Research Associate - Limited Term

Job Information

• Date Posted: 02/25/2026
• Req
• Faculty/Division:
  Faculty of Dentistry
• Department:
  Faculty of Dentistry
• Campus:
  St. George (Downtown Toronto)

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 not only to respond to these changes, but to thoughtfully shape the field of the future.

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

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

Anil Kishen’s research group operates at the interface of microbiology, immunology, biomaterials, and translational therapeutics. The lab leads multidisciplinary projects with a strong emphasis on in vitro disease modeling and the development of innovative biomaterials‑ and nanoparticle‑enabled therapeutic strategies, including applications relevant to chronic wound healing research and oral/craniofacial inflammatory conditions.

We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Research Associate to support and lead key research initiatives in the lab. This role is ideal for a candidate with strong molecular and cellular biology experience, a clear interest in translational science, and the ability to contribute meaningfully to scientific publications and grant development.

• Design, execute, and optimize molecular and cellular assays to evaluate therapeutic candidates, including those involving nanoparticle‑ and biomaterial‑based platforms.
• Develop, validate, and maintain in vitro and in vivo disease models aligned with the lab’s research focus, including models relevant to chronic wound healing (e.g., impaired repair, persistent inflammation, infection/biofilm‑associated non‑healing).
• Lead and support multidisciplinary research efforts, coordinating with collaborators and managing research timelines, milestones, and deliverables.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior lab members, including graduate and undergraduate students; support training plans, troubleshooting, and best practices.
• Manage day‑to‑day laboratory operations, including equipment oversight/maintenance, safety compliance, documentation, purchasing, and inventory management.
• Analyze and interpret data; contribute to experimental planning, study design decisions, and clear presentation of findings.
• Contribute to scientific outputs, including manuscripts, literature reviews (and meta‑analyses where relevant), abstracts, posters, and presentations.
• Assist in grant and reporting activities, including drafting technical sections for grant proposals, preparing progress reports, and coordinating supporting documentation.

• PhD in Biomedical Sciences, Microbiology, Cell Biology, Immunology, or a related field, with more than 5 years of relevant research experience in chronic wound healing research.
• Proven track record in therapeutic candidate development/evaluation, assay optimization, and in vitro modeling, including experience relevant to chronic wound healing therapeutics.
• Strong technical expertise in relevant methods, which may include:
  • Mammalian cell culture (2D and/or 3D)
  • Microfluidic device printing (e.g., photolithography) and 3D cell culture
  • Immunological assays (e.g., ELISA; IF/ IHC staining; Flow Cytometry and other platforms)
  • Microbiological techniques and infection model development
  • Animal handling, injection and surgical techniques (e.g., IV/SQ techniques, wound healing models)
  • Imaging and microscopy‐based readouts (e.g., fluorescence/confocal)
• Cell…