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 chance 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.

Responsibilities

- 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).

Qualifications

- 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.

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📌 Postdoctoral Fellows (Edmonton)
🏢 CSEP
📍 Edmonton