Job Description

Academic

Job Category

Faculty Non Bargaining

Job Title

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Nutrition and Metabolism

Department

Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism | Department of Medicine | Faculty of Medicine (Marshall Andrew Dahl)

Posting End Date

June 27, 2026

Note:Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

June 30, 2028

The expected base salary for this position is $60,000 per year. This is a full-time, 2-year term position. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2026, although the start date may be flexible.

The Department of Medicine at the University of British Columbia (UBC) is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Fellow (PDF) to join a dynamic research program focused on nutrition, metabolism, and energy balance in humans. The successful candidate will contribute to a translational research program examining the role of ovarian sex hormones in regulating appetite, energy intake, and energy expenditure across physiological states (e.g., menstrual cycle, hormonal contraceptive use, and energy deficit conditions).

This is a 2-year full-time position (1.0 FTE), with the possibility of renewal depending on funding and performance. The PDF will lead and support experimental and observational studies involving dietary assessment, appetite regulation, indirect calorimetry/energy expenditure measurements, and hormonal/metabolic profiling. The position offers strong opportunities for first-author publications, grant writing experience, and collaboration within a multidisciplinary research team.

Organizational Status

The Postdoctoral Fellow will work under the supervision of Dr. Purcell, and collaborate closely with graduate students, undergraduate trainees, research staff, and external collaborators. The PDF will interact with interdisciplinary teams spanning nutrition, exercise physiology, and endocrinology.

Work Performed

Specific Duties

• Lead and contribute to study design, development of protocols, and implementation of human nutrition and metabolism studies.
• Conduct analyses of energy intake (e.g., weighed records, in-lab assessments, 3-day food records) and energy expenditure (e.g., resting metabolic rate, total energy expenditure).
• Oversee and/or conduct physiological data collection including appetite ratings, dietary intake assessments, and metabolic testing (e.g., indirect calorimetry, body composition, blood/biological sample coordination as applicable).
• Examine relationships between ovarian sex hormones (e.g., estradiol, progesterone) and metabolic outcomes including appetite regulation, energy intake, and energy expenditure.
• Perform advanced statistical analyses using appropriate methods (e.g., linear mixed models).
• Lead manuscript preparation, including drafting and submission of peer-reviewed publications.
• Prepare abstracts and present findings at national and international conferences.
• Contribute to grant applications and funding proposals as appropriate.
• Support research ethics applications, protocol amendments, and study documentation in accordance with institutional and regulatory requirements.
• Provide mentorship and technical guidance to graduate and undergraduate trainees.
• Participate in regular lab meetings and contribute to the intellectual development of the research program.

Consequences of Error/Judgement

Errors in study design, data collection, or analysis could impact the validity of research findings, compromise participant safety or data integrity, and affect publication and funding outcomes. The incumbent is expected to exercise strong scientific judgement, adhere to ethical research standards, and ensure rigorous data management and quality control.

Supervision Received

The Postdoctoral Fellow will work under general supervision of Dr. Purcell, with increasing independence over time. The incumbent is expected to self-direct research activities, prioritize tasks, and seek input as needed on complex scientific or methodological issues.

Supervision Given

The Postdoctoral Fellow will provide guidance and mentorship to graduate students, undergraduate students, and research assistants involved in data collection, data entry, and analysis activities.

Education / Work Experience

• PhD in Nutrition, Physiology, Exercise Science, Metabolism, Endocrinology, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated experience in human physiology, nutrition, and/or metabolism research.
• Experience conducting or analyzing dietary intake data and/or energy expenditure measurements.
• Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals commensurate with stage of training.
• Experience with human research ethics and/or clinical or laboratory-based studies is preferred.

Skills

• Strong background in human nutrition, energy metabolism, and/or exercise physiology.
• Knowledge of endocrine physiology, particularly ovarian sex hormones and their metabolic effects.
• Advanced quantitative and statistical skills (e.g., R, SAS, SPSS, or similar).
• Experience with repeated measures and longitudinal data analysis.
• Excellent scientific writing skills and demonstrated ability to publish peer-reviewed manuscripts.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary research environment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in research and training environments.

Additional Assets (Preferred)

• Experience with appetite research methodologies (e.g., VAS scales, ad libitum intake tests).
• Experience with metabolic testing equipment (indirect calorimetry, DXA)
• Experience with collection of blood samples

Job End Date

2-year term position (with possibility of extension subject to funding)

Application Procedure

Applications should include:

• 1-page cover letter outlining research interests and fit with the position
• Curriculum vitae

Applications should be submitted to: sarah.purcell@ubc.ca