Postdoctoral Scholar

This competition is open to all applicants however; internal candidates and applicants who were former employees of the University of Alberta will be given priority consideration before external candidates. Please log in to verify your internal candidate status.

This position has an initial appointment of 2 years.

Location - This role is in-person at North Campus Edmonton.

The Precision Human Health Laboratory (PHHL) at the University of Alberta is seeking a highly motivated and talented Postdoctoral Fellow to join our multidisciplinary research team. Under the supervision of Dr. Michael Stickland, our laboratory investigates mechanism(s) and treatments of exercise intolerance in various conditions, and also uses exercise as a physiological stress to better understand cardiopulmonary function. 

This position is tailored for recent Kinesiology, Exercise Science, or Physiology PhD graduates with a strong background in human integrative physiology and cardiorespiratory pathophysiology. 

Core Research Focus Areas

The postdoctoral fellow will spearhead and support Dr. Stickland’s recent CIHR-funded projects on understanding the cardiopulmonary complications of E-Cigarettes in teens and young adults. The successful candidate will leverage state-of-the-art infrastructure and outstanding clinical collaborators to complete this work.

Additional Research Projects

The postdoctoral fellow will have the opportunity to support a variety of ongoing projects in Dr. Stickland’s lab, including:

• Evaluating the pulmonary circulation as a therapeutic target to reduce dyspnea and improve exercise tolerance in COPD
• Understanding mechanisms of dyspnea and exercise intolerance in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and in patients following double-lung transplantation
• Evaluate peripheral determinants of exercise intolerance in clinical populations using near-infrared spectroscopy and diffuse correlation spectroscopy (NIRS-DCS)
• Fundamental pulmonary physiology work examining the regulation of pulmonary circulation and gas exchange at rest and during exercise.

This position offers an exceptional opportunity for a highly motivated postdoctoral fellow to develop expertise in advanced human integrative physiology, pulmonary vascular function, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. The successful candidate will work within a collaborative and well-funded research environment, gaining experience with state-of-the-art physiological assessment techniques and clinical research methodologies. In addition to leading aspects of these CIHR-funded projects, the fellow will be encouraged to develop independent research questions, apply for external funding, contribute to the development of grant applications, publish in high-impact journals, and present findings at national and international conferences. This position is ideally suited for an individual seeking to establish a successful academic career in cardiopulmonary physiology and chronic disease.

• Research Leadership: Design, coordinate, and execute clinical trials involving human participants and clinical patient populations.
• Advanced Physiological Testing: Perform advanced cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), non-invasive continuous hemodynamic monitoring, and assessment of pulmonary diffusing capacity.
• Data Analysis & Dissemination: Analyze complex physiological datasets, author high-impact peer-reviewed publications, and present findings at national and international conferences.
• Mentorship & Collaboration: Assist in supervising undergraduate and graduate students within the PHHL. Collaborate effectively with co-investigators across medicine, nephrology, oncology, and nursing, as well as frontline clinicians within Alberta Health Services (AHS) as needed. 
• Grant Writing: Contribute to the development of competitive grant applications (e.g., CIHR, NSERC).

• Education: A recently completed (or nearing completion) PhD in Kinesiology, Exercise Physiology, Human Physiology, or a closely related biomedical field.
• Technical Expertise: Strong technical competency in human physiological testing, particularly CPET, metabolic carts, spirometry, and/or vascular ultrasound.
• Clinical Aptitude: Experience working with clinical populations is highly desirable.
• Communication: A track record of peer-reviewed publications commensurate with career stage, alongside excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Attributes: Strong organizational skills, a collaborative mindset, and the ability to work independently within a fast-paced laboratory setting.

Application Instructions

Click "Apply Now" to submit your curriculum vitae and cover letter.

This position has a comprehensive benefits package.

The terms and conditions of this appointment are governed by the Collective Agreement between the Board of Governors of the University of Alberta and the Postdoctoral Fellows Association of the University of Alberta.