- Pay
- $150–170k
- Where
- UBC Vancouver Campus - Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Level
- Mid
Academic
Job Category
Faculty Bargaining
Job Title
Canada Impact+ Emerging Leader in AI-based Protein Modeling and Design
Department
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | Faculty of Medicine | Provost and VP Academic (Joerg Gsponer)
Posting End Date
November 14, 2026
Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.
Job End Date
Ongoing
The expected salary for this position is $150,000–$170,000 per annum, commensurate with qualifications and experience.
The Michael Smith Laboratories (MSL) and the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (BMB) at the University of British Columbia (UBC) invite applications for a Canada Impact+ Emerging Leader in AI-based Protein Modeling and Design . This is a tenure-track appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor, jointly appointed in MSL and BMB, with an anticipated start date no later than July 1, 2027.
AI-driven protein design is one of the most rapidly advancing frontiers in science, with transformative potential in medicine, biotechnology, and the life sciences. We seek outstanding candidates with an innovative and impactful research program integrating deep learning and AI-driven approaches across the protein design pipeline. Research programs may leverage structure-based models, protein language models, generative AI, or novel hybrid approaches. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, developing predictive and generative models for protein structure and function, advancing AI-enabled design-build-test-learn workflows, and creating new tools for the characterization and validation of engineered proteins.
Example application areas include the design of protein binders with tailored binding specificity and affinity, protein conformational switches that sense and respond to their environment, de novo enzymes for applications in medicine and sustainability, and proteins that interact selectively with non-protein molecules (e.g. nucleic acids, carbohydrates, small molecules).
About the Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders Program
The Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders program is a one-time initiative designed to support institutions in attracting internationally based Early Career Researchers to Canada. Emerging Leaders will receive research funding and institutional supports to advance transformative research in Canada’s strategic priority areas, build partnerships across sectors and borders, and translate their research into applications and impacts that benefit Canadians and the world. Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders are six-year positions valued at $100,000 annually, renewable once for an additional six years, intended for exceptional emerging scholars who have the potential to lead in their fields. Applicants must be early-career researchers and be eligible to hold a full-time, tenure-stream appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor at UBC.
Under the Canada Impact+ Emerging Leaders program, nominees must be working and residing outside Canada when the Eddie Goldenberg Research Chairs of Canada award ( https://www.canada.ca/en/impact-plus-chairs.html ) is formally accepted (July 1st 2026). Applicants may apply regardless of their current location; however, candidates selected for nomination must meet this eligibility requirement on the award acceptance date in order to proceed. Expatriate Canadians wishing to relocate to Canada are welcome to apply.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
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 successful candidate will contribute to fostering an environment that promotes inclusivity and embodies values of respect, integrity, compassion, collaboration, and equity. Equity,…