Research Fellow, Cell Biology

Dedicated exclusively to children and their families, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is one of the largest and most respected paediatric healthcare centres in the world. As innovators in child health, we lead and partner to improve the health of children through the integration of healthcare, leading-edge research and education. Our reputation would not have been built - nor could it be maintained - without the skills, knowledge and experience of the extraordinary people who come to work here every day. SickKids is committed to ongoing learning and development, and features a caring and supportive work environment that combines exceptionally high standards of practice.

When you join SickKids, you become part of our community. We share a commitment and determination to fulfill our vision of Healthier Children. A Better World.

Don't miss out on the opportunity to work alongside the world's best in paediatric healthcare.

We are seeking an outstanding postdoctoral fellow to join our growing research program focused on identifying and targeting vulnerabilities in pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Our laboratory studies how nucleocytoplasmic transport, ribosome biogenesis, and related cellular programs are rewired in specific molecular subtypes of pediatric AML, and how these pathways can be therapeutically exploited. The fellow will help develop fusion-driven models of pediatric AML and evaluate therapeutic vulnerabilities using ex vivo and in vivo systems, including cord blood transduction models, primary AML specimens, and mouse transplantation studies. The fellow may also contribute to studies using patient-derived xenograft models.

The Successful Candidate Will Lead a Project Focused On

• Defining nuclear export-dependent and ribosome biogenesis-dependent biologic states in pediatric AML
• Identifying molecular subtype-specific and shared therapeutic dependencies
• Developing fusion-driven experimental models of pediatric AML
• Evaluating targeted therapeutic strategies using in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo approaches

This position offers a well-defined project with strong translational potential, access to primary patient samples and established leukemia models, mentorship and support for fellowship applications, and opportunities for publication, presentation, and career development.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, execute, and troubleshoot experiments investigating ribosome biogenesis, nuclear export, and related dependencies in AML
• Generate and characterize fusion-driven AML models, including viral transduction of human cord blood or hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells with leukemia-associated fusion oncogenes
• Perform viral transduction and gene-modification experiments using approaches such as shRNA knockdown, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing, and/or overexpression systems
• Perform functional assays, including flow cytometry, colony-forming assays, drug sensitivity testing, viability/apoptosis assays, qPCR, western blotting, immunofluorescence, and protein synthesis assays
• Assist with mouse transplantation and patient-derived xenograft experiments, including sample preparation, monitoring, analysis of engraftment, and therapeutic response studies
• Analyze and interpret experimental data using standard statistical and analysis software such as GraphPad Prism, FlowJo, Excel, and R
• Contribute to analysis of transcriptomic, genomic, or functional screening datasets, including differential expression, pathway-level analysis, and integration with experimental findings
• Stay current with advances in pediatric AML biology, hematopoiesis, nuclear transport, ribosome biogenesis, and targeted therapeutics
• Prepare figures, manuscripts, fellowship applications, and presentations
• Present findings at lab meetings, seminars, and national or international conferences
• Help mentor junior trainees in experimental design, lab techniques, data analysis, and scientific communication

Qualifications

Applicants should have:

• A PhD in molecular biology, cancer biology, biochemistry, genetics, stem cell biology, or a related field, with eligibility for appointment at the postdoctoral fellow level. Candidates should have no more than four years of cumulative research experience following completion of the PhD.
• A strong background in cancer biology, hematopoiesis, leukemia biology, or hematologic malignancies
• Experience with mammalian cell culture, molecular biology, flow cytometry, and functional cellular assays
• Experience with viral transduction, including overexpression, shRNA knockdown, and/or CRISPR/Cas9-based gene modification
• Experience with hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, cord blood models, genome editing, or leukemia models
• Some experience with mouse models, transplantation assays, or assisting with PDX studies is an asset
• Familiarity with basic bioinformatic analysis, including working with transcriptomic or genomic datasets and using R for data visualization and analysis
• Strong organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills
• Ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative team environment

Employment Type: Full-time temporary 1 year contract, 1.0 FTE

SickKids is committed to championing equity, diversity and inclusion in all that we do, fostering an intentionally inclusive and culturally safe environment that reflects the diversity of the patients, families and communities we serve. Learn more about workplace inclusion.

If you require accommodation during the application process, please reach out to our aSKHR team. SickKids can provide access and inclusion supports to eligible candidates to support their full engagement during the interview and selection process as well as to ensure candidates are able to perform their duties once successfully hired. If you are invited for an interview and require accommodation, please let us know at the time of your invitation to interview. Information received related to access, inclusion or accommodation will be addressed confidentially.

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