Position: Research Associate
Location: MaRS Centre, Toronto
Department: Clinical Translation 
Reports To: President and Scientific Director
Salary: Commensurate with level of experience
Hours: 35 hours/week
Job Type: On-site
Status: Full-Time, Temporary (two years with potential renewal)

The Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) is seeking a professional to fill the key role of Research Associate in the laboratory of Dr. Laszlo Radvanyi. Dr. Radvanyi is the President & Scientific Director of OICR and is also a Professor in the Department of Immunology at the University of Toronto.

This position is temporary, full-time for two years with potential renewal.

OICR is Ontario’s cancer research institute. We bring together people from across the province and around the world to improve the lives of everyone affected by cancer. We take on the biggest challenges in cancer research and deliver real-world solutions to find cancer earlier and treat it more effectively. We are committed to helping people living with cancer, as well as future generations, live longer and healthier lives.

In collaboration with our partners in healthcare, research, government, and the private sector, we:

• Conduct cross-disciplinary cancer research in fields such as genomics, immuno-oncology, informatics, drug discovery and molecular pathology
• Enable research in Ontario and worldwide by building collaborative networks, securely sharing data, and making tools and resources available to the research community
• Translate our research findings to the clinic by developing clinical guidelines, supporting clinical trials and working with our strategic partner FACIT to advance the commercialization of our innovations and IP

The successful candidate will contribute to ongoing lab projects focusing on the expression and role of human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) and retroelements (LINEs, SINEs/Alu) in cancer development and progression. We are particularly interested in studying their effects on the immune system and the tumor microenvironment, focusing on biliary tract, pancreatic and breast cancer. The lab is also working on new cancer immunotherapies targeting the tumour-specific expression of LINEs and HERVs in cancer using mRNA vaccines as a form of “cancer interception” to curtail early cancer development.

Our work employs a variety of cutting-edge techniques in human immunology, cell biology, molecular biology, gene modification and bioinformatics and takes advantage of rodent models of spontaneous breast cancer.

This is an exciting opportunity to apply molecular biology, immunology and genomics expertise to preclinical cancer research in the emerging field of human endogenous retroviruses, with the potential for changing clinical care.

Launched in December 2005, OICR is an independent institute funded by the Government of Ontario through the Ministry of Colleges and Universities.

Position responsibilities include:

• Perform wet lab experiments and participate in experimental design. Perform research on existing methods and introduce/optimize/troubleshoot new assays into the laboratory’s repertoire
• Collaborate with other researchers inside and outside of our group to accelerate research
• Provide support for data presentation, manuscripts and grant submissions (e.g., generation of preliminary data, data analysis, writing support)
• Participate in project management within program, including report generation, communicating with collaborators, and ensuring final tasks are complete and deliverables are delivered on time.
• Supervise and/or mentor laboratory staff

 Qualifications:

• Master’s or PhD degree in immunology, molecular biology, or related field
• Experience with cell culture, basic handling of human blood products for research and human immunological assays
• Experience with basic and advanced molecular biology techniques, including PCR, immunoblotting, immunofluorescence microscopy and immunohistochemistry, and data analysis
• Profound experience with pre-clinical animal models
• Excellent organizational and analytical skills, along with a high degree of independence and the flexibility to thrive in a novel and rapidly evolving research environment
• Proven track record of publication and written communication skills
• Ability to coordinate and work effectively with a diverse team of clinicians, senior scientists, post-docs, graduate students, and technicians

For more information about OICR, please visit the website at www.oicr.on.ca.

To learn more about working at OICR, visit our career page.

CLOSING DATE: December 1, 2023

OICR is committed to fostering a climate of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. This commitment is central to, and mutually supportive of, our research excellence mandate. We welcome and respect the diversity of all members of our community and we support an inclusive culture for all. We welcome all applicants, and encourage applications from racialized persons, Indigenous Peoples, women, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S persons, and others who may contribute to furthering a diversity of ideas within our community. OICR is committed to fair assessment of a candidate’s abilities, and consideration for diversity of thought, method, and experience. Providing an accessible workplace and recruitment process is important to us, as described in our Accessibility Plan (https://oicr.on.ca/accessibility/).  Should you require accommodation during any stage in the recruitment process, please complete the form at the bottom of page https://oicr.on.ca/careers/. Information received related to accommodation will be handled confidentially.  

The Ontario Institute for Cancer Research thanks all applicants. However, only those under consideration will be contacted.

Resume Format: If you elect to apply, you will need a text or HTML version of your resume so that you can cut and paste it into the application box provided. Before you submit the completed application, you will be asked to attach one or two files to your application. Please attach your resume as a .pdf or .doc file.