Scientific Associate I (Assay Development and Biophysics) at University Health Network (UHN) in Toronto, ON

Job description

Union : Non-Union Number of vacancies:  2 New or Replacement Position: New  Site : Princess Margaret Research, MaRS Centre Department: Research Reports to : Principal Investigator Salary Range : $38.70 - $48.37 per hour  Hours: 37.5 hours per week Shifts: Monday-Friday Status: Temporary Full-time (1 year contract; possibility of renewal) Closing Date : November 16, 2026 Position Summary The Scientific Associate I, Assay Development and Biophysics, will contribute to an innovative, data-driven drug discovery programme supporting Target 2035, a global initiative to develop high-quality chemical tools for every protein in the human proteome. Reporting to the Principal Investigator, the successful candidate will perform biochemical and biophysical assays to validate protein–ligand interactions, analyse experimental results, and ensure high-quality data reporting to internal databases and external repositories. A particular focus of the role will be the development and application of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assays to support hit validation, mechanism-of-action studies and chemical probe discovery. This role also involves supporting assay development, training laboratory members, contributing to manuscripts and scientific reports, and collaborating across multidisciplinary teams to advance multiple open science drug discovery programmes. We work closely with academic institutions, pharmaceutical companies, technology developers and non-profit organisations to create innovative technologies, chemical tools and openly accessible datasets that make biomedical research faster, more collaborative and more impactful. As part of the Centre for Collaborative Drug Discovery (C2D2) and the international Target 2035 community, our open science, milestone-driven research seeks to revolutionise and democratise drug discovery by generating high-quality reagents, data and technologies that enable the study of previously understudied proteins and accelerate the development of new medicines. What We Offer Opportunity to lead biophysical studies on cutting-edge drug discovery programmes. Access to state-of-the-art instrumentation, including Cytiva Biacore 8K and a fully equipped biophysics suite. An open, collaborative research environment with strong international academic and industry partnerships. Opportunities for scientific leadership, publication and career development. The chance to contribute to open science initiatives that accelerate therapeutic discovery worldwide. Duties Design, perform and analyse protein-ligand binding experiments using Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) as the primary biophysical platform. Develop and optimise SPR assays for hit validation, affinity determination, kinetic characterisation and mechanistic studies. Apply complementary biophysical techniques including DSF, MST, ITC, fluorescence polarisation, BLI and mass spectrometry where appropriate. Contribute to screening campaigns supporting chemical probe and early drug discovery projects. Analyse experimental data and communicate findings to multidisciplinary project teams. Maintain accurate experimental records using electronic laboratory notebooks and internal databases. Assist with development of standard operating procedures and best practices for biophysical assays. Contribute to scientific manuscripts, grant applications and conference presentations. Help maintain shared instrumentation and laboratory equipment. Support and train students and new laboratory members in biophysical techniques as experience develops. PhD in Biochemistry, Structural Biology, Biophysics, Chemical Biology or a related discipline required At least 1 year of related experience required  Recent postdoctoral experience or equivalent research experience in protein biochemistry or biophysics Demonstrated experience with Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR), including assay development, experimental design, kinetic analysis and affinity measurements Experience with re