The MAGPIE group at SFU is seeking an enthusiastic postdoctoral researcher or senior scientist to work in the area of infectious disease modelling and genomic epidemiology. The successful applicant will primarily support and lead research on COVID-19 and/or tuberculosis genomic epidemiology, with a focus on model development and estimation of transmission dynamics using information derived from genomic data to advance understanding of infectious disease outbreaks. The post-holder will be encouraged and supported in developing their own research program in collaboration with local, national and international collaborators and partners including public health agencies and researchers, and will have the opportunity to work with a wide portfolio of genomic and epidemiological data sources. Projects can be tailored to suit the candidate’s research interests and expertise.

You will be joining a multidisciplinary team with a broad range of interests across mathematics, statistics and biology. Specific ongoing projects include: modelling the interplay between interventions (vaccination, antibiotic treatment) and pathogen diversification, quantifying selection and evolution in pathogen populations, performing phylogenomic and spatial studies of TB transmission, and developing statistical methods for estimating epidemiological parameters in infectious disease outbreaks. The group is based at the SFU campus in Burnaby (part of the greater Vancouver area), British Columbia, Canada.

Applicants must have a PhD degree or equivalent awarded in the last five years (certain career interruptions may extend this period), or have submitted their thesis at the time of application (degree must be awarded before any appointment). The ideal applicant will have a strong computational background, with experience in several of: the analysis of genomic data; the development and implementation of bioinformatics pipelines; infectious disease modelling; relevant areas of biostatistics; population genetics. We will also consider applicants coming from computer science and mathematics with relevant experience and a strong interest in biology and/or genomic epidemiology. Programming skills in a relevant bioinformatics language (Python, R, etc) are essential. Candidates will also be expected to prepare manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication, deliver research presentations, and be involved in the daily life of the research group.

This is a 1-year position with a second year extension conditional on performance. Salary will be commensurate with skills and qualifications and is expected to be in the range of CA$60-75,000. There may also be opportunities for teaching, conditional on course availability in the relevant department(s).

Candidates should submit their CV with a cover letter plus a Research Statement (max 1 page) that outlines your research interest in genomic epidemiology and suitability for proposed research, and how the proposed research contributes to your long-term career goals. Please send these application materials as a single PDF document to Mark Campbell (mark_campbell@sfu.ca). We will begin to review applications on October 11, 2021. Start date will be negotiable, but as early as possible.