Research Associate - Virology

Competition 866

This position is a part of the Association of the Academic Staff of the University of Alberta (AASUA).

In accordance with the Trust/Research Academic Staff Agreement, this position offers a comprehensive benefits package found on our Benefits Overview page and an annual salary range of $67,303 to $82,266. This position has an initial appointment of 2 years with possibility of renewal.

Location - This role is in-person 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 First Peoples 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 more than 14,000 faculty and staff, over 40,000 students and 260,000 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 Striving for Pandemic Preparedness - The Alberta Research Consortium (SPP-ARC)

Striving for Pandemic Preparedness - The Alberta Research Consortium (SPP-ARC) is a research initiative at the University of Alberta. The mission of SPP-ARC is to discover, develop, and assess vaccines and small molecule therapeutics for better protection against emerging pathogens. The vision of SPP-ARC is to provide effective medical countermeasures as a first line of defense in outbreak situations with viruses of high epidemic potential.

Position 

The Shmulevitz and Baldwin laboratories invite applications for research associates to perform high-level complex research activities for collaborative projects in virology, vaccinology, and immunology. The projects aim to advance genetically-engineered viral vectors as vaccines and evaluate their efficacy and safety in animal models. Moreover, to monitor a suite of immunological and pathological responses in animal experiments. The projects will expose the RA to a wide variety of scientific questions and approaches, including exploring changes in immunological responses and understanding mechanistic relationships between virus characteristics and activity in vitro and in vivo.

The RA will help establish project goals and experiments, and guide technicians and students in the lab. Specifically for animal experiments, the candidate will be responsible for managing the ordering and maintenance of animals, records, and animal experiments. In addition to animal experiments, the candidate will be responsible for managing the completion of numerous in vitro molecular experiments such as molecular cloning, virus production, immune assays and alike. Independent decision-making and collaboration with lab trainees, animal care staff, the principal investigator and veterinarians will be needed.

Duties 

Guidance and project management

• Developing project goals and approaches through a thorough assessment of literature and consultation with experts and team members
• Assists in the preparation of research grant applications and contract proposals.
• Guidance of technical staff and students involved in the project
• Assistance to technical staff and students on experimental design, training, execution and analysis
• Report to supervisors at regular intervals
• Project management and experimental record keeping

Animal Experiments

• Standard mice husbandry, which may include receiving animals
• Makes independent decisions regarding the health and care of animal colonies based on advice from animal care staff, veterinarians and principal investigator
• Conducts animal experiments independently or assists other lab members following discussion and instruction by lab members and principal investigator
• Conducts a variety of experimental procedures on animals including, but not limited to, injections, euthanasia, tissue sampling and processing
• Assists in the training of new students with animal experiments

Assistance in Research Experiments

• Designs individual experiments, data collection protocols and standards under the supervision of the Principal Investigator.
• Responsible for the maintenance and efficient operation of the lab (e.g., specialized lab equipment maintenance and calibration).
• Summarizes, analyzes and organizes data for publication. Participates in the writing of research papers, the preparation of presentations and/or other publications. May be considered as a co-author or presenter.
• Oversees/conducts data collection. Conducts advanced analysis of research data and results.
• Advise on specialized technical procedures or equipment.
• Prepares standard solutions for the laboratory
• Orders needed laboratory consumables, handles biohazard waste and cleaning of laboratory glassware and other instruments
• Works independently or assists other lab members with experiments (including, but not limited to, molecular cloning, virus production, immune assays, flow cytometry, virus titering and qPCR)

Qualifications

• Applicant requires a PhD in Virology
• Applicant requires more than 5 years of lab experience post-PhD
• Applicant requires BSL3 training
• Applicant should have demonstrated expertise in the following:
• Virus propagation and experimentation under BSL3
• Extensive  propagation and experimentation with coronaviruses SARS-CoV-2, OC-43, 229E, NL63, Influenza Viruses IAV H1N1/Wsn33, H1N1/Cal09, H3N2/Wis09, Respiratory Syncytial Virus: A2, B1, A2001/2-20, Human parainfluenza virus 3: HPIV3 Wash57, reoviruses T1L, T2J, T3D, Vaccinia viruses MVA, WR, Yellow Fever Virus YF17D-Venus, Herpes Virus HSV-1-GFP Patton, Adenovirus AdV5-GFP and Sendai Virus SeV-Cantell
• Virus reverse engineering and rescue
• High throughput imaging screens for Antiviral compounds
• High throughput imaging screens for Monoclonal antibodies
• Custom arrayed CRISPR/Cas9 library cloning
• CRISPR/Cas9 Knockout and Activation screens
• Mapping promoter and enhancer accessibility
• NGS Techniques including 384-plex SCRB bulk RNA-seq, sci-RNA-seq3 , single cell/nucleus RNA-seq, ATAC-seq chromatin profiling, Sequencing library generation and quality control
• Bioinformatics expertise for RNA-seq analysis and ATAc-seq analysis
• Computer proficiency with MS Office and other platforms
• Experience with biohazard, radiation, WHMIS safety and policy