Job Description

Description

The

Department of

Physiology and Pharmacology

in the

Cumming School of Medicine

invites applications for a

Research Associate

. This Full-time Fixed Term position is for approximately 12 months (based on length of grant funding), with the possibility of extension.


The Research Associate will manage the research and training activities of the laboratory. They will be responsible for conducting in vivo and in vitro research related to intestinal epithelial function, fibrosis, mucosal immunology and pathophysiology in the context of health and inflammatory disease. They will be responsible for the management of accounts, ordering, and inventories for the lab.


Reporting to the Principal Investigator.

Summary of Key Responsibilities

(job functions include but are not limited to):


Research, Experiment & Design

Independently design and execute studies related to the interactions between immune cells, epithelial cells and mesenchymal cells and their impact on inflammation-associated intestinal remodeling and intestinal first-pass metabolism Perform animal experiments using inflammation and infection models Perform animal experiments using germ-free and gnotobiotic approaches within the International Microbiome Centre at the University of Calgary Analyze and interpret large datasets, creating publication quality figures and contributing to the writing of manuscripts and operating grants Ensure that all equipment is properly maintained and in optimal working order Assess needs for new or upgraded equipment Determine the nature of any issues related to research group needs and liaise with the Principal Investigator to determine strategies to repair aging infrastructure and/or incorporate new and innovative technical approaches to the research areas Suggest and identity strategies and options to meet technical and equipment needs of the lab Maintain breeding records of Hirota lab mouse colonies in the Health Sciences Animal Resource Centre. This will require the entry of breeding data and interacting directly with the ARC staff to maintain the healthy output of breeding groups. Additional genotyping and transgenic analysis will be part of the successful applicant's regular duties

Leadership and Administration

Generate and update laboratory specific SOP documents when required Keep laboratory and work area clean and safe. Conduct regular lab self-inspections as required by University regulations Ensure that all certifications (safety, ethics, etc.) are up to date Contribute and assist in writing research grants Participate in the preparation and maintenance of new ethics applications for both animal and human research Supervise the day-to-day research activities of approximately 5 trainees, identify issues and work to solve these. Provide mentorship to trainees regarding experimental design, technical approaches, data analysis and presentation Attend and make presentations at local, national and international conferences Extensive understanding, continued learning and development of safety codes, standards, and systems related to work in a biomedical research laboratory where chemical hazards and biohazards may exist

Qualifications / Requirements:

PhD in pharmacology, physiology or immunology Minimum of 5 years post-doctoral experience required; some lab management or experience supervising trainees would be a significant asset Must have extensive experience working in a biomedical research lab setting Must have extensive experience using mouse models of inflammation and infection and the associated experimental outcomes, including tissue histology, flow cytometry and protein/RNA analyses Must have high level of knowledge in epithelial cell, fibroblast and immune cell biology and experimental techniques related to the study of mucosal inflammation Must show a high level of judgement in analyzing and assessing data, decision-making in experimental procedures and managing lab budgets Must have experience working with intestinal epithelial cell, fibroblast and immune cell cultures Must be willing to work with mice and human tissue samples Must have experience with confocal microscopy, western blot, Q-RT-PCR, flow cytometry Must be familiar with germ-free and gnotobiotic experimental approaches Must be willing to work flexible hours (occasional evenings and weekends) Should be familiar with PeopleSoft and University of Calgary supply chain management systems, environmental health and safety rules and regulations, eFin Ability to provide technical support for other team members through advice on technical lab issues Understanding of safety codes and standards related to specialization Ability to operate and maintain technical equipment related to cell culture and routine microscopy Demonstrated leadership, communication, organization, problem solving, and interpersonal skills Advanced skills in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint), GraphPad, Internet skills High level of organization and knowledge of the IRISS platform and ethics approval processes at the University Knowledge of University core business systems is an asset

Application Deadline:

November 21, 2025

We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.


This position is part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the

Technical Job Family, Phase 3.


For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our

Management and Staff Careers website

.

About the University of Calgary

UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.


The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy ii' taa'poh'to'p 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.


The university's commitment to the Indigenous Strategy is evident through the oversight of 18 Elders serving on the Circle of Advisors and the many unit-based circles working towards implementation of the strategy including the Faculty Advisory Circle and teams such as the Office of Indigenous Engagement, the Writing Symbols Lodge, and the Indigenous Research Support Team. Many Indigenous-based events and processes are impacting curriculum, programming and polices at the University of Calgary.

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. 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 Institutional Commitments (

oic@ucalgary.ca

) and requests for accommodations can be sent to People & Culture (

hrhire@ucalgary.ca

).

Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role.

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.