Research Associate

 The Research Associate works under the general direction of the Principal Investigators.

The Research Associate provides scientific and functional supervision, and guidance to trainees regarding research methods and project execution but does not replace the formal academic supervisory responsibilities of faculty members. They may supervise research personnel and may provide input to the Principal Investigator regarding recruitment, work assignments, training needs, research performance, and allocation of laboratory resources.

• PhD in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Chemistry, Polymer Science, Biomedical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or another discipline relevant to the research program, or equivalent qualifications and research experience.
• Demonstrated record of original research contributions and scientific productivity, including peer-reviewed publications in relevant disciplines.
• Significant hands-on experience designing, conducting, analyzing, and troubleshooting experimental research in an academic, government, or industrial research environment.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex research projects independently and collaboratively from scientific conception to validated results and dissemination.
• Experience developing and validating experimental methods for materials preparation, characterization, processing, or performance testing.
• Demonstrated scientific writing experience, including preparation and authorship of peer-reviewed manuscripts, technical reports, and research proposals.
• Strong scientific and technical writing skills, with the ability to translate complex multidisciplinary research into clear and persuasive proposals.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze scientific literature, identify research gaps, and develop technically rigorous research concepts.
• Experience mentoring or training students, research staff, or other researchers.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills and demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within multidisciplinary and collaborative research teams.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and demonstrated ability to interact professionally with researchers, students, staff, research sponsors, industry partners, and external collaborators.
• Demonstrated commitment to creating a respectful, inclusive, collaborative, and safe research environment.

• Experience developing successful research proposals for major Canadian or international funding programs.
• Experience with NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR, CFI, Mitacs, Genome Canada, provincial research programs, industry-sponsored research, or comparable funding mechanisms.
• Experience developing research partnerships involving industry, government, community organizations, or other external stakeholders.
• Experience preparing research budgets, work plans, milestones, deliverables, risk registers, and project-management documentation.
• Experience managing laboratory equipment, procurement, research infrastructure, laboratory safety, and research operations.
• Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publications in advanced materials, polymers, bio-based materials, nanomaterials, environmental technologies, or related fields.
• Experience with intellectual property, technology translation, industry collaboration, or commercialization of university research is considered an asset.
• Familiarity with UBC research administration, policies, systems, and research-support structures is considered an asset.

The University of British Columbia's primary language of instruction and research is English. Accordingly, individuals are required to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.

• curriculum vitae;
• concise statements of research interests; and
• the names and contact information of three references.

All applications must be submitted online at https://ubc.wd10.myworkdayjobs.com/ubcfacultyjobs. Review of applications will commence on December 1, 2026. The anticipated start date is January 1, 2027. 

The expected salary for the position is $76,128/annum. This position is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package. For details, see https://hr.ubc.ca/benefits

Information on the Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering is available at http://www.chbe.ubc.ca

Inquiries about the position may be directed to Dr. Johan Foster at johan.foster@ubc.ca.

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.

The Department is located on UBC's Point Grey campus in Vancouver, British Columbia, a vibrant and culturally diverse city situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Coast Mountains and consistently ranked among the world's most livable cities. The University of British Columbia and the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering acknowledge the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓-speaking xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) people on whose traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory the university resides.