Doctoral Positions in Blood-borne Dissemination Mechanisms of Bacterial Pathogens
University of Toronto
Toronto, ON
Posted: January 14, 2012

The Pathogen Intravital Imaging Laboratory at the University of Toronto, run by Dr. Tara Moriarty (www.matrixdynamics.ca), seeks doctoral candidates to study the blood-borne dissemination mechanisms of bacterial pathogens, with a focus on dissemination of the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi.

Microbial dissemination is responsible for most of the mortality caused by bacterial infections, but the mechanisms underlying bacterial dissemination are still largely uncharacterized. The Moriarty lab investigates bacterial dissemination mechanisms using a combination of ground-breaking high resolution real-time imaging methods performed in living animals, in vivo infectivity studies, in vitro flow chamber and microfluidics approaches, and by reconstitution of shear force-regulated adhesion complexes in vitro using recombinant interaction components.

Research in the Moriarty lab is interdisciplinary, and provides students with opportunities for training in cutting edge in vivo imaging methods, microbiology, physiology, cell biology, molecular biology, biophysics and biochemistry. Research subjects in the lab include:
1) mechanisms of shear force-regulated adhesion of bacteria to the vasculature;
2) mechanisms enabling coordination of spirochete adhesion and motility in the presence of fluid shear forces;
3) mechanisms of bacterial extravasation; and
4) role of vascular conditions such as atherosclerosis and hyperglycemia in modifying host susceptibility to disseminated infection.

The Moriarty lab is a young lab in an under-investigated field, and offers superb opportunities for students interested in developing high impact, innovative research projects, in partnership with a young scientist who still performs benchwork, trains students in person, is strongly invested in the success of every student in the lab, and is a dedicated mentor. Doctoral positions in the Moriarty lab are best-suited to creative, open-minded students excited about performing research on novel topics requiring development of new methods and mechanistic models, and to those seeking the opportunity to define the direction of their own research program.

Candidates must have a minimum 3.3 (B+) cumulative grade point average in their M.Sc. program, and be Canadian landed immigrants or Canadian citizens. Candidates with at least one first author peer-reviewed original research publication deriving from their M.Sc. degree, in any field of biological or biophysical research, will be eligible for internal scholarships. Unfortunately, only applications from prospective Ph.D. students can be considered at this time.

Interested candidates should submit a complete application package to Dr. Tara Moriarty at tara.moriarty@utoronto.ca. Complete applications must include the following items: detailed C.V. describing research training and publications, transcripts, contact information for three individuals providing references, and a cover letter describing the candidate’s research interests and goals, and how these interests and goals could be advanced by studying in the Moriarty lab.

Assistant Professor - BioInformatics
University of Calgary and the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute for Child & Maternal Health
Calgary, AB
Posted: December 15, 2011

The Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary and the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute for Child & Maternal Health invite applications for a full-time position at the Assistant Professor level in the area of BioInformatics.

Qualifications include a Ph.D., at least two years of post-doctoral experience, and a proven record of research excellence in the analysis, development or application of computational tools or approaches to biological/biomedical science. Emphasis will be placed on research excellence and the ability to participate collaboratively with the current interdisciplinary group.

This position offers an excellent opportunity to develop a vigorous and independent externally-funded research program within a dynamic, collaborative and multidisciplinary environment. This position provides 75% of time protected for research, and will include expectations to contribute to teaching and graduate student supervision. A competitive salary and an attractive start-up package are available. The candidate will be expected to apply for extramural support from national/provincial agencies to sustain their research program.

The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary and inter-Faculty team of bioinformaticians, geneticists and molecular biologists studying model organisms to human disease. The Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute encourages a translational approach to research with an emphasis on people, core programs and infrastructure. The Department, Institute and Faculty are home to a number of excellent core research facilities, such as state-of-the-art proteomics and genomics, including next-generation sequencing, infrastructure. Please visit our websites at http://www.ucalgary.ca/bmb/ and http://www.ucalgary.ca/research4kids/ for more information.

Calgary, Canada’s fastest growing major city, is vibrant and multicultural with a population of more than 1,000,000. Situated near the Rocky Mountains, Banff National Park and Lake Louise, Calgary offers great quality of life and outstanding recreational activities.

