberta

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all FirstPeoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is a community of knowledge seekers, change makers and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to over 14,000 faculty and staff, more than 40,000 students and a growing community of 300,000 alumni worldwide.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross-section of people — from our students and community members, to our renowned researchers and innovators, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger and more just. Learn more.

Working for the Department

Biomedical Engineering offers students interdisciplinary research opportunities and state-of-the-art facilities to take their ideas from imagination to application. Working with medical professionals, our world-class researchers design systems, software and devices that save lives today and improve the healthcare landscape of tomorrow.

Position 

We are seeking applications for multiple Senior Researcher positions, available immediately for exceptionally motivated Postdoctoral Fellows or PhD students. These positions are for a 1 year term with the possibility of renewal for up to 3 years. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to a pioneering project applying artificial intelligence and machine learning to the development of RNA vaccines against emerging viral threats such as Influenza, Lassa, and Orthopox viruses. 

Project Overview: This ambitious project utilizes self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) technology, which offers the potential for more potent immune responses at lower doses compared to traditional mRNA vaccines. Our approach focuses on the use of structural RNA bioinformatics to design vaccine candidates and predict the effects of viral mutations, enhancing our ability to respond rapidly to evolving pandemic threats. 

Duties 

• Develop AI-driven models to predict the structural implications of mutations in viral proteins, aiding in the rapid design of effective saRNA vaccines.
• Collaborate closely with a team of world-renowned experts, including Nobel laureate Michael Houghton and CIFAR AI Chair Russ Greiner, to integrate computational predictions with experimental virology.
• Engage in the full cycle of vaccine development, from computational design to laboratory validation and pre-clinical testing. 

Qualifications

• PhD in Computer Science, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, or a related field, with a strong emphasis on machine learning.
• Demonstrated experience in structural bioinformatics or a similar field, with a focus on RNA or protein structure prediction.
• Proven track record of innovative research and a strong publication record in relevant fields.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary team.