INTERNAL APPLICATIONS ONLY

About OICR

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.

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

Position Details

Position: Research Associate II

Location: MaRS Centre, Toronto

Department: Computational Biology (Pai Lab)

Reports To: Dr. Shraddha Pai, Principal Investigator I

Salary: Commensurate with level of experience; total compensation includes a competitive benefits plan, plus a defined benefit pension plan (HOOPP)

Hours: 35 hours/week

Job Type: On-site

Status: Full-Time, Permanent

Position Summary

The Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) is seeking a Research Associate II to join the Computational Biology (Pai Lab) team.

The Pai Lab’s vision is to use genomics to match patients with the best treatment options, and to find actionable molecular targets for effective therapies that have minimal side effects. We specialize in biomarker discovery in pediatric and adult brain-associated cancers and disorders. We are particularly interested in the contribution of the non-coding genome (epigenome) to disease progression and clinical management. The end-goal of our projects is to develop novel diagnostic tests and discover novel actionable molecular targets for disease.

We discover biomarkers by integrating clinical and multi-‘omic data from primary normal and disease tissues, and from population genomics databases. We integrate lab-generated genomic maps with databases of pathways, gene regulation, disease association, and druggability, to prioritize potential disease targets. We use high-throughput genetic and chemical perturbation strategies to functionally validate targets identified through our genomic analyses, using modern techniques such as the CRISPR-CAS9 system, reporter assays, and chemical probe libraries. Our projects involve computational biology, bulk tissue and single-cell genomics, molecular biology, tissue culture, animal models, and genome editing.

The successful candidate will contribute to ongoing lab projects by performing experiments for data generation, biomarker screens and validation, and communicating these to the team. They will contribute to research publications and help generate preliminary data for grant submissions. They will work closely with the lab head, trainees, lab staff, and collaborators.

This is an exciting opportunity to apply molecular biology, tissue culture and genomics expertise to preclinical research in brain cancer and brain disorders, with the potential for changing clinical care.

To learn more about the Pai Lab, visit our lab webpage.

Responsibilities:

• 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.
• Perform genetic perturbations using siRNA, shRNA, CRISPRko/i/a technologies in long-passage cancer cell lines, induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cell lineages, and organoids.
• Characterize molecular determinants of normal health and cancer using techniques from molecular biology and tissue culture, including microscopy, cell sorting, RT-PCR, blotting, and other commonly-used techniques.
• Maintain the laboratory’s collection of cell lines and organoids using best practices in tissue culture.
• Collaborate with other researchers inside and outside of our group to accelerate research.
• Provide support for grant submissions (e.g., generation of preliminary data, writing support).
• Assisting research administration to ensure compliance with biosafety requirements.
• Participate in project management within program, including report generation, communicating with collaborators, and ensuring final tasks are complete and deliverables are delivered on time.
• Responsible for overall operation of the laboratory’s molecular biology and tissue culture space, including space management, equipment and inventory management. Responsible for assigning and maintaining research notebooks.
• Supervise and/or mentor laboratory staff.

Qualifications:

• MSc in molecular biology, biochemistry, or a related discipline, or recognized exultant.
• Three (3) to four (4) years of relevant experience in a research laboratory setting.
• Advanced knowledge and practice of modern tissue culture techniques, molecular biology techniques and/or chemistry tools, including next-generation sequencing methods, lentiviral and CRISPR technology.
• The applicant must be able to manage projects independently and work with multi-disciplinary teams.
• Experience in tissue processing/analysis and/or animal husbandry is a plus.
• Strong communication skills and ability to present scientific findings.
• Excellent problem solving and critical thinking skills, as well as the ability to learn quickly.

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.

POSTED DATE: September 10, 2025

CLOSING DATE: September 15, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.

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.

Resume Format: If you elect to apply, please click on the “Apply for this Job” button. You will be required to enter contact details, and to attach your resume to your application. Please attach your resume as a .pdf or .doc file.

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