Staff - Non Union Job Category M&P - AAPS Job Profile AAPS Salaried - Statistical Analysis, Level B Job Title Computational Biologist Department Kobor Laboratory | Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics | Faculty of Medicine Compensation Range $7,622.83 - $11,886.67 CAD Monthly The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job. Posting End Date August 14, 2025 Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date. Job End Date July 15, 2026 This position is expected to be filled by promotion/reassignment and is included here to inform you of its vacancy at the University. At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career. Job Summary The Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging (ELCHA) and the Kobor Lab is seeking a highly motivated, and ambitious individual to work as a Computational Biologist on various projects related to understanding the causes and consequences of variation in epigenetic marks across human populations. The successful applicant will be responsible for leading and contributing to a number of existing funded projects. These include population cohort studies that focus on the biological embedding of social environments and life experiences that can influence health and behavior across the life span. The incumbent will be responsible for conducting and interpreting statistical analyses, as well as providing leadership and statistical advice, expertise and consultation in the development of tools and database infrastructure related to the acquisition of high-dimension datasets for genotyping, DNA methylation and mRNA expression and their integrative analysis with phenotype and environmental exposures. Prior to performing statistical modelling, several dimension reduction tools are employed (e.g., principal component analysis, CoMeBack analysis, variability analysis), after which the Computational Biologist will conduct robust linear and mixed-effects regression models and adjust for key confounders in DNA methylation analyses, including cell type composition, age, sex, and batch effects. These analyses are applied in the context of epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) and candidate gene studies. The successful applicant also oversees the structured organization and long-term stewardship of high-dimensional biological data, including DNA methylation and genotyping datasets, across multiple research projects. The incumbent ensures data integrity, reproducibility, and compliance with institutional guidelines by managing all project-related data on BCCHR-maintained high-performance servers, with attention to standardized file structures, metadata curation, and secure access controls. In parallel, the successful applicant also manages and maintains an internal project tracker—a Shiny-based web application that facilitates tracking of all incoming, ongoing, and archived projects—that supports project monitoring, team coordination, and progress reporting across collaborative research initiatives. The successful applicant will work with an interdisciplinary team of investigators and trainees at the University of British Columbia, ELCHA, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute (BCCHRI), and local and international institutions. Organizational Status 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. Our Vision: To Transform Health for Everyone Ranked among the world’s top medical schools with the fifth-largest MD enrollment in North America, the UBC Faculty of Medicine is a leader in both the science and the practice of medicine. Across British Columbia, more than 12,000 faculty and staff are training the next generation of doctors and health care professionals, making remarkable discoveries, and helping to create the pathways to better health for our communities at home and around the world. The Faculty—comprised of approximately 2,200 administrative support, technical/research and management and professional staff, as well approximately 650 full-time academic and over 10,000 clinical faculty members—is composed of 19 academic basic science and/or clinical departments, 3 schools, and 25 research centres and institutes. Together with its University and Health Authority partners, the Faculty delivers innovative programs and conducts research in the areas of health and life sciences. Faculty, staff and trainees are located at university campuses, clinical academic campuses in hospital settings and other regionally based centres across the province. The UBC Vancouver Campus is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the x?m??k??y??m (Musqueam) people. The City of Vancouver is located on Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations territory. This position reports to the Director of the ELCHA / lead Principal Investigator Dr. Michael Kobor (Medical Genetics), and works closely with the staff of the ELCHA, the research staff and trainees of the Dr. Kobor’s laboratory, as well as the other Investigators directly involved in the research projects and their staff and trainees. The position will provide supervision and mentorship to computational biology trainees, technicians and graduate students, and interact with local, national, and international collaborators on a regular basis. Work Performed 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. Our Vision: To Transform Health for Everyone Ranked among the world’s top medical schools with the fifth-largest MD enrollment in North America, the UBC Faculty of Medicine is a leader in both the science and the practice of medicine. Across British Columbia, more than 12,000 faculty and staff are training the next generation of doctors and health care professionals, making remarkable discoveries, and