Postdoctoral Researcher

Company Description

UHN is Canada’s #1 hospital and the world’s #1 publicly funded hospital. With 10 sites and more than 44,000 TeamUHN members, UHN consists of Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, The Michener Institute of Education and West Park Healthcare Centre. As Canada's top research hospital, the scope of biomedical research and complexity of cases at UHN have made it a national and international source for discovery, education and patient care. UHN has the largest hospital-based research program in Canada, with major research in neurosciences, cardiology, transplantation, oncology, surgical innovation, infectious diseases, genomic medicine and rehabilitation medicine. UHN is a research hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto.

UHN’s vision is to build A Healthier World and it’s only because of the talented and dedicated people who work here that we are continually bringing that vision closer to reality.

Job Description

Union: Non-Union
Number of Vacancies: 2
New or Replacement Position: New
Site: Princess Margaret Cancer Research Tower
Department: Research
Reports To: Principal Investigator
Salary Range: $54,902 - $93,333 Annually
Hours: Per Week
Shifts: Monday-Friday
Status: Temporary Full-time (1 Year Contract)
Closing Date: March 23, 2026

Position Summary:
We are seeking two exceptional Postdoctoral Researchers to join our team investigating GLP1-1 receptor agonists as a preventive strategy for clonal hematopoiesis-driven hematological cancers.

The Xie and Chan Laboratories are located at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto, Canada with full access to state-of-the-art facilities in Toronto's Discovery District. The labs employ advanced humanized and syngeneic animal models, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing tools, functional assays, and single cell technologies to identify and investigate specific gene dependencies that drive clonal hematopoiesis.

Duties:

• Design and Conduct Experiments: Develop and execute experimental protocols to investigate the biology of hematopoietic stem cells and mechanisms of clonal hematopoiesis with GLP-1 receptor agonism, using advanced molecular and cellular techniques
• Data Analysis and Interpretation: Perform comprehensive data analysis, including bioinformatics and statistical analysis, to interpret experimental results and draw meaningful conclusions.
• Stem Cell Isolation and Characterization: Isolate and characterize hematopoietic stem cells from human donor samples or animal models, utilizing techniques such as flow cytometry, cell sorting, and other stem cell assays.
• Collaboration and Teamwork: Work closely with other researchers, including graduate students and other post-doctoral fellows, to support ongoing projects and foster a collaborative research environment.
• Literature Review and Research Development: Stay updated on recent literature and advancements in clonal hematopoiesis research, identify new research opportunities, and propose novel hypotheses to explore within the lab’s focus area.
• Manuscript and Grant Writing: Prepare research findings for publication in peer-reviewed journals and contribute to writing grant applications to secure additional funding for research projects.
• Mentorship and Training: Mentor junior researchers, including graduate and undergraduate students, by providing guidance on experimental design, lab techniques, and data analysis.
• Presentation of Findings: Present research findings at lab meetings, seminars, and national or international conferences to share progress and gain feedback from the scientific community

Qualifications

• PhD must be obtained within the previous 5 years in immunology, genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, or related field.
• Strong background in stem cell and/or cancer biology, particularly hematological malignancies.
• Experience in working with syngeneic or humanized mouse models, flow cytometry, and tissue culture is an asset.
• Expertise in molecular biology and genome editing techniques.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proven track record of scientific publications.

Additional Information

Why join UHN?

In addition to working alongside some of the most talented and inspiring healthcare professionals in the world, UHN offers a wide range of benefits, programs and perks. It is the comprehensiveness of these offerings that makes it a differentiating factor, allowing you to find value where it matters most to you, now and throughout your career at UHN.

• Competitive offer packages
• Government organization and a member of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP )
• Close access to Transit and UHN shuttle service
• A flexible work environment
• Opportunities for development and promotions within a large organization
• Additional perks (multiple corporate discounts including: travel, restaurants, parking, phone plans, auto insurance discounts, on-site gyms, etc.)

Current UHN employees must have successfully completed their probationary period, have a good employee record along with satisfactory attendance in accordance with UHN's attendance management program, to be eligible for consideration.

All applications must be submitted before the posting close date.

UHN uses email to communicate with selected candidates. Please ensure you check your email regularly.

Please be advised that a Criminal Record Check may be required of the successful candidate. Should it be determined that any information provided by a candidate be misleading, inaccurate or incorrect, UHN reserves the right to discontinue with the consideration of their application.

UHN is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive recruitment process and workplace. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process. Applicants need to make their requirements known.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.