Postdoctoral Research Fellow

The expected salary for this position is $60,000 - $80,000 per annum. The Faculty of Medicine is committed to offering equitable and competitive salaries, commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the candidate.

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 Department of Orthopaedics in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia (UBC) Vancouver campus invites applications for a full-time Postdoctoral Research Fellow with expertise in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and data science. The position will be a part of the Walk Tall research team based at BC Children’s Hospital. The Postdoctoral Fellow will work with a high degree of independence and set priorities under broad directives from Dr. Anthony Cooper and other senior research staff. This position will also provide the candidate with excellent opportunities for growth in the field of clinical research.

To learn more about the research program, please visit: https://www.limbnetwork.com/home

RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting to Dr. Anthony Cooper, the successful candidate will develop, validate, and deploy ML models to improve clinical decision-making for diagnosis and treatment, radiograph analysis, and patient outcomes in musculoskeletal care. The candidate will also work towards the development of ML projects to deal with multi-model datasets (text, images, structured, and voice data). They will have an opportunity to work with an international group of orthopaedic surgeons, allied healthcare professionals, and researchers to collect the variables/features required for various ML model, annotate the required datasets, and design ML models pipelines, evaluate the results, and apply the models in clinical environment.

The incumbent’s responsibilities include:

• Design and implement ML, deep learning, and Large Language Models for orthopaedic applications
• Work with multimodal clinical data, including:
  • Medical imaging (X-ray, CT, MRI)
  • Electronic health records (HER)
  • Textual and Voice data
• Apply supervised, unsupervised, and self-supervised learning methods.
• Develop explainable AI (XAI) approaches suitable for clinical use.
• Work with an international group of orthopaedic surgeons, allied healthcare professionals, and researchers to finalize the variables and features for ML models.
• Work with the data management team, clinical and research teams to build, train, evaluate, and deploy ML projects.
• Present findings on a regular basis to team members.
• Participate in other ongoing research projects as required.
• Produce conference abstracts and manuscripts
• Provide support with future research proposals for new funding opportunities
• Maintain accountability for the quality and integrity of the research and data, as well as the effective and efficient management of research projects and deliverables
• May supervise undergraduate students working on the AI/ML projects

QUALIFICATIONS

• PhD (or equivalent) in Machine Learning, Computer Science/Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or PhD or equivalent degree in population/public health and other related medical fields with AI and ML experience. Applicants must be within five years of being awarded their PhD degree. Exceptions will be considered where the research career has been interrupted by circumstances such as parental responsibilities or illness.
• A background in AI, machine learning, statistics, database design, software development, and medical sciences.
• Demonstrable experience in AI and Machine Learning, managing and analyzing large datasets, is a major asset.
• Experience with software requirements analysis, software design and development, and integration of software and ML models is preferred.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to facilitate both self-directed and guided research are required.
• Must demonstrate outstanding personal initiative and the ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Demonstrated adaptability, strategic planning skills, and ability to spark innovation
• Ability to work effectively and multi-task in a fast-paced and in a multi-disciplinary environment.
• 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.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

An application package should include:

• A cover letter detailing your research experience;
• Curriculum vitae;
• A list of candidate publications (journals/conferences) which describe AI and ML relevant research;
• Contact information for two research-related references

Applications should be submitted by email to:
Dr. Anthony Cooper C/o: Harpreet Chhina
Subject: Postdoctoral Fellow
Email: hchhina@cw.bc.ca (please send application packages here)

Should you have any queries around this position, please contact Olga Sokolovska at orthopaedics.hr@ubc.ca.

The deadline for applications is February 8, 2026. Review of applications will begin on February 9, 2026 and continue until the position is filled. The position may remain open past the deadline at the discretion of the search committee. To ensure full consideration, applications should be completed by February 8, 2026. The anticipated start date for this position is March 1, 2026 or upon a date to be mutually agreed. This position is for a 1 year term, with the possibility of extension.

We invite applications from qualified candidates who share our commitment to employment equity and inclusive excellence, and we welcome applications from candidates belonging to historically, persistently, or systemically marginalized groups: Indigenous (First Nation, Métis, Inuit) Peoples, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, women, 2SLGBTQIA+ people, and trans and non-binary people.

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 Olga Sokolovska via email at orthopaedics.hr@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.

With gratitude, we acknowledge that the University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine and its distributed programs, which include four university academic campuses, are located on traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of First Nations Peoples and communities around the province.

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, three schools, and 24 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.

UBC - One of the World's Leading Universities. As one of the world's leading universities, the University of British Columbia creates an exceptional learning environment that fosters global citizenship, advances a civil and sustainable society, and supports outstanding research to serve the people of British Columbia, Canada and the world.

How to apply?

Please send applications to hchhina@cw.bc.ca and refer to reference number PDFO-58986.

Desired start date: 01 Mar 2026
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.