We are looking for recently graduated (or about to graduate) PhD-level researchers to join our team as a postdoc. To be eligible, individuals have to have graduated with their doctorate not more than 3 years ago at the time of start (realistically not earlier than January of 2015). In particular, we are looking for individuals with robust cell and molecular biology expertise. Advanced microscopy, animal model and human cell culture skills are highly desired. Experience in the DNA damage and repair field will be viewed as a major advantage. First author publications are essential to be competitive for the position.
This is a fully funded 3 year position that starts at $50,000 (benefits on top of this), and is potentially renewable. Applicants would need to meet Canadian immigration and work visa criteria. Priority will be given to Canadian citizens or permanent residents. If interested, PLEASE SUBMIT a complete CV, highlighting first-author publications and a list of referees that may be contacted.
In our lab, we study how ionizing radiation (such as gamma rays, x-rays or alpha particles) impact human DNA and overall health. The human genome is subject to an extraordinary burden of oxidative DNA damage throughout life, driving cancer formation and, for genetically susceptible individuals, numerous other debilitating diseases particularly of the brain and central nervous system. Our research aims at understanding and developing solutions to human pathologies caused by radiation induced DNA damage, with a particular focus on developing the molecular knowledge required to develop novel disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment strategies. Our primary disciplined are cell biology, molecular biology and biochemistry, with a major focus on advanced microscopy and live-cell imaging. Our research areas are applicable to cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, as well as a variety of developmental disorders caused by a failed DNA damage response. We are looking for a researcher to join one of two of our main projects:
Project A - Chromatin remodeling in oxidative DNA damage responses
Chromatin (the DNA and protein complex that our genome is packaged in) is highly dynamic, particularly in response to DNA damage. This cell and molecular biology oriented project focusses on our discovery that the CHD6 chromatin remodelling enzyme, which is often over-expressed in cancers, is an important oxidative DNA damage response factor. The goal is to determine the molecular mechanism by which CHD6 is stabilized by and recruited to oxidative DNA damage, and the significance of this to DNA repair, cancer cell growth and the cellular transcriptional response to oxidatively stressed microenvironments.
Project B - Alpha-particle-induced DNA damage
This project is about genomic instability diseases, including cancer, caused by the most common type of ionizing radiation exposure, namely alpha-particles from radon and other environmental radionuclides. We are studying human responses to alpha particle exposure, examining compounds that may block the negative health effects of alpha radiation exposure and examining gene signatures that predispose people to cancer following alpha irradiation (from radon gas). This is a very interdisciplinary project involving biologists, geologists, psychologists, population health specialists, architects and home engineering experts that aims to examine all aspects of radon exposure in Canada, with a view towards reducing the burden of the 1,000’s of lung cancers caused by radon each year in Canada.
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