Research Associate

Date Posted: 12/15/2025

Req ID:46422

Faculty/Division: Faculty of Dentistry

Department: Faculty of Dentistry

Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)

Description:

About us:

Exciting new advances and global challenges are radically reshaping the field of dentistry. Our vision at the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Toronto is to not just address and respond to these changes – but to thoughtfully and conscientiously shape the field of the future.

With our robust and comprehensive educational training programs (DDS, MSc, PhD degrees, IDAPP and other specialty programs), our emphasis on community outreach and care, and our internationally known and interdisciplinary research mission, the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Toronto continues to earn its reputation as one of the top dental schools in North America. Throughout more than 150 years of dental education - the oldest, largest and most comprehensive training program in Canada - we have striven to graduate the highest quality of students while providing the public the highest standards of care.

We are driving by our vision to improve health by advancing dentistry through inspired leadership, innovation, and excellence in education, research and practice.

OVERVIEW:

The Faculty of Dentistry invites applications for a Research Associate (Limited Term) to support an externally funded project focused on the development of a novel oral delivery system (e.g., lozenge/gum) to prevent and treat oral candidiasis through microbiome modulation. The initial appointment is for one (1) year.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Research Associate will lead and execute day-to-day research operations across project Aims, including:

Experimental execution (wet lab)

• Plan and perform in vitro screening of natural compounds for anti-Candida activity (e.g., disk diffusion, MIC/MFC assays) and down-selection of lead candidates.
• Conduct anti-biofilm efficacy assays (including denture acrylic and relevant surfaces) and evaluate synergy with standard antifungals, as required by project milestones.
• Perform selectivity assays versus commensal oral bacteria and cytotoxicity testing in relevant oral epithelial cell models.

Formulation and translational prototyping

Support formulation development for localized oral delivery (e.g., lozenge, chewing gum, film), including stability and release testing in simulated saliva and iterative prototype optimization.

Ex vivo / microbiome-focused evaluation

• Execute ex vivo polymicrobial biofilm experiments using patient-derived samples (as approved), including microfluidic/flow-based biofilm testing, CFU/qPCR quantification, and coordination of sequencing-based profiling (16S/ITS) through core facilities and collaborators.

Human-sample and study operations (as applicable)

• Coordinate research ethics-ready workflows for sample collection, consent support, chain-of-custody, storage, and documentation for clinical samples and sensory/palatability testing panels.

Data, reporting, and knowledge mobilization

• Maintain rigorous data management practices (SOPs, QC logs, study binders, sample metadata), analyze and summarize results, and contribute to progress reporting, manuscripts, and conference abstracts aligned with grant deliverables.
• Train and supervise students/trainees in laboratory methods and research best practices, as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• PhD (or equivalent) in oral microbiology, microbiology, molecular biology, or a closely related discipline with more than 5 years of work experience.
• Demonstrated hands-on expertise in microbial culture and antimicrobial testing; ability to independently troubleshoot and execute complex experimental workflows.
• Strong organizational, documentation, and communication skills; demonstrated ability to manage concurrent workstreams and deliver results to milestones.
• Direct experience with oral biofilms and/or Candida biology; familiarity with polymicrobial community models and oral-sample handling.
• Experience with high-throughput screening assays of natural compounds and translation to oral delivery formats (e.g., chewing-gum matrices/lozenges).
• Experience supporting human-participant research operations (recruitment support, consent processes, sample collection/processing, chain-of-custody, and study data management).
• Working knowledge of microbiome sequencing workflows and data interpretation (16S/ITS), in collaboration with a bioinformatics core.

Please note:

• This is a one (1) year term position.

Closing Date: 12/23/2025,11:59PM ET

Employee Group: Research Associate

Personnel Subarea:Research Assoc

Appointment Type: Grant - Term

Schedule: Full-Time

Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone: R01 - Research Associates (Limited Term): $53,520 - $100,350

Job Category: Research Administration & Teaching