Research Associate – Fish Physiology & Gill Regeneration

About the role

The Department of Zoology at the University of British Columbia seeks a full‑time Research Associate to lead investigations into fish physiology and gill regeneration in Atlantic salmon. Reporting to Dr. Colin Brauner, you will integrate molecular, biochemical and physiological approaches within an active research group.

Key responsibilities

• Design and execute experiments on gill resection and regeneration.
• Perform salmon rearing, husbandry, and whole‑animal performance measurements.
• Conduct histology, immunohistology, transcriptomics, RNA‑seq and RNAscope analyses.
• Analyze biochemical assays and metabolic rate data.
• Lead quantitative image analysis of IHC and RNAscope datasets using digital pathology software.
• Contribute to departmental and Biodiversity Research Centre activities.

Required profile

• PhD in comparative or fish physiology.
• Minimum four years post‑doctoral experience in fish physiology or gill regeneration.
• Strong scientific writing record with peer‑reviewed publications.
• Experience mentoring students and collaborating in interdisciplinary teams.

Required skills

• Salmon rearing and husbandry.
• Histology and immunohistology techniques.
• Transcriptomics, RNA‑seq and RNAscope.
• Biochemical assays and metabolic rate assessment.
• Quantitative image analysis, including segmentation and signal quantification.
• Proficiency with QuPath, ImageJ/Fiji and CellProfiler.

What we offer

• 12‑month fixed‑term contract starting July 2026.
• Competitive salary of $76,128 CAD per year.
• Access to state‑of‑the‑art facilities and a collaborative research environment.