Two Post Doctoral Positions in Systems Biology are currently available  
at the University of Alberta under the supervision of Dr. Ben-Zvi.   
Please see the project descriptions and contact information below.


1. Development of nanocrystalline cellulose based hydrogels for  
controlled delivery of therapeutics relevant to bone regeneration:  
controlled delivery strategies, and cellular activity.

Role of Post Doctoral Fellow: The identification of gene networks  
crucial to regulating the cellular responses to the delivery of  
therapeutics via nanostructured materials.

Scope: The successful candidate will be expected to design an  
experiment that will capture the key dynamics (i.e., time-dependent  
changes) in gene expression levels in response to the introduction of  
bioactive molecules into the cells.  The candidate will be responsible  
for experimental design, data collection and analysis, as well as  
nonlinear regression, and model validation and statistical inference.  
The candidate will make use of microarray slides to quantify the  
expression levels of various transcription factors at different points  
in time.  The data from the microarray experiments will be used to  
develop a mathematical model (based on differential-algebraic equation  
systems) that will describe gene dynamics.

In addition, the successful applicant will be responsible for  
scholarly publication of experimental and theoretical results.

Qualifications:  The ideal candidate will have experience with the  
operation of microarray slides and genomics data.  A candidate with  
strong biochemistry background will be preferred.  The candidate must  
be mathematically inclined and willing to learn system biology  
concepts as necessary.  Finally the candidate should have a Ph.D. in  
Engineering, Biochemistry, Medicine or a related field.



2. Application of fault detection and diagnosis techniques to  
multivariate metabolomics data including the use of NMR spectroscopy  
for diagnosis of Streptococcus pneumoniae infection.

Role of Post Doctoral Fellow: The development of a robust data  
analysis and diagnosis technique that will make use of NMR  
spectroscopy as well as a-priori information to classify individuals  
as healthy or not.  Also, the development of a time-dependent model  
which will allow the progression or intensity of a condition to be  
assessed.

Scope: The successful candidate will make use of fault detection and  
classification techniques including PCA, PLS-DA, and SVM to correctly  
classify multivariate metaboloimics data.  The candidate will be  
expected to improve existing algorithms for fault detection or devise  
new algorithms as necessary.  In particular, the candidate is expected  
to develop algorithms for time-dependant data, as well as the  
development of insight into the likely biochemical pathways associated  
with specific metabolites.  Also, the candidate is expected to develop  
techniques for visualization and quantification of large data sets.   
The successful candidate will be responsible for scholarly  
dissemination of results.

Qualifications:  The ideal candidate will have experience with  
bioinformatics and fault detection and diagnosis tools.  A candidate  
with strong biochemistry background will be preferred.  The candidate  
must be mathematically inclined and willing to learn system biology  
concepts as necessary.  Finally the candidate should have a Ph.D. in  
Engineering, Biochemistry, Medicine or a related field.



Amos Ben-Zvi, P. Eng.
Assistant Professor
Dept. Chemical and Materials Engineering
University of Alberta
Ph. 780.492.7651
Fx. 780.492.2881
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