helping to create the pathways to better health for our communities at home and around the world. The Faculty—comprised of approximately 2,200 administrative support, technical/research and management and professional staff, as well approximately 650 full-time academic and over 10,000 clinical faculty members—is composed of 19 academic basic science and/or clinical departments, 3 schools, and 25 research centres and institutes. Together with its University and Health Authority partners, the Faculty delivers innovative programs and conducts research in the areas of health and life sciences. Faculty, staff and trainees are located at university campuses, clinical academic campuses in hospital settings and other regionally based centres across the province. The UBC Vancouver Campus is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the x?m??k??y??m (Musqueam) people. The City of Vancouver is located on Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations territory. This position reports to the Director of the ELCHA / lead Principal Investigator Dr. Michael Kobor (Medical Genetics), and works closely with the staff of the ELCHA, the research staff and trainees of the Dr. Kobor’s laboratory, as well as the other Investigators directly involved in the research projects and their staff and trainees. The position will provide supervision and mentorship to computational biology trainees, technicians and graduate students, and interact with local, national, and international collaborators on a regular basis. Consequence of Error/Judgement Exercises judgement and makes decisions in the area of data coordination and analysis. Responsible for the integrity of the data. Poor judgment could result in loss of experimental data and delay in conducting research, which could impact collaborations, publications, and future funding. An error within the realm of a research study may result in biased or incomplete data and skewed study results. Errors made and poor decisions may be damaging to the reputation of the Principal Investigator, the Centre, and the University and could lead to incorrect or inappropriate policy recommendations being made. Supervision Received Works with considerable latitude under the general direction of the Principal Investigator, Dr. Kobor. Makes decisions and conducts analysis within established guidelines. Provides database guidance to researchers, graduate students, research staff and other data analysts /statisticians/ bioinformaticians. Supervision Given Works with considerable latitude under the general direction of the Principal Investigator, Dr. Kobor. Makes decisions and conducts analysis within established guidelines. Provides database guidance to researchers, graduate students, research staff and other data analysts /statisticians/ bioinformaticians. Minimum Qualifications Post-graduate degree in Statistics. Minimum of three years of related experience in research analysis, or the equivalent combination of education and experience. - Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own - Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion Preferred Qualifications Related experience in a relevant discipline (genetics, computational biology, bioinformatics, bio-statistics), and a minimum of three years of experience in laboratory research analysis involving genome technologies infrastructure, with knowledge of molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, and epigenetics. Excellent programming skills and mastery in one or more high level programming language, (R preferred). Experience in database creation and management. Experience in writing executable R scripts, and debugging code. Extensive experience working with DNA methylation, genotyping, expression, and/or multi-dimensional genomics or population data. Knowledge with the development of novel packages/analysis pipelines. Intermediate to high level understanding of statistical modeling and tests. Experience with cluster computing and working in a Unix environment would be an asset. Proficiency with MS Word, Excel and databases. Ability to explain statistical concepts in simple clear terms, and interpret results in a research environment. Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing. Ability to develop and maintain cooperative and productive working relationships. Ability to deal with a diversity of people in a calm, courteous, and effective manner. Ability to adapt to changing priorities and work effectively under pressure to meet deadlines. Excellent leadership skills and experience leading small teams Ability to keep abreast of current developments and trends in the field of information technology and data science. Must conduct all activities in an ethical manner and treat funding information and research data confidentially. The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities globally. A large part of what makes us unique is the community of engaged students, faculty, and staff who are collectively committed to shaping a better world. Recognized as a leading employer in British Columbia and Canada, UBC supports inspired students, faculty and staff on their journey of discovery, and challenges them to realize their greatest potential. New ideas, changing infrastructure, innovative technology, and fresh approaches are opening up possibilities for the future of research, teaching, and work. Are you ready to embrace the future together? 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, and/or Indigenous person. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. If you have any accommodation or accessibility needs during the job application process, please contact the Centre for Workplace Accessibility at workplace.accessibility@ubc.ca.
