Postdoctoral Fellow - Protein Engineering and Biomaterials

About the role

The Li Group in the Department of Chemistry at the University of British Columbia seeks a motivated Postdoctoral Fellow to lead an interdisciplinary project on protein‑based biomaterials. The role combines synthetic biology, polymer chemistry, and biophysics to create novel functional proteins and macro‑scale materials such as hydrogels.

Key responsibilities

• Design and engineer recombinant proteins with tailored mechanical or functional properties.
• Manage high‑yield protein expression in E. coli or alternative hosts and perform multi‑step chromatographic purification.
• Formulate and characterize protein‑based biomaterials, hydrogels, or thin films.
• Assess material mechanics using rheology, tensile testing, and other biophysical assays.
• Collaborate with single‑molecule biophysicists to link macroscopic traits to molecular mechanics.
• Prepare manuscripts for high‑impact journals and present findings at conferences.
• Provide training on laboratory techniques and maintain a safe, clean lab environment.

Required profile

• Ph.D. in Chemistry, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Materials Science, or a related discipline.
• Strong record of scientific productivity (first‑author publications or preprints).
• Excellent organizational, teamwork, and communication abilities.

Required skills

• Recombinant protein design
• Cloning
• FPLC/HPLC protein purification
• Biomaterials synthesis
• Hydrogel crosslinking chemistry
• Polymer characterization
• Rheology
• Tensile testing
• Biophysical assays
• E. coli expression systems

What we offer

• Expected salary $55,000‑$62,000 CAD per year
• 12‑month fixed‑term contract with possibility of extension
• Access to UBC’s state‑of‑the‑art facilities and an interdisciplinary research environment