Interested candidates should submit a curriculum vitae, a summary of research interests and reprints of the five most relevant publications and arrange to have three letters of reference sent directly to:

Dr. Jonathan Lytton,
Head of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology,
Faculty of Medicine,
University of Calgary,
3330 Hospital Drive NW,
Calgary, Alberta,
Canada T2N 4N1
Email: jlytton@ucalgary.ca

The review of applications will begin on 9 January 2012 and continue until the position is filled.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. The University of Calgary respects, appreciates, and encourages diversity.

Academic Position in Molecular and Developmental Genetics/Biology
University of Calgary in affiliation with the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute for Child & Maternal Health
Posted: December 15, 2011

The Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary in affiliation with the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute for Child & Maternal Health invites applications for a full-time position at the Assistant Professor level in the broad area of molecular and developmental genetics/biology.

Qualifications include a Ph.D., at least two years of post-doctoral experience, and a proven record of research excellence in a relevant area. Emphasis will be placed on research excellence and the ability to participate collaboratively with the current group.

This position offers an excellent opportunity to develop a vigorous and independent externally-funded research program within a dynamic, collaborative and multidisciplinary environment. The position provides 75% of time protected for research, and will include expectations to contribute to teaching and graduate student supervision. A competitive salary and an attractive start-up package are available. The candidate will be expected to apply for extramural support from national/provincial agencies to sustain their research program.

The successful candidate will occupy laboratory space in proximity to researchers using various model organisms, including C. elegans, D. melanogaster, D. rerio and M. musculus, to study organ development and cellular fate determination among other interests. The Department, Institute and Faculty are also home to a number of excellent core research facilities, such as leading edge microscopy, proteomics and nucleic acid, including next-generation, sequencing infrastructure. Please visit our websites at http://www.ucalgary.ca/bmb/ and http://www.ucalgary.ca/research4kids/ for more information.

Calgary, Canada’s fastest growing major city, is vibrant and multicultural with a population of more than 1,000,000. Situated near the Rocky Mountains, Banff National Park and Lake Louise, Calgary offers great quality of life and outstanding recreational activities.

Interested candidates should submit a curriculum vitae, a summary of research interests and reprints of the five most relevant publications and arrange to have three letters of reference sent directly to:

Dr. Jonathan Lytton,
Head of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology,
Faculty of Medicine,
University of Calgary,
3330 Hospital Drive NW,
Calgary, Alberta,
Canada T2N 4N1
Email: jlytton@ucalgary.ca

The review of applications will begin on 9 January 2012 and continue until the position is filled.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. The University of Calgary respects, appreciates, and encourages diversity.

Chair, Department of Biochemistry
University of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine
Toronto, ON
Posted: December 5th, 2011

Applications are invited for the position of Chair, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, for a 5-year term on or before January 1, 2013.

The Department of Biochemistry at the University of Toronto is a diverse and highly-productive department with a broad range of research areas including protein structure and folding, cell biology, computational biology, and genomics/proteomics. The department has 60 faculty members located at the university’s St. George campus, The Hospital for Sick Children, Princess Margaret Hospital, Mount Sinai Hospital, and other sites in the University of Toronto community. The department is an important component of the University of Toronto academic health science complex, which is among the largest in North America. The department offers programs leading to MSc and PhD degrees, as well as a strong undergraduate program in biochemistry.

The University of Toronto academic health science complex is among the largest in North America. The Faculty of Medicine (http://www.facmed.utoronto.ca) and its nine fully-affiliated hospitals receive over CAN $700 million per annum in research funds.

In addition to a record of academic excellence, the successful candidate will possess outstanding leadership, administrative management, and communication skills to direct a geographically-dispersed department. The individual will bring entrepreneurial vision and execute strategies to enable the Department to build and to sustain effective partnerships. Candidates should have a track record of successful and innovative leadership in education and research. The successful candidate should be eligible for tenured academic appointment at the rank of full professor in the Department of Biochemistry. The next Chair must have the vision and ability to take the Department of Biochemistry to a new level of international recognition and achievement.

