Postdoctoral Fellowship: Developmental and Aging Immunology and T-cell Engineering

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.

The School of Biomedical Engineering (SBME) at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver campus, invites applications for a full-time postdoctoral research fellow, jointly supervised by Dr. Peter Zandstra and Dr. Fabio Rossi, focused on advancing our understanding and engineering of the immune system across the lifespan. This role is part of a broader vision to develop clinically relevant immune regeneration strategies within the next three years.

Research Focus

This interdisciplinary project will address how the immune system, particularly the T-cell compartment, develops and deteriorates with age, and how these processes can be understood, modeled, and ultimately reversed or rebuilt using bioengineering and synthetic biology approaches.

The successful candidate will:

• Investigate mechanisms of T-cell development, aging, and thymic involution using in vitro and in vivo models.
• Characterize and modulate the T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire, including repertoire diversity, selection, and clonal dynamics, using high-throughput sequencing and systems-level analysis.
• Work on the engineering and functional assessment of synthetic or ex vivo thymic environments to control immune output from stem cell-derived precursors.
• Explore immune rejuvenation strategies using tools from developmental biology, tissue regeneration, and synthetic biology.
• Contribute to the design and integration of next-generation immune organoids and scaffolds capable of supporting therapeutic-grade T-cell development.

Environment and Collaboration

This position is embedded in a dynamic, interdisciplinary team comprising computational biologists, bioengineers, and immunologists. The candidate will have access to advanced platforms for single-cell and spatial omics, 3D tissue modeling, bioreactors, and in vivo models. The successful fellow will also contribute to collaborative efforts aligned with translational and commercial development goals, including work supported by the CIFAR Multiscale Human Program and UBC’s Biodevice Foundry.

Qualifications

• PhD in immunology, developmental biology (focused on the immune system), immune-engineering, or a related field (obtained within the last 5 years).
• Strong background in T-cell biology, thymic development, or immune aging.
• Experience or understanding of TCR sequencing and repertoire analysis; familiarity with single-cell data integration is a plus.
• Demonstrated interest in synthetic biology, tissue engineering, or immune system modeling.
• Proven ability to work across disciplinary boundaries and within collaborative research environments.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and respectful engagement with diverse perspectives.

Opportunities and Impact

• Advance the frontiers of immune system regeneration and rejuvenation.
• Translate fundamental discoveries into clinically actionable strategies over the next 3 years.
• Contribute to high-impact publications, industry collaborations, and the establishment of new therapeutic pipelines.
• Engage with international leaders in immune engineering.

Position Details

• Start Date: August 1st, 2025 but Flexible; funding is currently available.
• Term: One year, renewable based on performance and funding.
• Salary: $70,000–$80,000 CAD per year, commensurate with experience.

How to Apply:

Submit a single PDF including:

1. Cover letter (2 pages max) outlining your research interests and fit for the position
2. Curriculum vitae with publication list
3. Contact information for 3 academic references

Applications should be submitted via UBC Workday Careers.

For any inquiries regarding this position, please contact

Dr. Peter Zandstra – zandstra.lab@ubc.ca
Dr. Fabio Rossi – fabio.rossi@ubc.ca

Review of applications will begin July 31, 2025 and will continue until the position is filled.

The University is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and equitable work environment for all members of its workforce. An inclusive work environment presumes an environment where differences are appreciated, recognized, and integrated into current structures, planning, and decision-making modes. Within this hiring process we are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable process for all candidates (including but not limited to people with disabilities).  Confidential accommodations are available on request. Please contact Brian Choi via email at brian.choi@ubc.ca. If you have any questions regarding accommodations or accessibility during the recruitment and hiring process or for more information and support, please visit UBC’s Centre for Workplace Accessibility website at https://hr.ubc.ca/health-and-wellbeing/workplace-accessibility/centre-workplace-accessibility or contact the Centre at workplace.accessibility@ubc.ca.

Land Acknowledgment

We acknowledge that UBC’s Vancouver campus is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of thexʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) people. As scientists and engineers, we are committed to responsible and respectful research practices on this land.

How to apply?

Applicants should submit enquires/applications at this website and refer to reference number PDFO-58713.

Desired start date: 01 Aug 2025
Duration: Fixed term / Temporary
Contract Type: Full Time

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.