Postdoctoral Researcher to Lead a Sports Brain Injury Study at the University of British Columbia
We would like to invite candidates for a multidisciplinary project investigating the relationship between head impact exposure and blood biomarkers at the University of British Columbia (UBC). This is a multi-year project funded by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Project Grant led by Principal Investigators Dr. Cheryl Wellington, Dr. Lyndia Wu, Dr. Peter Cripton, and Dr. Piotr Kozlowski. The postdoctoral researcher will be supervised by Dr. Lyndia Wu in UBC Mechanical Engineering (website) to lead one of the study aims to investigate injury mechanisms in human participants.
Concussion, or mild traumatic brain injury, is a major public health concern. The injury mechanism and pathology are poorly understood, resulting in ineffective prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Alarmingly, mounting evidence indicates that even subconcussive / subclinical head impacts may be associated with long-term brain changes. In this project, our goal is to prospectively investigate the effects of head impact exposure on blood biomarkers in contact sports athletes. We will apply state-of-the-art wearable head impact sensors and novel high-sensitivity blood biomarker detection technologies for this investigation.
This postdoctoral position is available immediately, with at minimum a 2-3 year appointment. The position will provide an opportunity to lead the multidisciplinary field study, mentor junior students, as well as the analysis of multi-modal, multi-dimensional biomechanics and blood biomarker data, with the potential to make novel discoveries in the mechanism and recovery of mild traumatic brain injury.
Desired qualifications:
- PhD in mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering, biophysics, or related fields.
- Expertise in biomechanics, blood biomarkers, or related areas.
- Past experience in human participant field studies, especially with sports populations.
- Excellent communication skills and demonstrated leadership skills.
To apply, please e-mail Dr. Wu at lwu@mech.ubc.ca with the following information.
- Email title containing “[CIHR Sports Brain Injury Postdoc Application]”
- A brief statement of research experiences and interests
- Curriculum vitae
- Contact information for at least 2 references
UBC’s Vancouver campus is situated at the tip of Point Grey on the unceded lands of the Musqueam people, surrounded by forest, ocean and mountains. Vancouver is consistently ranked as one of the most diverse cities in Canada, and one of the most livable cities in the world. UBC seeks to recruit and retain a workforce that is representative of Vancouver’s diversity, to maintain the excellence of the University, and to offer students richly varied disciplines, perspectives and ways of knowing and learning.
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.
Master’s and PhD
- If you are interested in joining SimPL, please apply to the Mechanical Engineering or Biomedical Engineering Department, and indicate Dr. Lyndia Wu as a potential supervisor. A small number of openings may be available each year.
- Information regarding Mechanical Engineering’s graduate program: http://mech.ubc.ca/graduate/prospective/
- Information regarding Biomedical Engineering’s graduate program: https://www.bme.ubc.ca/graduate/prospective-students/graduate-programs/
- The application website is: http://www.grad.ubc.ca/application/
- For September admissions, you are encouraged to apply by Dec 1 of the previous year to be considered for departmental scholarships/fellowships.
- If you would like to learn more about how to plan and prepare for graduate school, here are some helpful links with resources:
- You may also email Dr. Lyndia Wu at lwu@mech.ubc.ca, and include the following information. Please note that due to the volume of emails received, we cannot respond to every email request.
- Email title containing “[SimPL Graduate Student Application]”
- Your student number for the UBC application
- A brief statement of research experiences and interests in the email
- Curriculum vitae
- Transcripts
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.
We look forward to having you in the team!
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