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Research Associate (Limited Term)

Date Posted: 06/12/2025
Req ID: 43488
Faculty/Division: Faculty of Pharmacy
Department: Faculty of Pharmacy
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)

 

Description:

 

About Us:

 

The Harding Lab at the University of Toronto is seeking a highly motivated and skilled Research Associate to support an innovative research program on the alternative Replication Protein A (alt-RPA) complex, funded by the Hereditary Disease Foundation. The successful candidate will play a key role in elucidating the structural and functional roles of the alt-RPA complex and advancing early-stage drug discovery targeting this complex.

This position will involve the use of multidisciplinary approaches including structural biology, molecular biology, protein biochemistry, and chemical biology. The Harding Lab is embedded in a collaborative open science environment through the Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC), with a strong emphasis on data sharing and collaborative discovery.

 

Responsibilities:

 

  • Protein science and structural biology: Cloning, expression, purification, and biophysical/structural characterization of the alt-RPA complex and interacting partners.
  • Drug discovery support: Screening and validating small-molecule binders, including development and execution of biochemical and biophysical assays.
  • Collaborative research and communication: Preparing data for publication and public dissemination; contributing to manuscript preparation, grant applications, and reporting to funders; participating in collaborative meetings with academic and industry partners.
  • Training and lab stewardship: Supporting training of graduate and undergraduate students in relevant techniques; maintaining organized research records and ensuring best practices in data management.
 

Qualifications:

 

  • Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Structural Biology, Chemical Biology, or a related field.
  • 2–5 years of postdoctoral or equivalent research experience in protein science, drug discovery, or related disciplines.
  • Demonstrated expertise in protein purification, biochemical assay development, and molecular cloning.
  • Experience with structural biology techniques (e.g., X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, or NMR) and/or fragment-based or small-molecule screening is highly desirable.
  • Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals; experience in open science environments is considered an asset.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research setting.

 

Notes: 

  • This is a two-year term position
  • This role is not currently eligible for a hybrid work arrangement, pursuant to University policies and guidelines, including but not limited to the University of Toronto’s Alternative Work Arrangements Guideline.
  • Application Instructions: Individuals interested in this position must submit a CV, including the names and contact details of three professional references, along with a cover letter. The cover letter should detail how the candidate’s background, qualifications, and research skills align with the requirements for this position.

 

Closing Date: 06/23/2025, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: Research Associate
Appointment Type: Grant - Term This is a two-year term position 
Schedule: Full-Time. Standard hours of work are Monday through Friday from 8:45 AM to 5:00 PM. The position requires some flexibility in hours, as some experiments require staying longer on certain days. 
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone: R01 -- Research Associates (Limited Term): $52,574 - $98,576
Job Category: Research Administration & Teaching

Diversity Statement

The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see http://uoft.me/UP.

Accessibility Statement

The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.

The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.

If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact uoft.careers@utoronto.ca.


Job Segment: Chemical Research, Biochemistry, Biology, Molecular Biology, Engineering, Research, Science

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