Applications consisting of a letter of interest and CV may be submitted online at www.jobs.utoronto.ca/faculty (Job # 1101059) or by sending to:

Prof. Catharine Whiteside, Dean
c/o Anastasia Meletopoulos, Academic Affairs Specialist
Office of the Dean, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
Room 2109, Medical Sciences Building
1 King's College Circle
Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, CANADA
Fax:  416 978 1774
anastasia.meletopoulos@utoronto.ca

The closing date for this position is January 31, 2012, or until filled.

For detailed information on the department, visit its Web site at http://www.biochemistry.utoronto.ca.

The University of Toronto is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from visible minority group members, women, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, members of sexual minority groups, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Senior Staff Specialist or Staff Specialist (Clinical Geneticist)
Genetic Health Queensland,
Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital,
Herston, Metro North Health Service District
Queensland, Australia
Posted: October 13, 2011

Remuneration value up to AU$389 164 p.a., comprising salary between AU$176 377 - AU$187 000 p.a. (L25-L27) or Remuneration value up to AU$358 930 p.a., comprising salary between AU$147 491 - AU$171 318 p.a. (L18-L24), employer contribution to superannuation (up to 12.75%), annual leave loading (17.5%), private use of fully maintained vehicle, communications package, professional development allowance, professional development leave 3.6 weeks p.a., professional indemnity cover, private practice arrangements plus overtime and on-call allowances (Applications will remain current for 12 months)

Duties/Abilities:
Provide specialist genetic services to patients referred to Genetic Health Queensland, pursuant to the policies and practices adopted by Queensland Health and the Metro North Health Service District. Assist in the development of Genetic Health Queensland, including its outreach and educational programs.

Enquiries: Dr Julie McGaughran +61 7 3636 1686

Job Ad Reference: H11RBH09580

Application Kit: +61 7 3170 4255 or +61 7 3170 4256
or
www.health.qld.gov.au/workforus

Closing Date: Monday, 24 October 2011.

If you are not a Queensland Health employee, a criminal history check may be conducted on the recommended person for the job.

Positions Available
Post-doctoral position in Structural MS
Post-doctoral position in Computer Science
Post-doctoral position in Protein Biochemistry

The Schriemer Laboratory in Structural Mass Spectrometry is looking for three talented, creative post-doctoral fellows with background in mass spectrometry for protein characterization, protein biochemistry, molecular modeling/structural biology and computational methods. The laboratory develops innovative methods in hydrogen/deuterium exchange, chemical labeling, and computational routines, all focused on advancing an exciting new field within structural biology. These activities take place in a strongly thematic environment: current questions in mitotic regulation and DNA damage repair are pursued using our unique capabilities, from the vantage-point of structure-to-function.

Post-doctoral position in Structural MS
The project involves advancing a novel protein labeling technique to generate data sets suitable for protein structure-building activities. This labeling technique is uniquely suited to high spatial and temporal resolution of protein states. (See our recent paper in Analytical Chemistry and a related coverage in C&EN News). The ideal candidate has experience in protein characterization using tandem mass spectrometry and a background in structural biology, particularly using molecular modeling techniques.

Post-doctoral position in Computer Science
The project involves the development of novel algorithms for data analysis, data acquisition and data visualization, to support our initiatives in the analysis of ultra-large protein complexes using structural mass spectrometry. The position builds upon our existing code base, which has led to Hydra for H/D analysis and the MS Studio, an open-source project. The ideal candidate can program in C++/C#, familiarity with mass spectrometric data streams, and experience in signal processing.

Post-doctoral position in Protein Biochemistry
The project involves a reconstitution of molecular systems within a microfluidic format, for the purposes of structure-functional studies in the area of mitotic regulation. The position builds upon our efforts to understand regulatory mechanisms impinging upon the microtubule lattice, and to exploit this understanding to develop novel therapeutics. In particular, this builds upon our recent discovery of a previously-unknown regulatory site within the microtubule. The ideal candidate has a PhD in biochemistry, with exposure to proteomics, protein immobilization techniques and microscopy. Hands-on experience with microfluidics is a plus.

All positions are for 2 years (minimum). For more information on these opportunities, please contact:

Dr. David C. Schriemer
Canada Research Chair in Chemical Biology
Dept. of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine
University of Calgary
Calgary, Canada
Ph: (403) 210-3811
Email: dschriem@ucalgary.ca