Postdoctoral Fellow in Pharmacoepidemiology – The University of British Columbia (UBC)

Do you want to make a difference to the growing number of individuals dealing with a lifelong, chronic disease with no known cause or cure? Do you want to live in a place consistently ranked as one of the world’s ‘most liveable cities’?

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is one of the leading causes of disability in young adults today.  An exciting postdoctoral fellow position is currently available in the department of Medicine (Division of Neurology) at the University of British Columbia (UBC) – in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

The successful applicant will be a contributing member of the Pharmacoepidemiology in Multiple Sclerosis (PiMS) research group.  With the vision of fostering excellence in multi-disciplinary clinical, therapeutic, and epidemiological research to advance knowledge and improve the well-being of those affected by multiple sclerosis, we thrive on diversity.  Team members are trained in variety of disciplines, creating a truly interdisciplinary approach to research.

The successful applicant will have the opportunity to be involved in a number of different studies; two are outlined here. One is an exciting Canada-Sweden multi-site collaboration accessing health administrative databases linked with clinical data to examine the MS prodrome or ‘pre-MS trait.’ Most diseases start well before they are actually diagnosed.  Some allow for medical identification and intervention by giving early warning signs that may appear hours, weeks, or years before diagnosis (e.g. stroke, cancer or multiple sclerosis).

Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic disease of the brain and spinal cord often affecting young adults.  It can be challenging to recognize as early symptoms can be non-specific or vague, including fatigue, numbness and tingling or visual problems.  This can cause distress for the affected person, their family and friends as they continue moving through the healthcare system looking for an answer.  Even if a diagnosis is reached promptly it is highly likely that the MS has pre-existed for months, possibly years.  This uncertainty over when MS actually ‘starts’ makes it very challenging for researchers to find what might cause MS.  All of these factors combined create difficulties for the patient, healthcare professionals, the healthcare system and researchers alike. Ultimately, a better understanding of the MS prodrome will encourage and facilitate more timely recognition, diagnosis and management of MS, as well as helping future studies searching for the beginning and cause of MS. This is a joint MS Society of Canada and US National MS Society funded study (November 9th 2021 news item – https://mssociety.ca/resources/news?province=BC).

The second study is an ongoing cross-Canada multi-site collaboration, accessing health administrative databases linked with clinical data, to assess the drug safety and effectiveness in MS. Several publications have already resulted from this study (see PubMed).

The successful applicant will play a key role in the success of these studies including: study design, ensuring data integrity, data access, data linkage, statistical analyses and interpretation, hypotheses generation, presentation of findings, and drafting and publication of scientific manuscripts and grant writing. Our team also have other dedicated personnel, including a project manager, data programmer, biostatistician whom the successful applicant will work closely with. The successful candidate will also help mentor and supervise graduate students who are working on these or related projects.

To find out more about the PiMS research group, please see our website:  http://epims.med.ubc.ca

UBC is one of the world’s leading universities. UBC’s Vancouver campus has over 68,000 students; nearly one-third are international students.  UBC offers hundreds of academic programs through 12 faculties and 14 schools.  Located on the western tip of the Point Grey Peninsula in the city of Vancouver, the stunning campus is surrounded by forests, ocean and mountains, yet is just 30 minutes from the city centre.  For more information about UBC, please go to http://www.ubc.ca

QUALIFICATIONS

▪ A PhD/MD degree in a relevant discipline e.g. epidemiology, pharmacoepidemiology, applied biostatistics

▪ Experience with and knowledge about, special populations such as patients with chronic disease, comorbidities or multiple sclerosis

▪ Experience with large health-related datasets

▪ Experience with data access and linkage from administrative databases

▪ Computer proficiency, including use of statistical software, e.g. R or SAS

▪ Working knowledge of advanced epidemiology-related research methodology and design

▪ Working knowledge of advanced biostatistics

▪ Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills in English

▪ Ability to exercise judgment and make decisions in accordance with broad research objectives

▪ Ability to independently organize workload, goal setting and working effectively towards deadlines

▪ Willingness to work in an interdisciplinary setting

▪ Willingness and ability to positively engage with researchers at multiple sites across Canada in order to motivate other team members to achieve the study goals in a timely manner

▪ Appreciation of the importance of clinical and basic research

▪ An inquiring and open mind

▪ Basic knowledge of medical ethics

Preferred start date is March 31, 2022 (but is negotiable). Funding for this position is initially available for 1 year. Salary will be based on the MS Society of Canada guidelines (https://mssociety.ca/information-for-researchers/funding-opportunities/endms-research-and-training-network-awards-and-programs/endms-postdoctoral-fellowships), with a generous extended health benefits package.

To apply, please send your letter of interest, CV, and names/contact information for 2-3 references to Dr. Helen Tremlett: info.pimsgroup@gmail.com [cc in: helen.tremlett@ubc.ca].

This posting is for the UBC Vancouver campus in British Columbia, Canada.

Please refer to reference number NC-55823 during correspondence about this position. Please visit the researcher profile of the supervisor for this position to learn more about their research.

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.

About UBC
The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world. Since 1915, UBC’s entrepreneurial spirit has embraced innovation and challenged the status quo. UBC encourages its students, staff and faculty to challenge convention, lead discovery and explore new ways of learning. At UBC, bold thinking is given a place to develop into ideas that can change the world.

Postdoctoral Fellows at UBC Vancouver
UBC is home to over 900 postdocs spanning all faculties and units across two campuses and a variety of affiliated hospitals, research centres, and sites, providing unparalleled opportunities to learn, discover and contribute in one’s own way. UBC’s Postdoctoral Fellows Office (PDFO) is committed to supporting the lives and career aspirations of our Postdocs, with the goal of enriching their experience at UBC and preparing them for the future. In addition to providing support and advocacy for all postdocs, the PDFO is dedicated to providing professional development opportunities that foster the development of soft skills needed in today’s professional environments, helping them secure future careers in their chosen fields.

About UBC’s Faculty of Medicine
Every day across British Columbia, trainees and researchers at the UBC Faculty of Medicine are turning skills into jobs, investments into discoveries, and discoveries into solutions that are transforming health for everyone.

The UBC Faculty of Medicine offers a diverse array of training opportunities including cutting-edge research experiences in the biosciences, globally recognized population health education, quality health professional training, as well as several certificate and online training options. The Faculty of Medicine is home to more than 1,700 graduate students housed in 23 graduate programs (14 of which offer doctoral research options). Year after year, research excellence in the Faculty of Medicine is supported by investment from funding sources here at home and around the globe, receiving approximately $1.6B in total research funding in the last five years.

About Vancouver
Vancouver is a dynamic, cosmopolitan and progressive city, consistently ranked as one of the top cities to live in the world. Canada’s third largest city has it all: sea, parks, mountains, beaches, and four seasons per year, including beautiful summers and mild, wet winters with snow in the mountains. It’s the perfect backdrop to your academic research.