Job Description

Academic Job Category Faculty Non Bargaining Job Title Research Associate Department Turvey Laboratory | Department of Paediatrics | Faculty of Medicine (Kate del Bel, Stuart Turvey) Posting End Date December 8, 2023 Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above. Job End Date Feb 28, 2025 Minimum starting salary will be $70,000 per annum and will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. RESEARCH ASSOCIATE - Department of Pediatrics The UBC Department of Pediatrics based at the BC Children\'s Hospital Research Institute, invites applications for a Research Associate to join a multidisciplinary translational research program with specific goals of applying genomics technology in monogenic rare diseases. At BC Children\'s Hospital, there are a large number of patients who suffer from rare undiagnosed disorders. Estimates suggest that one-third of children who are admitted to the BC Children\'s Hospital have rare genetic diseases, and about 50% of the hospital\'s spending is dedicated to caring for these children since the majority of rare diseases present with serious complex conditions. Many of these affected patients and families must undertake a frustrating, time-consuming, expensive and painful journey in search of a diagnosis, also known as the \'diagnostic odyssey\'. The Turvey laboratory is an energetic and collegial group dedicated to enhancing the health of children. The success of the Turvey lab is highly dependent on collaborative interactions, between lab members and with external research partners. Current work in the lab includes the Precision Health Initiative/Rare Disease Discovery Hub (PHI/RDDH), a hospital-wide initiative that aims to improve our understanding of genetic mechanisms underlying rare disease. The PHI/RDDH, is a single point of entry and coordination for patient-facing precision health research projects and \'mystery\' patients at BCCH that provides support and direction on how to access technologies, expertise, and resources onsite and in the broader research community (e.g. UBC). The PHI/RDDH acts to bridge clinical and research groups across BCCH with a focus on integrating processes and technologies surrounding precision health research. Education around the transformative field of Precision Health is a key component of the Precision Health initiative, and will be a core component of the duties for the position. The Research Associate will contribute to the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of the PHI/RDDH, collaborating and consulting with clinician researchers, health professionals, and trainees to design and complete studies that contribute to improved patient care at the BC Children\'s Hospital (BCCH). The incumbent will work directly with patient recruitment experts and will lead analysis, and subsequent reporting and metrics, which will require extensive bioinformatics experience. Further, the Research Associate will coordinate and manage the computational resources needed for analysis of \'omics\' data, including local infrastructure and through collaboration with UBC and Canadian (e.g. Compute Canada/NDRIO) partners. The Research Associate will also conduct precision health-related training and education across the BCCH site, including research and clinical staff and trainees. Major Responsibilities Leadership role in advancing precision health research at BCCH. Collaborates with other researchers and clinicians to share knowledge and strategies for patient recruitment and data analysis. Engage with BCCHR researchers and BCCH clinicians to build connections across the site. Identify appropriate clinical and research groups to involve for unique precision health cases. Create and deliver precision health education and training to clinical and research staff and trainees. Liaise the IT partners (both through BCCHR and affiliates e.g. UBC) to optimize access to resources necessary for success of the Precision Health initiative. Manage local computational infrastructure and develop training materials for its utilization. Leads analysis strategies for multi-omics study of rare disease patients. Presents research findings at conferences and related research events. Participates in the evaluation, selection, planning and launch of technology and software solutions to further research goals. Prepares and leads the development of content for academic manuscripts, technical reports, research proposals, and presentations. Keeps up-to-date with new applications, technology, and algorithmic developments and supports best practices. Performs other related duties, as required. Qualifications Education and Experience: A level of education, training, and experience equivalent to a PhD in a relevant field and a minimum of seven (7) years of laboratory research experience. Candidates should have extensive experience utilizing and interpreting informatics methods or collaborating with informatics experts (e.g., in rare diseases) to understand and integrate different precision health profiling data (e.g., genetic, metabolic, and related biomarker data), with recent publications in this field. As established track record of developing and delivering educational materials and seminars to a variety of research and clinical-based audiences. Skills and Abilities: Superior analytical, problem-solving and system analysis skills including the ability to resolve complex issues and synthesize related data/information including presenting that information in concise and meaningful ways. The ability to explain complex concepts to a wide array of fundamental and clinical research audiences. Experience working with patient data in a secure and confidential manner. Demonstrated strong data and statistical problem-solving ability and judgment. Ability to exercise independent judgment in facilitating decisions and communications on input parameters into medical/scientific models. Ability to function in a self-directed manner. Excellent ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing. Demonstrated interpersonal skills with a variety of people. Excellent time management skills. Demonstrated ability to anticipate and respond to the needs of stakeholders supported by an acute awareness of the impact of actions. Ability to handle multiple concurrent tasks. Demonstrated flexibility in responding to program and strategic priorities. This position will begin as soon as possible. This is a full time one-year term appointment subject to annual renewal. Please submit via email a curriculum vitae and a letter of application including a statement of areas of expertise and strengths and the names of three referees, no later than 30 days after posting to: [HIDDEN TEXT] This position is located within a health-care facility, therefore, the successful candidate will be required to provide verification of full vaccination against Covid-19 provided prior to the start date, as required by a provincial health mandate. This offer is conditional upon successful completion of a Criminal Record Check. 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.

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