Job Description

Position Description Area: Clinical and Environmental Genomics and Microbiology Duration: Two year position Start Date: ASAP Salary: 55,000 + benefits
The Faculty of Science and the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary are accepting applications for a Postdoctoral Scholar in Wastewater-Based Epidemiology and Molecular Microbiology. : The post doc will be part of an interdisciplinary research project that is seeking to use wastewater to track the dynamics of COVID infection and other infectious agents in Calgary and other Alberta municipalities (https://www.ucalgary.ca/news/ucalgary-city-calgary-and-ahs-team-fight-against-covid-19). The post doc will work directly with researchers in the Faculties of Science, Engineering and Medicine, and at the University's Advancing Canadian Water Assets (ACWA) facility. The post doc will also have the opportunity to collaborate with the City of Calgary's municipal employees and public health experts at Alberta Health Services. Reporting to the Primary Investigators (PIs) Casey Hubert (Faculty of Science), Michael Parkins (Cumming School of Medicine) and Kevin Frankowski (ACWA), the post doc will be an important part of a team conducting wastewater sample processing and molecular (e.g., RTqPCR and genomics) analysis for the detection of viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 and other genomic targets of interest that are relevant to community public health. This workflow depends on field sampling followed by molecular detection of analytes where success is a function of both effective sample processing and nucleic acid purification as well as assay optimization for quantification or sequencing using amplicon or shotgun (metagenomic) based approaches. Applying or developing bioinformatics analysis pipelines for disentangling relevant signals from the wastewater matrix is an essential part of this work. The primary responsibility of the post doc will be analysis and dissemination of new datasets and discoveries arising from different wastewater samples obtained in Calgary and throughout Alberta. Sampling was initiated in mid-2020 and is ongoing, allowing opportunity for optimisation of nucleic acid extraction strategies for specific applications. Wastewater samples and results to date include city-wide and neighbourhood- and building-scale testing for SARS-CoV-2. Data analysis and visualization in support of effective oral and written communication of results will be expected. The post doc will play a key role in our team's efforts to publish existing and future results in peer-reviewed journals. Accordingly, contributing to the preparation of manuscripts will be a high priority objective for this position. Additional responsibilities will include participating in and supporting the lab-based workflow described above, potentially including retrospective analysis of archived samples. The successful applicant will join a productive transdisciplinary team with supporting research funding from CIHR, Genome Canada and Alberta Health. This post-doctoral opportunity is supported by both a large existing dataset (>3000 SARS-CoV-2 data points from Calgary wastewater samples taken since 2020) and ongoing cross provincial sampling. The sample archive available will enable both prospective and retrospective study design and analyses. The post doc will work as part of a large team that includes several staff with PhDs, graduate students, and undergraduate interns such that some supervision of junior colleagues will be expected. The successful candidate will review existing literature and methodologies, analyze existing data, strategically collect and analyze additional samples, and prepare presentations and manuscripts for publication. The principal investigators will regularly review work to ensure quality and completeness and to advise on complex matters and provide feedback. Qualifications:

• 
  PhD in molecular microbiology, virology, viromics, environmental microbiology, or a related field

• Accuracy and attention to detail

• Strong written communication skills are essential

• Experience with biostatistical approaches is essential

• Experience with microbial genomics and bioinformatics is essential

• Field sampling experience is an asset

• Experience working with wastewater is an asset

• Experience with analytical methods, particularly in molecular microbiology, biostatistics, bioinformatics and working with nucleic acid sequences (including amplicons and genomes) is essential

• Training in water sampling, flow measurement and/or analytical chemistry is an asset

• Experience developing or using software for genomic or metagenomic analysis is an asset

• Must be able to work in a team environment and interact with a diverse range of colleagues and collaborators

• Strong verbal communication skills as well as strong listening skills are required

• Strong organizational, time management and problem-solving skills

• Must be highly goal-driven and exhibit the ability to interact effectively with internal and external stakeholders at all levels of the organization

• Able to work within a collaborative setting with others to set clear priorities while managing multiple timelines and objectives

• Computer skills including proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite of programs

• Must have experience in statistical analysis, visualization, and presentation of large data sets

• Evidence of a track record of peer reviewed publications will be important

Application Details: If you are interested in applying, please contact Dr. Rhonda Clark from the University of Calgary's WBE team at rgclark@ucalgary.ca. Applications will be reviewed as soon as they are received. Candidates should include the following in their application:
1. A brief cover letter outlining your interest in this project, detailing any additional qualifications or related experience that you have as well as your career goals;
2. A detailed resume;
3. An example of published research;
4. Name and contact information of at least three references Additional Information The terms and conditions of employment are covered under the UCalgary and PDAC Collective Agreement. To find out more about postdoctoral scholar program at the University of Calgary visit our Postdocs website. To learn more about postdoctoral scholar opportunities at the University of Calgary and all we have to offer, view our Postdoc Careers website. For more information visit Careers in the Faculty of Science. The University strongly recommends all faculty and staff are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
About the University of Calgary The University of Calgary is Canada's leading next-generation university - a living, growing and youthful institution that embraces change and opportunity with a can-do attitude. Located in the nation's most enterprising city, the university is making tremendous progress on its Eyes High journey to be recognized as one of Canada's top five research universities, grounded in innovative learning and teaching and fully integrated with the community it both serves and leads. The University of Calgary inspires and supports discovery, creativity and innovation across all disciplines. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca. To succeed as one of Canada's top universities, where new ideas are created, tested and applied through first-class teaching and research, the University of Calgary needs more of the best minds in our classrooms and labs. We're increasing our scholarly capacity by investing in people who want to change the world, bringing the best and brightest to Calgary to form a global intellectual hub and achieve advances that matter to everyone. For more information visit research.ucalgary.ca/postdocs. About Calgary, Alberta Calgary is one of the world's cleanest cities and has been named one of the world's most livable cities for years, including a #3 ranking in the 2022 assessment by Economist magazine's Intelligence Unit (www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-third-most-liveable-city-world-economist-1.6499827). Calgary is a city of leaders - in business, community, philanthropy and volunteerism. Calgarians benefit from the strongest economy in the nation and enjoy more days of sunshine per year than any other major Canadian city. Calgary is less than an hour's drive from the Rocky Mountains and boasts the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway network in North America. The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy in line with the foundational goals of Eyes High, committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do. As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (equity@ucalgary.ca) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources (hrhire@ucalgary.ca).